A Letter from London.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20182, 26 June 1928, Page 11

A Letter from London.

Special Correspondent.

All Rights Reserved.

LONDON, May 10, 1928. Prince Carol. Downing Street would never have allowed Prince Carol and his Titianheaded. inamorata to come here, if it had been suspected that the purpose was anything more than a visit incog nito to friends. The British Government believed he would observe the same correct attitude as, for in stance, cx-King Manuel of Portugal has always done at his Twickenham home. But it is now’ evident that tha Prince and his advisers regarded England as the safest place from which to issue a “proclamation” to the Prince’s “faithful subjects,” and this was the real object of hi- Islt to Surrey. In the circumstances, it was necessary to serve a courteous ejectment order. A friend who knows the Prince well says his assumption of innocence can be taken for what it is worth, but he is very subject to the influences of the hour, and probably the present intrigue was suggestt d by friends who have big ambitions. Prince Carol himself suffers from an inability to face realities and also from some inconstancy of purpose. His great hope was to enlist Hungarian sympathy, but Hungary is not likely to disregard the present action of the British Government. Neither the Prince nor his retinue realised that an English country village, especially when it comes to notable strangers suddenly arriving in its midst, is a perfect hotbed of gossip and scandal, and she worst possible place for conductingromantic diplomatic escapades. Faded Greatness.

Perhaps it was just as well that Mr Lloyd George was never able to give effect to his pledge to hang the Kaiser. History has reserved the latter for a more subtle and lingering punishment. It was the Kaiser’s terrible megalomania that pushed Germany into the Great War. And his punishment js to realise, more and more as time passes, how utterly he has become a back number. Even in 1919 the ghost of his former greatness, when he was undoubtedly the most dominant personality in tho world, was enough to make the fact that he had grown a beard, which gave him rather the look of a retired naval officer, a top-line news item. But now his photo, without the beard and with the old tip-tilted moustache, hardly gets into the back pages of the {Sunday papers. The latest change merely accentuates Anno Domini. The All Highest’s moustache lacks its former aggressive bristle, and has faded snow-white. He Is, I hear, a great admirer of Mussolini, but his admiration is subject to fits of green-eyed jealousy. Moscow’s Friends.

The most virile propaganda agency the {Soviet Government possesses in this country at the present time is the new organisation known as “Tho Friends of Soviet Russia.” This organisation was formed by the British Workers’ delegation which went to Russia at the end of last year. Most of the people who were invited by the Soviet were extreme. Trade Unionists with Communist leanings, and so it was a simple matter for the Bolsheviks to win them over to their way of thinking, and to persuade them to take up the cause of the Soviet in Britain. Most of the Friends of Russia arc young people—a considerable number of them women—and seem to be impelled by a hope that they will be invited for another free trip to Russia as a reward for uheir labours. They boast of having addressed some 800 meetings since the formation of the association, and they make no secret of their avowed aim of urging the rank and file of the Trade Unions to throw over their leaders and link up with Moscow’. Their success, however, is not commensurate with their enthusiasm. They find that the British working man is as a rule not at all anxious to throw his lot in with a crowd of “Red” dictators. A Diplomatic Personality

It is iiiteresting news that Princo Otto von Bismarck, an attractive young Gorman sportsman with English blood in his veins, and incidentally Lord r>)Scbcfy’S godson, has been appointed First Secretary to tho Gorman Embassy in London. Tho appointment follows within a few Weeks of the Prince’s Berlin marriage to Herrin Tengbom, daughter of a well-known Swedish architect, and one of the most beautiful girls in a country o.' superb femininity. It is said that the German capital has witnessed no such gay social event since the w T ar. Tho

advent in London of the Prince and Princess must greatly enliven the diplomatic circles.

By Air. The really notable feature of air development at the moment is the w T ay postal authorities arc at last awakening to the full potentialities of the new transport. Australia has voted a sum of £200,000 for putting an aerial girdle round the Continent for postal uses, and Whitehall is devoting £lOO,000 to almost similar developments round Hong Kong. The Union Government of South Africa is subsidising a new air post service to the extent of £6OOO pci- annum. And a special fleet of aeroplanes is being arranged for the postal needs of the Malaya Peninsula. AU these postal air developments will be linked together eventually, and wc arc shortly to have, as part of a carefully-thought-out scheme, a now aerodrome at Peteri borough. This will bo only part of 1 the central equipment, for at Croydon the existing accommodation will be extended by building what will be the biggest hangar in the Oxford Chancellorship.

When the Chancellorship of Oxford University became vacant through Lord Cave’s death I mentioned that there was a strong feeling in favour of Viscount Grey as his successor, although some of the politically-minded members of the University had decided to nominate Lord Salisbury. Lord Grey’s claims were suppored by many prominent Conservatives, including, it was discovered, Lord Salisbury himself, who is one of the most modest of men and was anxious that ais candidature should not be pressed against that of the late Foreign Secretary. There is thus every prospect of a unanimous election, which ill be welcomed by those who felt none too proud over the contest between Lord Oxford and Lord Cave, who survived so briefly the rivalry which their friends waged on their behalf.

