THE PRINCE EXPLAINS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8184, 27 July 1912, Page 1

THE PRINCE EXPLAINS

ALBANIAN EXILE GIVES MORE INFORMATION. PSESS ASSOCIATION. MASTERTON, July 26. In reference to statements iin the Wanganui Chronicle,” Prince Dikran informed a pressman this morning that he was a graduate iu medicine from the American Presbyterian Church at Beyrout, and < bears offi cial credentials and the highest recommendations from such notables as Governor Hay ot Washington, tho Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of the East, American missionaries in Palestine, well-known . clergymen in America, and United States representatives in Europe. The Prince had also many other credentials, and a pho. tegraph taken five years ago with his bodyguard. The Prince had spent two years in Vancouver, and had never tried to go to any college in Canada. H© came from Vancouver, not from San Francisco. He then came on to Sydney on hoard the steamer Marama. He just saw Mr Wilford, 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 to go to Dunedin was to stay two years to become a British subject, and h© hoped to teach and study in one of the colleges there. His second call to lead the revolutionaries was received by letter, which had been sent to, America and forwarded to him in New Zealand a week ago.

MORE MYSTERY. MEMBER FOR HUTT KNOWS NOT HIS HIGHNESS. PBESS ASSOCIATION. WANGANUI, July 26. In reference to tho explanation given by Prince Dikran to a Masterton press representative, the “Chronicle’’ to-mor-row says: We have the authority of a well-known business man—Air John Forbes, wholesale and retail jeweller—to state that the gentleman who styles himself an Albanian exile called at his establishment and was introduced to him (Air Forbes) as Prince Dikran. In the course of conversation the visitor made free nse of the name of Mr T. AI. Wiiford, to whom ho alluded as “Tommy AVilford,”jond who, ho said, was a fellowpassenger of his from Vancouver. “Ho told me.” said Mr Forbes, “that it had been hie intention to proceed to New South Wales, but that ‘Tommy AVilford’ had induced him to remain in New Zealand, and that he now intended to take a two years’ course at Dunedin Univer T sity." The reasonable interpretation of this statement, and of the tone of familiarity with which the speaker alluded to Air Wiiford, is that it was intended to convey the impression that the prince had not merely come over in tho 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 tides.

That this is a fair interpretation is borne out by a statement made to us by another well-known citizen, whose credibility is beyond question, and who informs us that the prince told h;m that he intended to visit Wellington, and “was going to ask Mr Wiiford to introduce him to his Excellency the Governor." For the rest, we are content to allow the following telegram from Mr Wiiford to speak for Itself: “Have never spoken to Gustave Dikran. Received n letter from his recently which contains the following sentence — ‘Alissed the chance of seeing you on board s.s. Marama, WiJford.’ ”