PRINCE DECLINES INVITATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19805, 22 May 1934, Page 9

PRINCE DECLINES INVITATION

SHOCK FOR BRITISH LEGION

SEQUEL TO ATTACKS ON EXECUTIVE United Press Association—By Electric Tel egraph—Copyright LONDON. May 20. At the Conference of the British Legion at Weston-Super-Mare, there was consternation when the President, Sir Frederick Maurice read a letter from Prince George, declining the invitation to attend, owing to the unfortunate prominence given to reports of apparent attempts to create dissension in the Legion’s ranks. Sir Frederick Maurice said he could well understand, when the Executive was being publicly attacked, Princes of the Royßl Household should hesitate to give the slightest appearance of taking sides in a matter of which they had no knowledge. The only possible step was to inform Prince George that the Legion is as united as ever in loyalty to the King, Court and Royal Family. The audience cheered vociferously. Sir Frederick Maurice Inter said that all were heartily ashamed of an incident which prevented Prince George’s presence. Such things must not recur. Despite the grave statements about its work, the Legion had no secrets. A resolution endorsed the Executive’s recent dismissal of the editor of the “League Journal,” and expressed confidence in the Executive. Prince George’s non-attendance disappointed thousands, who flooded the town to see him review 20,000 exservicemen. This is the first occasion since the foundation of the Legion on which no Prince of the Royal House was present at the conference or rally. Press Comment. “The Times” says that the incidents to which Sir Frederick Maurice referred, hung heavily over the Conference’s preliminaries. A meeting of the so-called rebels the previous night proved stormy, and ended in an anticlimax, with overwhelming majorities declaring that the Legion was democratically controlled, and regret at convening the meeting. Sir Frederick Maurice lost no time in bringing the matter to a head. He quoted extracts from certain Sunday papers, alleging that the Legion for a long time had been going downhill—that the membership had dwindled by hundreds and thousands, despite the secrecy observed. Sir Frederick Maurice scouted this as absurd, because a certified statement of membership was circulated yearly. He indignantly refuted the gross personal attacks on Mr Brown, who, it was suggested, received a knighthood for selling his comrades’ interests at a deputation to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Pensions, whereas Sir Frederick Maurice himself led the deputation, and did not consult Mr Brown beforehand. Mr Brown announced that he is launching legal proceeding's to vindicate his personal honour. Sir Frederick Maurice announced the membership at 342,000, an increase of 16,000 since last year.