CHINA'S EX-PREMIER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 33, 8 February 1930, Page 6 (Supplement)

CHINA'S EX-PREMIER.

NOW A SWISS MONK.

SOLACE FOR LOSS OF WIFE,

■ Dr. Lu Cheng - hsiang, formerly Prime Minister -of China- and distinguished as a diplomat, who renounced his career v to enter the Benedictine Order in -Switzerland, has written to friends'-iii Cliina that he is perfectly contented in his new life, despite the drastic chan&«»i

'TV' former statesman is now Prater Lu' Ciherig-hsiang and is the only member of 'his race among the brothers of tlie St. Bernard Monastery. The death of Mme. Lu, a Belgian, while her. husband was 'f Minister to Switzerland, caused •him to seek solace in monastic 'life..' '•

Dr. Lu served abroad both under the Manchu regime and after the establishment of the republic. He ,was born in Shanghai in May, 1871.

- Entering the diplomatic 'service nearly thirty years ago,' his first post was in St. Petersburg, where he was interpreter for the Chinese Legation. In 1007 he was'named ambassador extraordinary to the Czar's second peace conference at The Hague. Next lie became Minister to St. Petersburg.

When the Mancliu dynasty abdicated in 1912 President Yuan Shlh-kai recalled Dr. Lu and made him. Minister of Foreign Affairs. He held that post under several subsequent aclminstratioris and was chosen Premier in 1926. In between these home honours lie served as Chinese Minister to Holland, Belgium , and Switzerland. He entered a Benedictine abbey in 1927 and was received into the order the following year. . . >