Bottles and Pyjamas. Chelsea has found a new kind of party with which to begin the season. Bright young- persons call it the “Bottle and Pyjama Party” and attend it attired in their gayest sleeping suits and with a “bottle” of one kind or another under their arm. It is not entirely an eating- and drinking party. At one this week there was a wonderful array of talent, and a clever American singer tried out a new song in which Henry Ford’s new car came in i for some lively criticisms. In the ordinary way, the contents of the bottles having been disposed of, every guest is expected to contribute to a “harmony” programme, and some of the best songs of the dhy are heard at these Bohemian parties. Unbreakable Music.

After witnessing a demonstration of the new gramophone record, invented by an Englishman and claimed as “unbreakable,” I am wondering what may happen next. Though lighter and thinner than ordinary records, and composed of something like celluloid, you can step on the new article, and maltreat it shamelessly, without apparently damaging its harmonic utility. But what opens up the most fascinating vista of possibility is the fact that the record is ductile, and can be rolled up to put in an envelope or a pocket. Moreover, the same needle can be used indefinitely without harming the record. Obviously these are bigadvantages, and may appeal, not only to the normal gramophone connoisseur, but to enterprising business firms. They will simply get their most ingratiating salesman —or saleswoman—to talk the latest bargain offers into a gramophone, and post the persuasive advertisement to all their potential patrons.

Girl Painter. The heroine of this year’s Royal Academy Exhibition is Miss Joan Man-ning-Banders. This precocious young painter is only 14 years old, but she has a picture well hung on the Burlington House walls amongst the canvasses of the famous and elderly R.A.’s, It is called “The Brothers,” and depicts three fishermen, admirably grouped, and well painted. It is true the juvenile artist has never taken lessons, but she is a Cornish girl, bred amid a once well-known seascape art colony, and there have not been lacking either good examples for her to study or excellent expert advice. Much

Sanders’ picture, one cannot help wishing she herself adorned the walls. With her delightful Cornish complexion, seablue eyes, and masses of golden-bronze hair, she ought surely to nave tempted some adult members of the art colony to an inspired potrait study.

as one may aainire. Miss ManningRecord Dirby Sweep. x>y selling 5UU,Ouu tickets this yeai for the Stock Exchange Derby sweep, the promoters will have £SU,OUO to contribute to charity, thus bringing their total donations to charitable organisation since the sweep was started in 19U1, up to £150,000. ihe rush for Uu tickets this year has been lemarkable, and it is estimated that another 250,000 could easily have been disposed ot. This is said by business men to bo a corollary to the gambling lever which has gripped the city recently. A number of men called at the sweep offices with cheques for £lOOO and more. There is likely to be much buying and selling of shares when the draw has been made known.

A Slight Mistake. Sir Laufcnce Philipps, owner of Flamingo, winner of tne Two Thousand Guineas and a lik’ely Derby favourite, is one of four brothers all well over six ’eet. One of them is General Sir Ivor Philipps, an old Felsted boy w’ o saw many small Wars before commanding the 38th Welsh Division in the Great War. Just about the time that the G.W. were developing a hew Irish service, the General attended a levee in his uniform as Colonel of Pembroke Yeomanry. During the French wars the gallant Pcinbrokcs once repulsed a raid at Fishguard and ever since have worn that name on their cartouches as a battle honour. The late Lord Oxford, then just plain Mr Asquith, but Prime Minister, noticed this display with astonishment. He presently buttonholed a mutual friend, whom he had seen talking to General Sir Ivor, and said: “Tell me, who is your tall military acquaintance, who is advertising the G.W.R.’s new route to Ireland?” An Academy Satire.

Everybody has been so engrossed by Sir William Orpcn ? s picture of a hanging judge that another subtle Royal Academy satire has escaped notice. Mr Charles Spencciayh’s “Render Unto Caesar” nevertheless deserves close attention, not only for its admirable paint ing, but for its mordant humour. It depicts an elderly gentleman, of prosperous mien and comfortable surroundings, studying his income tax torm. I think this must be the first time the British income taxpayer has been hung on the line, or figured as the hero of the occasion outside a Budget. Mr Churchill will certainly find Mr Spcncelayh’s subject picture one of real fascinationAnd if he looks closely into it, with due attention to detail and background, he Will observe, on the table behind Mr Spehetdayh’s income taxpayer, a vase of shining white leaves. It cannot. I imagine, be entirely s coincidence that th® foliage known as “Honesty” should spire this decorative note. The French call it “Monnii du Pape” — Pope’s Money.