WILHELM'S PROPERTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 144, 19 June 1926, Page 9

WILHELM'S PROPERTY.

A GERMAN REFERENDUM. PROPOSAL FOR CONFISCATION. BERLIN, June 18. The whole of the people of Germany are on the tip-toe of expectation in view of the momentous referendum which is to be taken on Sunday on the question of the confiscation or otherwise of the vast and valuable properties claimed by the ex-Kaiser. The ballot concerns 90 castles, 600,000 acres of land, and money totalling £50,000,000. The ballot paper to be used for the referendum is a simple document. Voters will be required to mark a cross in a circle to denote whether they vote for or against the proposal. Whichever side wins what is virtually a conflict between the Republic and the Monarchy will enormously strengthen its political position. The campaign on behalf of the confiscation of the former Royal property has been vigorously carried on. Though no voice has been officially raised on behalf of the Doom exile, nevertheless it is difficult to forecast the result. Twenty million people at least must vote in favour of confiscatiou in order to carry the day for it. To suggest that the ex-Kaiser would be reduced to beggary, even if confiscation were carried, would of course be nonsense. He would be given a pension, together with some property, which he unquestionably owns. He would still be a rich man, as would also his former Royal colleagues. At present the ex-Kaiser receives the equivalent of £500 a week from the Republic. The furniture, plate and objects of art in his lavish residence at Doom represent a substantial fortune. WilheLm received £50,000 for one book he wrote and he is asking £00,000 for a manuscript he has just completed. He is still extraordinarily extravagant and is scarcely able to balance his j budget.—(A. and N.Z.)