THE EX-KAISER

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 102, 3 May 1933, Page 9

THE EX-KAISER

rehabilitation aim

NO DESIRE TO RULE

Europe and Germany, herself are at, this moment all agog with persistent rumours, founded or unfounded, which allege tho imminence of a Hohenzdllern Restoration. This being so, the personal attitude o£ the ex-Kaiser towards such a. move, as he is understood to have recently disclosed it to his relatives and intimates, is of considerable, interest, writes the diplomatic correspondent of, the " Daily Telegraph." ;' It has been .repeatedly declared by Iris entourago at Doom. that William II would never attempt to- regain his throne by force, but would only agree to return, peaceably, in response to a call from the German, people. This is no doubt truo onough, with tho qualification that a call from a German Government, not perhaps fully representative of the German people, might easily be construed as a call from tho people. * It would, however, also appear to be a. fact that the ex-Kaiser, whilst yearning for such a call, has really no desire to rule. ( • What he craves is a spectacular'rehabilitation in tho eyes' of the German people, which would dispel their memory, or notion,.of hm as the Emperor who ran away. It is mainly, if not exclusively, for the purposo of killing this "wicked legend," which, still rankles, that William II longs to reoccupy tho Imperial and Royal throne for a £c\v weeks, or even days. He would then bo able to issue to the German people a spirited manifesto, in. which, emphasising tho burden of his years and sufferings, and of the wrongs done him, he would notify his rosolvo to abdicate in favour of the ex-Crown Prince. It would be left to the latter, in his turn, to decide whother or not he would" abdicate in favour of his own son, who,1 as a Tulcr, would not arouse abroad certain animosities and suspicions which have survived the Great War. ._ ( , V RIVAL BAVARIAN CLAIM. The, ex-Kaiser would aim, by this procedure, at avoiding any interruption or irregularity in the strict line of succession, lest otherwise tlie Bavarian House- of Wittelsbach should seek to revive the old idea of an elective Imperial dignity, which it would.claim to exercise alternately, and on. a footing of. equalty, with its Prussian rival. Yet another consideration that is said to weigh with the ex-Kaiser in his longing for rehabilitation, but not, for actual rule, is tho realisation that his remarriage to a lady not of Royal birth might create- friction in Court circles. ' Such, in brief, would appear to bo the ex-Kaiser's position in tho matter. This is not to say that tho prospect of his being able to fulfil his hope is at all promising. , For he enjoys singularly little support, and even less popularity, among tho German Monarchists themselves. Family discipline in tho House of Hohenzollern, however, is strong, and tho ex-Crown Prince might hesitate to flout his father's will by jumping the latter's prior if purely nominal claim to the throne. But this delicate issue of priority might be circumvented by the proclamation of the ex-Crown Prince as President or Regent, at any rato in the first' instance.

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