THE ALBANIAN PRINCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15056, 27 July 1912, Page 8

THE ALBANIAN PRINCE.

BONA FIDES CHALLENGED.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] MASTKSTO.T, Friday. The Wangamu Chronicle expressed grave doubts to-day regarding the bona fides of Prince Dikran, the Albanian, now in New Zealand, who says he has been requested to return to Albania to lead the revolt.

Prince Dikran informed a reporter this morning that he bears official credentials and the highest recommendations from such as Governor Hay, of Washington, the Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of the East. American missionaries in Palestine, and well-known clergymen in • tha United States. ■ He also showed a photograph taken Five years ago with his bodyguard. He came to Sydney on board the. steamer Marama, and saw Mr. T. W2ford, M.P., and heard him give two addresses. Other persons had spoken well of New Zealand, and this had decided him to break his journey at Auckland, his purpose being to go to Dunedin, and stay two years to become a British subject. He hoped to teach and study in one of the colleges there. The call to lead the revolutionists was received by letter which had been sent to America and forwarded to him in New Zealand a week ago. -

[by TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.]

Wakgaxct, Friday.

In reference to the explanations given by Prince Dikran to a Masterton press representative, the- Chronicle to-morrow says:— We have the authority of a wellknown business man,. Mr. John Forbes, wholesale and retail jeweller, to state that a gentleman who styles himself an Albanian exile called at his establishment and was introduced to him. (Mr. Forbes) as Prince Dikran. In the course of conversation the visitor made free use of the name of Mr. T. M. Wilford, to whom he alluded as "Tommy Wilford," and who, he said, was a fellow passenger of his from Vancouver. "He told me," said Mr. Forbes, "that it had been hi a intention to proceed to New South Wales, but that 'Tommy Wilford' bad induced him to remain in Now Zealand, and that he now intended to take a two years' course at Donedin University." The reasonable interpretation .o£ this statement, and of the tone of familiarity with which the speaker alluded to Mr. Wilford, is (says the Chronicle) that it was intended to convey the impression that the prince had not merely come.over in the same vessel as the member for Hutt, but that he had. become fairly well acquainted with him, and had satisfied him as to his bona fides. That this is a fair interpretation is borne out by the statement made to us by another wellknown citizen, whose credibility is beyond question, and who informs us that the prince toM him that he intended to visit Wellington and e< was going to ask Mr. Wilford to introduce him to His Excellency the Governor." "For the rest," concludes the Chronicle, " we are content to allow the following telegram from Mr. Wilford to epeak for itself:"Have never,spoken to Gustave Dikran. Received a letter from him recently, which contains the following, sentence: ' Missed the chance of seeing you on board s.s. Mararaa.'"