Alfred Sao-ke Sze
Encyclopedia
Dr. Alfred Sao-ke Sze was a prominent Chinese politician and diplomat during the most turbulent period in modern Chinese history.
in 1901. He returned to China
to serve his country, working with the Peking government.
, was part of a Chinese delegation which traveled to the United States
in the fall of 1921 to negotiate with the U.S. to impose a limitation of armaments on Japan and to de-escalate tensions over Japan's aggressive, expansionist activities in Shantung
.
From 1921-1929, Sze was head of the Chinese legation to the U.S., representing the Peking Government and securing U.S. support to contain Japanese aggression in northern China. In January 1923, President Li Yuan-hung
nominated Sze for the office of foreign minister, but of all the Cabinet nominations, Sze's alone was rejected by the legislature. In November 1928, Sze was appointed minister to Britain and delegate to the League of Nations
. He was replaced in the legation to the U.S. by Dr. C.C. Wu.
In 1931, he was tapped as foreign minister again, but declined. At the time, he was actively representing the Republic of China
at the League of Nations
, denouncing Japanese military aggression in Manchuria
and demanding the League's intervention. He warned the League that if it failed to act, China
would have no choice but to re-arm. The League failed to act, so in December 1931, he offered his resignation. His offer was declined and he remained at post.
In January 1933, he was designated minister to the United States once again. He presented his credentials in February 1933. In July 1935, after the United States and the Republic of China agreed to raise their diplomatic missions from legations to embassies, Sze became the first Chinese ambassador to the United States. He was succeeded by C.T. Wang in 1937.
Dr. Sze was a founding member of to the World Bank
and was a member of the Advisory Council of the World Bank from 1947 to 1950.
, her uncle was prime minister Tang Shaoyi
and her cousin Tang Pao-yu was the wife of Wellington Koo
.
Alfred’s Sze’s elder brother, Shi Sao (aka Chao) Tseng (施肇曾 Pinyin: Shī Zhàozēng), born 1868, was also a prominent official and served as a diplomat in USA 1893-1897. Upon returning to China he held several senior railway posts including Director-General of Lunghai Railways 1913-1922.
Alfred Sze had two sons and four daughters. Dr. Szeming Sze
, was medical director of the United Nations from 1955-1968. Deson C Sze was a banker and also served as a private secretary to T.V. Soong. Mai-mai Sze was an accomplished painter, author and model. Julia Sze-Bailey and Alice Wang, lived in Manhattan and Boston, respectively. The authors of this piece have no details about his fourth daughter, Betty.
Early life
Sze was born on April 10, 1877. He became the first Chinese student to graduate from Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1901. He returned to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to serve his country, working with the Peking government.
Career
Dr. Sze, along with Foreign Minister W.W. Yen, C.T. Wang and Wellington KooWellington Koo
Koo Vi Kyuin or Ku Wei-chün , often known by the Western name V.K. Wellington Koo, was a prominent diplomat under the Republic of China, representative to the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, Ambassador to France, Great Britain, and the United States; participant in founding the League of Nations...
, was part of a Chinese delegation which traveled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the fall of 1921 to negotiate with the U.S. to impose a limitation of armaments on Japan and to de-escalate tensions over Japan's aggressive, expansionist activities in Shantung
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
.
From 1921-1929, Sze was head of the Chinese legation to the U.S., representing the Peking Government and securing U.S. support to contain Japanese aggression in northern China. In January 1923, President Li Yuan-hung
Li Yuanhong
Li Yuanhong was a Chinese general and political figure during the Qing dynasty and the republican era. He was twice president of the Republic of China.- Early history :...
nominated Sze for the office of foreign minister, but of all the Cabinet nominations, Sze's alone was rejected by the legislature. In November 1928, Sze was appointed minister to Britain and delegate to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
. He was replaced in the legation to the U.S. by Dr. C.C. Wu.
In 1931, he was tapped as foreign minister again, but declined. At the time, he was actively representing the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
at the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
, denouncing Japanese military aggression in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
and demanding the League's intervention. He warned the League that if it failed to act, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
would have no choice but to re-arm. The League failed to act, so in December 1931, he offered his resignation. His offer was declined and he remained at post.
In January 1933, he was designated minister to the United States once again. He presented his credentials in February 1933. In July 1935, after the United States and the Republic of China agreed to raise their diplomatic missions from legations to embassies, Sze became the first Chinese ambassador to the United States. He was succeeded by C.T. Wang in 1937.
Dr. Sze was a founding member of to the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and was a member of the Advisory Council of the World Bank from 1947 to 1950.
Personal Life and Posterity
Dr. Sze had been married to Yu-hua "Alice" Tang. Tang's mother had been a lady in waiting to the Dowager Empress CixiEmpress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi1 , of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a powerful and charismatic figure who became the de facto ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 to her death in 1908....
, her uncle was prime minister Tang Shaoyi
Tang Shaoyi
Táng Shàoyí , was a Chinese diplomat, politician. He was the father-in-law of Wellington Koo and Lee Seng Gee.-Career:...
and her cousin Tang Pao-yu was the wife of Wellington Koo
Wellington Koo
Koo Vi Kyuin or Ku Wei-chün , often known by the Western name V.K. Wellington Koo, was a prominent diplomat under the Republic of China, representative to the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, Ambassador to France, Great Britain, and the United States; participant in founding the League of Nations...
.
Alfred’s Sze’s elder brother, Shi Sao (aka Chao) Tseng (施肇曾 Pinyin: Shī Zhàozēng), born 1868, was also a prominent official and served as a diplomat in USA 1893-1897. Upon returning to China he held several senior railway posts including Director-General of Lunghai Railways 1913-1922.
Alfred Sze had two sons and four daughters. Dr. Szeming Sze
Szeming Sze
Dr. Szeming Sze was a prominent Chinese diplomat and the co-founder who helped build the World Health Organization into a specialized United Nations agency.- Early life :...
, was medical director of the United Nations from 1955-1968. Deson C Sze was a banker and also served as a private secretary to T.V. Soong. Mai-mai Sze was an accomplished painter, author and model. Julia Sze-Bailey and Alice Wang, lived in Manhattan and Boston, respectively. The authors of this piece have no details about his fourth daughter, Betty.