ABDICATION OF KING MICHAEL

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25389, 12 January 1948, Page 7

ABDICATION OF KING MICHAEL

ALLEGED PRESSURE BY MARSHAL TITO “HOPES EVENTUALLY TO RETURN TO THRONE” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 10. . King Michael of Rumania had been ' compelled to abdicate after Marshal Tito, the Jugoslav Prime Minister, had S “imposed the principles of the Comin- J tern,” said the former King’s aide, Major Vergotti, to the Associated Press t correspondent at Lausanne. King f Michael’s unofficial engagement to Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma was ' another reason why he had been fore- , ed from the throne. Major Vergotti admitted that the . Communists might use “the romantic J entanglement” with Princess Anne to represent that King Michael was ab- . dicating to “enjoy himself.” He said that Princess Anne would not join . King Michael yet. “This is not the , moment for that sort of thing,” he ‘ said. ' i , King Michael hoped eventually to * return to the Rumanian throne, said i Major Vergotti. He was determined 1 always to stand by his people as his , first duty. “Marshal Tito spent a week in Bucharest in December, when King , Michael was at Lausanne,” Major Ver- ! gotti continued. “When the King re- • turned to Rumania the decision had been made that the country was to be- . come a republic. When we arrived in Bucharest there were no flags to greet the King. That was their gratitude to the boy who shortened the World War by six months.” Major Vergotti said that King Michael’s immediate future was uncertain. He might settle in Switzerland and ; eventually marry Princess Anne, ; whom he “really loves.” King Michael ' was concerned about the fate of relatives and friends still in Rumania, and ' was making efforts to obtain exit visas for them. The Rumanian Council of State, which took over after the abdication of King Michael, has named Professor Constanin Parhon, aged 84, as President, says the Associated Press correspondent in Bucharest. His duties will be those formerly discharged by the King. King Michael’s aides, and the members of his military household and King’s Flight have been placed on the reserve of officers list. They include three generals. Princess Anne has arrived at Luxemburg from Liege. She is the guest of the Grand Duchess. The Copenhagen correspondent of the Associated Press says that Princess Adne has left to join King Michael in Switzerland. The correspondent adds that she told journalists: “I am so happy, and I am looking forward so much to seeing Michael again.”