HIGH COMMISSIONER IN PARIS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 109, 9 May 1923, Page 9

HIGH COMMISSIONER IN PARIS

TRIBUTE TO THE FRENCH DEAD

LE QUESNOY MEMORIAL.

(PftOH OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 29th March. While in France this week to sign, on behalf of the Government of New Zealand, a protocol modifying Article 5 of the Air Convention, Sir James Allen took the opportunity of visiting the studio of Monsieur Desruelles to inspect the work which has been done on the New Zealand Memorial for Le Quesnoy. The sculpture is well advanced, and will be finished in- May, and it is hoped the, completed sculptured marble will be placed in position on the Le Quesnoy wall soon after.

The High Commissioner was exceedingly pleased with what he saw, and thinks that the memorial will be beautiful, impressive, and unique. He thanked Monsieur Desruelles, not only for the fine artistic work, but for his kindly generosity in associating with himself Mr. A. R. Fraser, the New Zealand sculptor, who had done so much in prepai'ing the model, which, with some modifications, has been used by the French artist. Monsieur Desruelles has also nearly finished a beautiful piece.of sculpture which Le Quesnoy is erecting in memory of the French'soldiers who lost their lives in the original defence of the town against the Germans. A space will be left below the sculpture for the purpose of engraving the names of the citizens of Le Quesnoy who lost their lives in the war and the names of three New Zealanders who died in the operations around Le Quesnoy.

The High Commissioner, believing the people of New Zealand would desire him to pay respecv. to the Unknown French Warrior who lies under the Arc de Triomphe, laid on the grave a wreath bearing the following inscription:—"To our gallant French* Comrades—a tribute from New Zealand.—J. Allen, High Commissioner. ''

Commandant Piraud, representing the French Minister of War, accompanied Sir James, and Colonel Lord Graham, Military Attache, Paris, officially attended from the Embassy. Captain Roper (Sec-retary-General of the International Commission for Air Navigation), Mr. S. Hurst Seager (architect for the ■ New Zealand War Memorials), atid Mrs. Hurst Seager were also present.