FRENCH MISSION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16434, 30 January 1919, Page 6

FRENCH MISSION.

FAREWELL COURTESIES

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The following message has been received by the Governor-General in reply to his Excellency's telegram of fart>- « well to General Pau, head of the r French Mission:— t I beg your Excellency to accept c my most sincere thanks and appreciation for your kind telegram or j farewell and good wishes. May I also on the day of our departure from New Zealand "express to you and 1 through you to the Government and c people oi New Zealand the deep " gratitude of the members of the c French Mission for the cordial and 1 charming welcome extended to us. We will always remember with pride 1 and pleasure the kindness and hos- 1 pitahty shown to us, and just as we, 1 as rtpresentatives of our country, J brought to New Zealand the message of the gratefulness of France, so we c shall feel honoured in conveying to our Government and our people the report of the sincere and lasting friendship which wo have found to exist between our two countries as it exists between the brave and glorious soldiers of New Zealand and France. (Signed) GENERAL PAL. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) 1 WELLINGTON, January 29. i Complimentary messages wero ex- t eh an god by the Acting-Prime Minister and General Pau, on tho eve of the J departuro of the French Mission from 1 New Zoaland. Tho following telegram i was sent to General Pau l>y Sir Jamcs 1 Allen:— 1 On the ovo of your departure, permit mo to v.-ish you and the members of the 1 French Mission a pleasant voyage and 1 a safe return to 1' ranee. I. trust that you all enjoyed your stay with us, and that you so" away assured of pur sympathy and support in your aftor-war reconstruction problems. That pleasant memories of your visjt to AoteaRna may remain with you is the desiro of all our' pakeha and Maori people. ■ To this telegram General Pau re- ( plied:— , Wo nave boen profoundly touched by your charming telegram of farewell. Allow mo now at the moment, when tho French Mission is about to Icavo tho ( hospitable shores of your beautiful , country, to express to the Covornment and the neoplo of New Zoaland tho French' Mission's deep gratitude for tho whole-hearted welcome which has boon extendod to us. Tho generous expressions of sympathy, esteem, and admiration for Franco which we liavo found everywhere on our passage, liavo come direct to our hearts. On our sido I hope wo have succeeded in making clear to vou tho immenso gratitude of Franco for the faithful friends who have holped her in the most \ terrible crisis of hor history. That New Zealand boys have fought' on the sacred soil of 'France for tho defence of a country which was at the same time the barrier of civilisation, will never be forgotten by the French people. An oternal friendship has now arifion from those titanic battles. The French Mission is proud to have been -even for only a few days n visible link symbolising this honourable friendship between two noblo nations.