Dr. Nguyen Thi Tinh (R) beside the President Ho Chi Minh statue at Montreau Park in 2005.

“One day, when I was a translator for the museum, I met a foreign woman meticulously noting every word of President Ho Chi Minh's Declaration of Independence. Seeing that, I went to talk to her and she introduced herself as Lady Borton - American writer, wanting to record very carefully the documents about President Ho Chi Minh because she loved Vietnam’s President," Ms. Tinh recalled with People’s Army newspaper.

After that, together with the business trips of Mrs. Borton to Vietnam, the two women had opportunity to talk and become closer and closer. Every time she came to Vietnam, Ms. Borton told Ms. Tinh about her trips. By personal expenses, Ms. Borton went to libraries and archives agencies in the UK, France or Hong Kong (China) to find documents about Uncle Ho.

“Ms. Borton’s tireless trips helped the Ho Chi Minh Museum later successfully publish the book on the Nguyen Ai Quoc Case in Hong Kong (China) in the Vietnamese and English languages, which is highly appreciated by readers," Ms. Tinh said.

"In the Nguyen Ai Quoc case in Hong Kong (China) lasting from June 1931 to early 1933, British lawyer, Mr. Francis Henry Loseby, always stood by him for legal aid and helped him regain his freedom,” Dr. Nguyen Thi Tinh went on to say. “Later, in 1959, through the Vietnam Consulate in Hong Kong (China), Uncle Ho presented Mr. Loseby with the embroidery picture of Vietnam’s One-pillar Pagoda. In 1960, Uncle Ho invited the lawyer’s family to visit Hanoi. The picture was preserved by the British lawyer’s family as a valuable asset throughout the years in Hong Kong (China). After the lawyer and his wife passed away, the picture was brought back to the UK by their only daughter.”

“One day, lawyer Loseby’s grandchild, Mr. Paul Tagg, with a hope to realize lawyer Loseby’s daughter’s will before dying to present the Vietnamese people the precious picture, found a way to safely carry the picture to Vietnam,” said Ms. Tinh. “On May 22^nd, 2005, in a solemn ceremony at the Ho Chi Minh Museum, Mr. Paul Tagg presented the museum the precious remembrance of lawyer Loseby’s family. At present, the picture is kept at the museum and ready to be introduced to the public at important exhibitions.”

“In the years 1999-2000, Mayor of Montreuil city, Mr. Jean-Pierre Brard came to us to ask about the issue of placing Uncle Ho's statue in the city's Montreau Park,” Ms Tinh said. “The Mayor of Montreuil city is the one who loves and respects Uncle Ho a lot, the one who pays special care to Vietnam.”

According to Ms. Tinh, during his youth, he always supported Vietnam with diverse activities, including going to the streets to protest the war in Vietnam; donating to support northern Vietnam. During his time as mayor, he spent many cooperative activities with Vietnam, such as twinning between Montreuil city and Hai Duong province; giving assistance in agriculture, rice cultivation and irrigation for many provinces and cities in Vietnam; and especially inaugurating the Ho Chi Minh Space at the Montreuil City Museum of Living History where now are kept some remnants of Uncle Ho's room at house No. 9, Compoint alley, District 17, Paris.

Through thorough preparations, on the occasion of the 115th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday, May 19th, 2005, a solemn ceremony was held to place President Ho Chi Minh half-length statue with the attendance of a large number of French people and overseas Vietnamese. Addressing the ceremony, Mr. Jean-Pierre Brard said that the “living museum” Montreuil put aside a space for Uncle Ho. He also expressed his thanks to Vietnamese friends and belief that President Ho Chi Minh would always follow the friendship between the two countries./.

Compiled by BTA