A FALLEN MONARCH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 December 1924, Page 5

A FALLEN MONARCH.

EX-KING HUSSEIN SAILS INTO EXILE. Ex-King Hussein, 'of the Hedjaz of Arabia, went into exile on the 14th October. He had boarded his yacht the night before. Though his departure was in no way kept a secret, the people of Jeddah—including the many who have fled hither from Mecca —showed not the slightest interest in the event. No countrymen of the fallen monarch cheered him as his car went to the dilapidated jetty, where not even a bit of carpet was laid down for the Royal feet, states Georg© Renwick, in a special despatch to .the Daily Chronicle.” No faithful supporters came to comfort the fleeing majesty with a hope of an early return to the throne. Even the Government of. King Ali, Hussein’s son and successor, was unrepresented, and so were all the foreign Governments; The Council of. Notables, sitting in Jeddah, and the only real authority in the country, held completely aloof. Never, indeed, lias a king who failed been so utterly deserted in-tlie end. s

Early in the morning the ex-king would see nobody save liis Finance Minister, and Mohammed Bey tawil, president of the Council of Notables. Tawil is one of the ex-king’s oilcst friends. It was he who really brought’ the Royal fall, but their friendship survived that. King Ali, who came to Jeddah during the night, did not go tc bid bis father farewell. Between (5 and 7 in the morning the Royal yacht sailed, followed by a - second steamer with the ex-king’s belongings. Ie was believed that Hussein’s immediate destination was Akaba, the port at the bead of the 'north-eastern arm of the, Red Sea. From there the exile coin'd travel to Transjordinin, the British mandated territory, where another son, Abdullah, rules. It is very doubtful if Abdullah wants his father; there, as the fugitive king is bound to be a centre of trouble and intrigue.

Nearly all the neighbouring countries have officially or unofficially turned down the ex-king’s application for asylum, and if Abdullah hardens his heart it is probable that Hussein will go to Europe, probabjy Switzerland.