Who is Hurting the Prince?

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 276, 1 November 1924, Page 9

Who is Hurting the Prince?

By

HAYDEN TALBOT

The article here printed was published on September 21st in extended form in a large number of newspapers throughout America. It is written by an American journalist of acknowledged standing, who had exceptional opportunities of contact with the Prince of Wales on his voyage to America. It represents a point of view which, in the circumstances, must be of deep interest to the whole British public.

A BB they harming Prince Charmine 1 If, as I believe is demonstrable, the answer is the affirmative, let me make haste to set down my conviction that it is an unintentional wrong that is being done. "They” to whom I refer are actuated by the loftiest possible motive —pure patriotism. They are fine, loyal, characterful British subjects, all of them inspired with tremendous admiration and genuine affection for their future monarch. If then they are harming him, where is to be found the explanation ? First-hand knowledge permits me to make an unequivocal answer. UNHAPPY RESULTS. The injustice being done this lad is merely one of many instances of the unhappy and inescapable consequences of the philosophy on which the broad principles of British policy are based. And again let me quickly add that the American people are heart and soul dedicated to precisely this same philosophy. Americans, no less than the British, are firm believers in the maxim that no one man, however great, can possibly be as great as the country which produced him. The fact, however, that Englishmen consider the British Empire of vastly more importance than the young man who —barring the unexpected—is to be their King-Emperor, does not adequately serve as an explanation. Came word that I was to devote myself to the task of obtaining every possible fact about the visit of the Prince of Wales to America. Obviously the occasion was exceptional. SIR GODFREY THOMAS. Sir Godfrey Thomas occupies an official position in the suite of the Prince of Wales which is technically known as “private secretary.” It is about as much in truth as would be , a similar conception of the duties and importance of the Secretary to the President of the United States. Sir Godfrey is to the Prince of Wales very much what the President’s Secretary is to the President —this latter a post which informed Washington has long held to be of far greater actual importance than any cabinet portfolio. The only difference is that Sir Godfrey’s importance is considerably greater than the President’s Secretary. Although Sir Godfrey is one of the mo’st affable and kindliest of individuals it is seldom he receives newspaper men. Lesser lights generally suffice. But, as has been suggested, here was no ordinary occasion. I went to St. James’ Palace to see Sir Godfrey. I saw —Captain Alan Frank Lascelles. SECRECY! Captain Lascelles, a brother of Viscount Lascelles, husband of Princess Mary, occupies the post of "assistant private secretary” to the Prince. On the present trip, in the absence of Sir Godfrey, he is fulfilling the latter’s duties ag the Prince’s chief equerry. When I had explained the purpose of my visit, Captain Lascelles responded that while he quite appreciated the great interest Americans were evincing in the forthcoming appearance of the Prince among them —satisfying that interest through the medium of American newspapers was one of several things least desired by his Royal Highness. In other words—and the announcement was made in the friendliest possible manner —the Prince wanted above all else to be left strictly alone! I assured Captain Lascelles that I thoroughly appreciated the Prince’s attitude, but my job was to bear in mind the wishes of my readers. Those readers wanted information. For a solid month and more his coming had been told a thousand times in print and picture. And still the insatiable demand was unsatisfied. What my readers wanted were more details. TRIVIAL DETAILS. "What kind?” Captain Lascelles’s tone was not encouraging. "Every kind and all kinds," I replied. “Even such trivial details as the number of style of his neckties, his shoes, his shirts, his daily menu, his favourite sport—anything—everything.” "I think I understand,” said Captain Lascelles gravely. At the Cunard Line offices, where next I had to go to arrange for passage in the Berengaria, harassed officials swore to high heaven that the ship was full to overflowing. There was a wafting list of 500. To think of booking passage in her was a waste of time. Within an hour news reached me that from the headquarters of the company, in Liverpool, an order had been issued that under no conditions whatsoever were newspaper - men or photographers to be allowed aboard tho Berengaria. Again I made for St. James’ Palace.

