CHINA REJOICES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 213, 8 September 1945, Page 4

CHINA REJOICES

PRIVATE DINNER PARTIES IN WANGANUI RECEPTION IN WELLINGTON. Members of the Chinese community in Wanganui have marked the end of the Japanese war by clos ng their shops and market gardens until Monday. Although the surrender will not be signed in Nanking until to-mor-row, several private dinner parties wore held in the ci tv yesterday. Some members of the Chinese community have taken the opportunity of the closed period to visit relatives in other centres. There has been, a general air of rejoicing. In Wellington representatives of all Allied Nations, members of the Consular and Diplomatic Corps, the Prime Minister, Cabinet members and citizens in every walk of public life, were guests at a reception given on Thursday by the Consul-General of the Republic of China and Mrs. Wang Feng, at the Hotel Waterloo. The reception, which took place between 5 o’clock and 6.30, marked the first of the three days set aside by the Government for the celebration of victory. Mrs. Wang Feng, who received the guests with her husband, was wearing an exquisite ankle-length tunic frock of pale turquoise matt crepe embroidered in a tiny flower design of rose and primrose. She wore elbowl?ngth white gloves and on her hair a coronet of rose-coloured blossoms veiled with black tulle. Her large drop earrings were o* turquoise and silver.

In welcoming his guests to share in peace rejoicing, Mr. Wang Feng paid a warm tribute to New Zealand’s part in the war against Japan, and her friendship and co-operation. “I recall during the most trying years when China was fighting alone, your country was the first to cease the exportation of scrap-iron to Japan,” he said. ‘Yours was the first country to advocate strong measures against Japanese aggression, and you have been most generous with money and materials for the relief of war suffering in China. To the Prime Minister, his colleagues, and the people of New Zealand I wish to express deep gratitude. Let us drink a toast to our lasting friendship and common victory.”