DIPLOMAT AND BARONESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 May 1931, Page 11

DIPLOMAT AND BARONESS

DRAMA OF WOMAN’S SUICIDE Sir Frederick Alexander Whyte K.C.5.1., .formerly Liberal M.P. for Perth, and the son of Dr. Alexander Whyte, of New College and Free St George’s, Edinburgh, one of Scotland’s most" famous divines, has been one of the central figures in an astonishing tragedy that has shocked Shanghai. The tragedy involved the death of Baroness Paulette de Pidoll, wife of Baron Charles de Pidoll, a rich Luxembourg steel merchant. Shanghai newspapers report that she died at the Country Hospital, Shanghai, as the result of having swallowed poison on the day she returned from Japan in the same ship as Sir Frederick Whyte. The Shanghai “Evening Post,” in its account of the tragedy, says:— “The suicide was the climax of a tragic chaptei’ which began after a definite break between Baron de Pidoil and his wife, when she left his honie in Shanghai on October 12, fop Japan. “Sir Frederick Whyte, who was $

former foreign adviser to the Nanking Government, left for Japan at the same time. Lady Whyte and hex* son had previously left for home, where she intended to put their boy to school. She is now in San Francisco. “Previous to Lady Whyte’s depar- ; ture, she' and the Baron and Baroness de Pidoll were the closest of friends. They were seen in Shanghai in each other’s company 'frequently. ' “The baron and his wife were known at that time as one of the most devoted couples in Shanghai. They came to Shanghai in 1929, the baron being the China representative of the Comptoir Metal lurgique Luebourgeois. “Sir Frederick Whyte and Baroness de Pidoll departed for Japan in the same ship. Shortly afterwards numerous cablegrams signed by the baroness were sent to Shanghai seeking a reconciliation. “Soon after that time Sir and Baroness de Pidoll returned ■ yto Shanghai, aps sip Fy.e.d t erick g£t|mpted to effect a reconciliation on behalf of the baronqss. “This failing, they returned to Japan after a doctor had been called to attend the baroness, who was ip a hysterical condition.

“On January 18 Sir Frederick apd the baroness returned to Shanghai.' A doctor was summoned to the ship. Qn his arrival it was that tje baroness had taken poison. She was taken immediately to the Country Hospital, where every effort was made’ to save her life, but she died a few later. “She left three letters, with instructions that they were to be opened after her death. One was addressed’to , her husband, one to Sir Frederick Whyte, and the other to one of her husband’s business friends. “A verdict of suicide was returned at a private inquest held by the ijelgian Consular authorities at the hgspital.. Sir Frederick at the time pf •' the inquest was at the Cathay Hotel, but refused to make any comment |b the newspapers.” Sir Frederick Whyte was a wellknown and important figure in Britfch diplomatic circles. Be born in Edinburg in 1883 and married in 1913 Margaret Emily Fftirwpather, ajlausiter of Dr. William Fairweather, pf Kirkcaldy, Scotland. He was Liberal' member of Parliament for Perth from 1910 to 1918, and ip JB2Q became president of the Legislative Assembly of India.