EMPIRE FALLEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 21 October 1926, Page 5

EMPIRE FALLEN

MEMORIAL TABLET IN ABBEY

UNVEILING BY PRINCE OF WALES

IMPRESS!'VE PROCEEDIN'OS

(By Eleotrio Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian A K.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, 19th Oct

The British genius for symbolising milestones in the Empire’s history and perpetuating the ideals underlying it gave in Westminster Abbey this morning a'preface to the Imperial Conference as simple as it was significant. It was the Prince of Wale’s unveiling of the. War Graves Commission's tablet to the memory of the Empire's million dead, and every unit of the Empire stood tor fifteen impressive minutes during the dedication of the Empire’s modest huthallowed tribute, to the virtues of unity and sacrifice which in a more peaceful sense the premiers were a few minutes later to seek to apply to the Empire s common advantage. The,premiers or their deputies in the, procession up the nave were paired — Mr Baldwin and Mr Mackenzie King; Mr Bruce and-Mr Coates; General Hertzc£ and Mr O’Higgins, (the latter, on behalf of Mr Cosgrave); The .Maharajah of Third wan and Mr M unroe (Newfoundland). Not only was it a service for the dedication of a memorial, hut one of blessing to the conference, the Dean's special closing prayer invoking the Divine bestowal of wisdom, patience and courage so ,that the conference deliberations should he for the good of the nations, the, welfare of -mankind, and the spread of Christ’s Kingdom.

REASONS'FOR MR COSO RAVE’S

A BSENC'E

LONDON'. 19th Oct. At 1 the Abbey unveiling ceremony, Mr O'Higgins, Vice-President of the j risli Executive, represented Mr Oosgrave who in a letter to Mr Baldwin bad explained that the casualties of the 1916 rebellion were not forgotten and bis presence would reopen wounds that were not yet healed, adding: “It- is well known throughout Ireland that myself and at least one member of the Executive were engaged in the hostilities in Dublin in 1916. I do not wish to discuss those eirc/uinstances, which aroused considerable feeling and hitter words. -As regards my companions, time and happy developments cicatrized the wounds, hut some of our citizens lost brothers and sons serving in the .British army. There still remains among us not unnaturally a feeling of pain. T fear my presence at the ceremonial which commemorates their beloved ones might reopen wounds, because they may attribute to me responsibility for their bereavement." Mr Cosgrave pointed out. that similar objection did not apply to Mr O’lliggins who lost a brother in the war.