Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Shih Chao-chi

Mr. Alfred Sao-ke Sze

施肇基字植之

(Shih Chao-chi)

Mr. Alfred Sze was born at Cheng-tze, Kiangsu province, in 1876. He studied at the St. John's University from 1888 to 1892. During his last year in the University he was editor of St. John's one of the earliest published college magazines in China. In August 1893 he went to the United States to study. He prepared for college at Washington High School from 1893 to 1896. In 1897 he entered the Cornell University studying Liberal Arts, graduating there with the degree of A. B. in 1901 and that of M. A. in 1902. He was once elected editor of the Cornellian. In October Mr. Sze returned to China and was at once engaged by Viceroy Chang Chih-tung as his aceretary. In 1904 he became secretary to Viceroy Tuan Fang. In 1906 he was transferred to Peking for service and was first appointed as acting junior secretary of the Board of Communications. In 1907 he became director of the Peking-Hankow Railway Administration. He was director of Northern Railways during 1907-08; Customs Taotai of Harbin during 1908-10. In July 1910 he was appointed acting Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, Kirin; in August 1910, Junior Councillor, Board of Foreign Affairs, Peking; Imperial Commissioner to the International Plague Conference at Mukden, in April 1911; acting Senior Vice-President of the Board of Foreign Affairs, it August 1911; and was nominated Chinese Minister to America, Peru, Mexico and Cuba just after the outbreak of the First Revolution (October 1911) but he did not proceed. In May 1911 Mr. Sze was appointed Minister of Communications in tang Shao-i's Cabinet. This position he held for less than three months and resigned on account of ill-health. He is related, by marriage, to Tang Shao-i. In December 1913 he was appointed Officer of Ceremonies at the President's Office. In June 1914 he was appointed Chinese Minister to Great Britain. He was one of China's Chief Delegates to the Paris Conference in 1919. In September 1920 he was transferred to be Chinese Minister to Washington. In October 1921 he was awarded the First Class Wenhu and appointed a Chief Delegate to the Washington Conference. In November 1921 he was given the rank of Ambassador. In March 1922 and October 1922 he was awarded respectively the First Class Tashou Chiaho and the First Class Tashou Paokuang Chiaho. Mr. Sze visited China in November 1922. He was nominated as Minister of Foreign Afairs but rejected by the Senate, in January 1923. However, he was acting Minister of Foreign Affairs from January 5 to February 3, 1923. Subsequently he was awarded the Second Order of Merit. He returned to the Washington Post in 1923. In July 1924 he was ordered to be Chinese delegate to the International Opium Conference held under the League of Nations. At this conference Dr. Sze made a strong fight supported by the American delegation to bring about the complete suppression of the opium production and manufacturing, except for medical purposes. Finally at the session in 1925, when the matter was brought to a vote and no affirmative action taken, the American and Chinese delegates left the Conference. Dr. Sze returned to his post in Washington.