[ The British Empire Union, Incorporating the Anti-German Union. ] Printed handbill advertising a 'Competition for Poster Design.', and including a transcript of a letter on war memorials by sculptor Sir George Frampton.

1p., folio. On aged and worn paper. A jingoistic wartime outfit, with the letterhead proclaiming 'THE BRITISH EMPIRE FOR BRITISH SUBJECTS' and 'NO GERMAN INFLUENCE. | NO GERMAN LABOUR. | NO GERMAN GOODS | That compete with British.' The organisations chairman is named as Lord Leith of Fyvie, and the chairman Lieut-Col. Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller. The long text begins: 'The British Empire Union offers a Prize of £2 2s. for a black and white design in which the British Empire is shown grappling with German aggression.' It incorporates a transcript of a 'Letter from Sir George Frampton, (Member of the British Empire Union.)' to The Times, on the subject of 'War Memorials | Work for our own sculptors'. Towards the conclusion the text states: 'It is hoped to form an Artists' Section of the British Empire Union. German influence has made itself strongly felt in many branches of war, notably in music; and it is hoped that all patriotic artists will join in a scheme for development and protecting the interests and individuality of British art in every branch of work. [...] A correspondent of the Evening News draws attention to the excessive cosmopolitanism of the promenade concerts. "Enemy" music is specially favoured. Against 153 items of German and Austrian composition may be set 81 Russian and 60 French compositions, while British music takes only fourth place with 49 items; or one to each concert. It is said - not very truly - that we are not a musical people; certainly the organisers of these promenade concerts give us very little encouragement to be musical.' A scarce piece of First World War ephemera: no copy on COPAC or at the Imperial War Museum.