EMPRESS IN POVERTY

Evening Star, Issue 19023, 19 August 1925, Page 1

EMPRESS IN POVERTY

ALLIES TO RESCUE OF ZITA. FAMILY’S FLIGHT. Among (he, dethroned ox-enemy Royalties there is but one care that is deserving ot sympathy. It is that of the ex-Empress Zita of Austria, the widow' of the late Fnmeror Karl, savs the diplomatic correspondent of the ‘ Sunday Chronicle.’ She was by birth virtually an Allied Princess, belonging to the house of ParmaBourbon, and therefore closely associated with France and Italy. With the collapse of the Central Powers, Karl abdicated as Emperor of Austria, while reserving the rights of his son. t the infant Archduke Otto, and it was a British colonel who rescued them from a “ Red ” mob. Karl, however, did not abdicate as King of Ilumrary, and continued to regard himself as such, as did most Hungarians, some openly, the others covertly. A WIDOW'S DISTRESS. Urged on by the ex-Empross, Karl made two abortive efforts lo regain Iho Hungarian throne, reaching on the second occasion by aeroplane the neighborhood of Budapest, where ho was met by the forces of the Regent Horthy. The Allies then made arrangements for the imiortiniau; couple and their children to reside in Madena, instead of Switzerland, which was deemed too close to- the danger zone. Bui Karl died shortly afterwards at Maderla in painful circumstances. There was not even available the money to pay for tho services of a specialist, and all the Imperial and Royal estates having been appropriated, his widow and children are now in actual distress, and subsist on the generosity of the house of Spain and of a tow of their loyal followers in Hungary, themselves greatly impoverished. ALLIED CHIVALRY. Tho British and French Governments consider that not only the most elementary chivalry, but the most elementary justice, would demand that an unfortunate Royal lady who was merely technically an enemy, ana sought to help tho Allies, having lost her crown, her personal estate, and exhausted what little funds and jewellery she was able to save, from the wreckage, should he treated with some consideration. Tim more so as a Hausburg restoration was not prohibited by the Peace Treaties. The Ambassadors' Conference in Paris has been instructed Lo find a formula to which each, of the successive State would contribute its quota—out of the confiscated Imperial and Royal estates -towards a very small civil list. But this plan is not likely to go through. Prague, Belgrade, Budapest, Vienna even, will decline to contribute a cent to the support of a dynasty they abhor. But Hungarian chivalry would probably respond, poor as Hungary is at this date. .There ia no reason why the Allies should not assign to Hie ox-Empress-Quetm’s maintenance a small portion of tho revenues from the former Crown lands.