Mr. Liu Shih-hsun, was born at Nan-hui Hsien Kiangsu, 1868, was a student at the Kiangnan Arsenal School, Shanghai, and later at the School of Foreign Languages, Peking: He studied French for fifteen years in China before he was sent to the Chinese Legation at Paris as a student interpreter. After having stayed in France for some time, he was transferred to the Chinese Legation at Petrograd and then to Berlin. Having acquired an intimate knowledge of international affairs, he was called back to be a member of the Tsungli Yamen or State Department. After the Boxer uprising in 1900, he assisted Viceroy 'Li Hung-chang in restoring friendly relations with foreign countries. Afterward, he was sent to Yunnan and arranged a settlement of a boundary dispute between that province and Tonguin. In 1904 a mission was sent to England to attend the coronation of King Edward VII and Mr. Liu was a French secretary to the mission. On that occasion, he visited the principal countries in Europe. Later he was appointed first secretary to the Chinese Legation at Paris, and when Sun Pao-chi was transferred back to China to be Chief Secretary of the government Council in 1906, succeeded him as Chinese Minister to France. He stayed in France until September 1912. During his residence at Paris, he was a member of the permanent Council of Arbitration at the Hague. After the first revolution and the establishment of the Republic, Mr. Liu returned to China and was Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs between January and August 1913. Upon his resignation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was sent to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as Chinese Minister in December 1914 and remained there until December 1916. Mr. Liu again became Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs at the end of 1916 and continued holding the position until March 1917. After his resignation, he was appointed Councillor to the President and a member of the Commission for Foreign Affairs in Peking. In January 1920 he was conferred the Second Class Wenfu. In September 1920 he was again appointed Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs. In September 1920 he became concurrently President of the Famine Relief Commission in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; in October, President of the Commission for the Examination of Diplomatic and Consular Officers. In January 1921 Mr. Liu was awarded the Second Class Tashou Paokuang Chiaho and in November the First Class Tashou Chiaho. In January 1922 Mr. Lin was relieved of the Vice-Ministership. Subsequently he became Vice-President of the Commission for the Study of Treaties and also `Chief of the Washington Conference Preparation Bureau. In March 1922 Mr. Liu was awarded the First Class Tashou Paokuang Chiaho. In May 1923 he was appointed Vice-President of the Diplomatic Commission. In 1904. he married a young French girl and at the end of 1912, returned to China with his wife. Mr. Liu has been awarded the Commandeur de la Legion d'Honeur; Commandeur de l'Ordre de la Conception du Portugal; Chevalier de l'Ordre de Leopold de Belgique. In addition to these, he has received many Chinese decorations for his loyal services.