TWO SURPRISES. When I told Captain Lascelles of my experience with the Cunard officials he excused himself, to return a moment later with Sir Godfrey. Of both of them I asked a direct question. Had any suggestion emanated from them that was responsible for the edict barring Pressmen and photographers from Berengaria. They both assured me that not only had they not made any such suggestion, but that the Cunard Line had not even communicated with them on the subject. Having in mind Captain Lascelles’ earlier remarks anenc the undesirability of my craft—in so far as this especial journey of the Prince was concerned—it was with faint hope that I now asked if they would intervene on my behalf. To my amazement and delight, Sir Godfrey smilingly said he would be glad to do so. Topping this surprise came an even more astounding one. Captain Lascelles was asking me if I thought a letter from him might help. I was very sure it would. Whereupon he went into an adjoining room, leaving me to chat with Sir Godfrey. ENGAGING CANDOUR. “Does the Prince really object to us 1” I asked. “Not at all—as individuals,” replied Sir Godfrey. “In the pursuit of your daily tasks, and en masse, I am afraid he does object to you, But he objects to journalists very much less than he does to photographers.” Here was a negative crumb of comfort, if you please! “But if our presence aboard the Berengaria is distasteful to his Royal Highness,” I persisted, “why are you so kindly offering to help me book a passage 1” “Because we realise,” said Sir Godfrey, the smile widening, “that conditions in your country as regards the part played by your newspapers are vastly different from those here. We recognise—having learned the lesson during the Prince’s first trip to your country—that your newspapers are not to be denied. That is really our, reason for choosing the lesser of two evils —if you will permit me to put it that way—and doing what we can to assist you to accompany the party.” It is an engaging candidness, Sir Godfrey’s. It mirrors the winning frankness of his Prince. Captain Lascelles now returned with the letter. The letterhead and envelope bore the three feathers crest, and had St. James’ Palace imprinted on both. In effect it stated Captain Lascelles’ belief that my presence on board the Berengaria would be “most satisfactory to all concerned.” Thus armed, I returned to the Cunard offices, and again had converse with the London manager. At first he was adamant. There was no room for me—even in the empty steerage! And then I produced Captain Lascelles’ letter. His eyes fell on the Prince’s crest on the flap of the envelope. It was not altogether inadvertently that I held it so he could see the three feathers! I handed it to him. THE ROYAL PARTY. In less than fifteen minutes he had finished a telephone conversation with the home office in Liverpool—while I had waited in an outer room —and had issued instructions for me to have passage in the ship in which there was no available accommodation! In the Prince’s party, besides Captain Lascelles, are BrigadierGeneral Trotter, David Boyle (former military attache at the British Embassy in Washington), two Scotland-yard inspectors, two clerks, and two valets. It was this entourage from whom the Prince, on the eve of his departure from England, succeeded in slipping away—on pleasure bent. The following morning—Sunday— the first-class lounge was crowded as probably it never was crowded before. Although no announcement had been made, it was taken for granted that the Prince would appear at tho Divine services. Also it was assumed he would follow custom and, as the ship’s most distinguished passenger, read the lesson from the pulpit. Matrons and their flapper daughters struggled furiously for front-row seats. Alas for their aspirations!

PRINCELY HUMOUR. While the orchestra was playing the opening anthem the Prince slipped in through a side door and into a seat in the back row of the choir! His entrance was noted by perhaps a tenth of the eagerly expectant congregation. None of them Could see him once he was seated behind three rows of stalwart stewards and bulky stewardesses composing the choir! But subsequently it was intimated to us that no especial stress be laid on this unexpected behaviour of the Prince, if we wished to continue to win his appreciation in the matter of wireless messages. It was considered undesirable to prove—as it would have been so gloriously easy to do—that his Royal Highness has an abundant sense of humour! BREEZY RACONTEUR. In the evening, for the third time, it was the Prince who furnished us with amazingly good “copy.” Into our midst, as we stood about Captain Lascelles’ cabin, he suddenly came —cigarette in hand and a cheery smile on his face. A few of us he recognised—and greeted heartily. His handshake as the others were presented was a regular man’s grip. He talked and laughed and told funny stories as if he couldn’t hope to be more at home and in better company. World-famous celebrities figured in more than one of his frank reminiscences. But he chatted on as though quite sure his confidences would be respected. He never suggested that he be not quoted. It was not until he had gone that Captain Lascelles made the request. He prefaced it by stressing the possibility of unpleasant international complications resulting from public repetition of some of the Prince’s jovial tales. But those of us whose business it is to present to newspaper readers as nearly accurate as possible word pictures of public characters were of one mind on the subject. It was a shame we could not publish these anecdotes. Ag harmless as they were witty and intensely interesting, the stories would have gone far indeed in portraying his Royal Highness in his true colours. He is not only a raconteur of rare ability; he is overwhelmingly human. Generally speaking the public’s estimate of the Prince of Wales is as far from the truth as can be imagined—almost as much so in this country as in America. Proof of this is to be found in the expressions of opinion made about him. These can be summarised as follows:-' Isn’t he good looking ? Isn’t he adorable 1 Isn’t he a wonderful dancer ? Doesn’t he dress beautifully? Isn’t it a pity he can’t ride ? What a wonderful time he has! He’s terribly conceited. After all, if he weren’t the Prince of Wales what would he amount to ? Every speech he makes is written for him by somebody else, you know. AS HE IS. And this when actually: He is good looking, but like any other young man of good common sense, he resents the thought that it should be noteworthy. He writhes at the merest mention of the word adorable. He loves to dance, and wants to dance well—but as recently as last winter he was taking dancing lessons. He dresses just as badly as he dares, as often as he can. He created a genuine sensation by arriving at; the White House in Washington on his official call on the President—wearing a blue shirt and a blue collar! Not only he himself declares with emphasis that ho can ride—good horsemen .have assured me that ho can. As for having a wonderful timeask his worn-out companions! His modesty is colossal. If he were not the Prince of Wales his charming personality would still make him a public idol whatever his social station. His impromptu speeches—and they are many—prove that there is no need for any of his speeches to bo written for him. ROOSEVELT BEATEN. Why, as compared with the 9st 91bs bundle of nervous energy— Roosevelt was a weakling, apathetic, lazy I The amount of it is that the Prince of Wales—when one gets to know him as he really is—is twenty times the man they who surround him will permit tho world to know he is! Why Is it possible the answer is to be found in the fact that at this moment —while a united British Press cries to high heaven against the menace of a terrifically superior French air force —there is a welldefined feeling that the real strength of Britain’s Air Force is many times greater than British officialdom will allow to be made known ?