TRIBUTE TO PRANCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 89, 9 January 1919, Page 4

TRIBUTE TO PRANCE

GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The Consular Agent for France in Weilington, Mr. James Macintosh, has recoived a letter from M. Hippeau, Consul for Prance in New Zealand, stationed at Auckland, conveying thanks.on behalf of the French Government' for the generosity of the response to the anneal made for the "Tribute to Trance." Following is an extract from the letter: —'■• "At the outset let mo eay how .pleased I am with the result, of the New'.'Zealand Tribute to France, and with the genemus thought which prompted the committee to appropriate one-half of the first remission to.the French Bed Cross, and the other half to the more interest'ing'vietims of the war. I sincerely admit that the result has , exceeded my hopes as much from the point of view of the vibrating sympathy , towards France that has spontaneously manifested itself throughout New Zealand ns for the zeal and generosity our New Zealand friends have ehownf 'i their response to the appeal made by the Central Committee in Wellington to aid the-victims of ill-fortune, and-to soothe the most urgent cases of distress. I ain all the more delighted with the 6uccesß of this manifestation because it was or-< ganised- under the circumstances and conditions of which you are aware—in the course of the most agonising period of all. That it should blossom forth in the full radiance of victory is a happy coincidence. "The object I have-pursued, .with your collaboration, and the very active aid of Hγ. Luke and Captain Barclay, has been largely attained. -It ■will be-'com-, pletely eo 'if you can possibly arKinge that a portion, however small, say, .£IOO or;i200, should be later allocated to each of the societies whose requests have been submitted through your 'njzeney to the kindly consideration of the Central Com"I pray you will express to Mr. Luke and also to Captain Barclay anil the members of the committee my erabrade, oe much for their generous initiative in favour of my cruelly ill-treated_ compatriots as for the sentiment-; of wmpa thy, solidarity, and friendship titer have never ceased to testify towards France." ■ ' .