His Excellency the Ambassador replied on behalf of the guests.
Following the Ambassador's speech, Mrs. Lupton sang more popular Welsh songs, being loudly applauded by all those present, whether Welsh or from some other part of Great Britain.
Captain Dundas, Major-General Telfer-Smollett, Mr. W. B. O. Middleton, Mr. T. G. Drakeford and Lieut-Cmdr. Gilmore then spoke on behalf of the Royal Navy, Army and the three sister societies, Mr. T. G. Drakeford said that when he heard that he had to speak that evening, he had an idea that he was io speak on behalf of all, the national societies, and cudgelled his brains for any reason why he should be allotted this honour. He came to the conclusion that, being born in Lancashire he could lay claim to being an Englishmen; coming from Liverpool, he was included among those who were sometimes referred to as "Liverpool Irish", which, for some reason, was not meant as a compliment.
Thirdly, some of his friends held that he had some of the characteris-ties of a Scotsman, but he could assure them that they were really the characteristics of the people of Lancashire.
"When I was very young", said, Mr. Drakeford, "I must have learnt lot of Welsh, presumably from my Welsh nurse Mr. Drakeford mentioned the three remaining words of Welsh that he could now remember, deprecating the fact that one of them happened to be a swear word.
Turning to a more serious vein. Mr. Drakeford said that the activities of the sister societies were more or less identical. Their objects were similar £o those of St. George's Society, which were stay the relief of Englishmen, secondly the promotion of friendship and goodwill among Englishmen, and thirdly the celebration of St. George's Day. and ce-operation with any other society or public body in the British Empire The greatest function of the national societies, concluded Mr. Drakeford before formally replying to the toast. was that of charity.
The speeches were concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, the guests then proceeding to the ball roon for dancing.
Earlier yesterday, local Welshmen gathered at the Cenotaph for a wreath-laying ceremony by the president of the St. Davi Society, Mr. A. H. Hopkyn Rees, and.the vice—president, Mr. T. S. Powell Buglers from the Second Battalion, the Loyal Regiment, sounded the Last Post amd the Reveille.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.