BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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some measure of support in the Grand Council.
M. Mocatta, a member of
the executive, was concerned that these initiatives would pose a threat
to the authority of the Central Office.
While his perceptions on the
consequences of decentralization were astute, he undoubtedly
exaggerated the potential challenge from below.
In a letter to Lord
Randolph Churchill on 1 April
1886 he made explicit his concerns.
There is a movement on foot to do what I consider will
absolutely tend to destroy the splendid progress we are
now making, and completely to alter the character of
the League.
It is proposed to reduce the staff and send books,
with counterfoils to all the Habitations, with instruc­
tions to make out their own Diplomas. These are to be
periodically communicated to the Head office, with
remittances. If this be done I think the Head office
will become a Habitation, to receive information from a
mass of small Primrose Leagues. We should lose sight
of all that daily goes on and snap our control alto­
gether. At present we see day by day & week by week,
the progress which is making (10,000 a week) but we
should otherwise know it only by fragments & imper­
fectly. 29
Mocatta realized that if the movement were successful,
it would
lead to a general breakdown in Central
Office functions and threaten
the continued success of the League. He urged Churchill to attend the
next Council meeting noting,
The Habitations if they did the work (which I do not
think they will) would want to know why 2/6 entrance &
2/6 fees sho' [sic] be paid at all to the League & we
shall create questions leading to the stoppage of the
immense growth now beginning. The impression on me is
so serious, that I hope you will make an effort to
attend.30
April 1887, pp. 9-10; 7 May 1887, pp. 9-10.
29 Mocatta to Churchill, 1 April 1886; Churchill papers. See
also his second letter to Churchill on the matter dated 9 April 1886.
30
Mocatta to Churchill, 1 April 1886; Churchill papers.