AFFRONT TO PRINCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1922, Page 5

AFFRONT TO PRINCE.

AN INCIDENT IN INDIA. PASSIVE DISLOYALTY. , NO CHEERS GIVEN. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received March 7, 11.10 p.m. Delhi, March 6. The natives of the city of Peshawar offered the Prince of Wales an unexpected affront by putting up their shutters during the Prince’s State drive through the main streets to receive a provincial address. The hartal was the more surprising because the city pursued its wonted life on the day of the '•Prince’s arrival, and watched with keen interest the preparations for decorating the squares and bazaars. This was the first time the Prince had driven through the heart of any purely native quarter, as hitherto he merely skirted the fringe.

The authorities did not anticipate trouble of any kind. Political agitators had been busy, particularly those working on behalf of the Caliphate organisation, but no effect was perceptible until yesterday, when the campaign of intimidation began to yield results and merchants were warned that their shops Would be burned if they opened to-day. Wild stories of a general rising were in circulation, and the police promptly arrested a few of the leading agitators, whereupon the majority of the shops closet!, and not one was open when the Prince drove through the streets lined with native infantry and British troops, the latter being stationed at the end of the route.

The natives did not hide themselves behind the shutters, but simply locked their doors and put up heavy wooden hording© as a sign of mourning, and sat on the balconies or roofs and watched the procession. There were a few’ cheers raised in the square, chiefly by children, but the great majority of the Indians gazed on the proceedings in silence. After receiving the address the Prince returned to Government House by a different route. There was no disorder of any kind.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.