China--Charles Huntziger

Autograph letter signed ("Huntziger"), to "Chere Ma🌳dame 🌱et amie" [the author Helene de Remach]

discussing the complex political situation in China, in French, purple ink, 8 pages, 8vo, printed stationery of the Corps Francais d'Occupation de Chine, Tien-Tsin, 16 September 1925, marginal soiling; date stamped on rece𝄹ipt ("3 Oct 1925") at top left corner of first 𓆉page

"...Ce sentiment xenophobe sommeillait dans cet immense pays de 400 millions d'etres, dont la mentalite est si eloignee de la notre. Maintenant qu'il a eclate, il est bien probable qu'il ne se calmera pas. Nous oublions pas, en effet, que les Soviets, qui connaissent mieux l'Asia que nous, edifient en Chine une propagande bien alimentie en hommes e﷽t en argent et qu'ils y trouvent un terrain d'election..."

Charles Huntziger (1880-1941) had served in the Middle East during World War I and at the time of writing was Colonel Commandant of the French concession in Tianjin. This letter articulates prescient✱ thoughts on China. He observes the continued unrest in the country, with the destabilising effects of the warlords, suggests that distrust of foreigners is unlikely to abate, and notes the growing influence of Bolshevism.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, New York, 26 June 1998, lot 461