LUXEMBURG’S COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17946, 13 November 1918, Page 8

LUXEMBURG’S COURT.

A PEOPLE BETRAYED. PRINCE RUPPRECHT’S BRIDE. The Amsterdam “Teiegraaf ” published an article showing how the Grand Duchess of Luxemburg's young sister became engaged to the Crown Prince Ruppreclit of Bavaria—who is old enough to bo her father —after a visit by Count Tlertling, tho German Chancellor. Luxemburgers, says the writers, who are strongly opposed to their pro-Ger-man Co origan d vow not to become Prussian, were astounded to hoar the news in view of Germany’s violation of two treaties to respect Luxemburg’s neutrality. “Germany,” he continues, “established garrisons there; requisitioned railways, post and telegraphs; expelled tho Ministers of foreign Powers from tho country, and by so doing deprived Luxemburg of even the appearance of independence; and abolished tho immunity of the people’s representatives. “She keeps exports so strictly under supervision that the country is at a standstill; interferes in disputes between Luxemburg employers and workers; stretches a network of espionage, over tho whole country; arbitrarily imprisons, condemns to death, or deports civilians known for their freedom of thought and action —in a word, treats Luxemburg as conquered territory and Luxemburgers as a conquered people. “ The Grand Ducal family, alone does not share tho people’s feelings. Its sympathies are openly for the intruder. During twenty-eight years its government, the dynasty of the Nassauers, has forgotten nothing and learned nothing. It always remembers its foreign origin, turns its back on the essential character of Luxemburg, and, as it is German, has surrounded itself with Germans. “The Luxemburg people have always been angry at this foreign camarilla/s Insulting arrogance and anti-patriotic :,eal. The Press "’opposed it, various ioputies raised the subject, and the Minister of State, M. Paul. Feyscheri, •undo a discreet representation to the Court. In vain. The family of Nassau continued to seek its advisers outado tho country. INVADERS HELPED. “ When the first German gangs .dreamed over tiro country these won..oriul representatives oi a bo-caliod, neutral Court wore soon sauntering the streets oi the capital, showing the way lo tho intruders' advance guard and I,atomising in Atari camp witn German uuicors. “Ilie Grand Duchess did not dismiss them. Tney retained their titles and salaries, and the unusual spectacle was observed or a Luxemburg courtier lighting' in the ranks of the cowardly army wiucli had murdered Luxemburg’s inj dependence. j “On August 30, 1914, Luxemburgers I could see how their Princess, standing j at tlie entrance to her palace surround- | ed by her mother and her sisters, hum- ! illy greeted the German Emperor, who condescended to pay her a visit—one might have said a lief paying homage to her liego lord. And William was so gracious as to express his exalted imperial satisfaction 1 “ A rumour was current in LuxemI burg at about the same time that the j Grand Duchess was secretly betrothed to ono of the Kaiser’s sons, a fantastic rumour indeed, as the Grand Duchess is too strict a Catholic to agree to marriage with a Protestant Prince, even tho son of a Kaiser. But it was ,a most significant rumour, as indicating tho very close relations openly existing between the Courts of Berlin and Luxemburg. “Shortly after, ono of the Grand Duchess’s sisters was present at Karlsruhe, accompanied by her aunt, tho Grand Duchess of Baden, at a parade of German troops. This after the fall of Antwerp 1 ■“Through an indiscretion of a Luxemburg Post Office official, proofs exist of the sympathy, exchanged telegraphically, between the Kaiser and the Grand Duchesses. It is also known with what triumphant joy the Grand Duchess Maria, Anna hastened to inform one of her daughters that Felix, one of tile relatives of the Grand Ducal family, ‘was file first to enter Przemysl ’ (in Galicia). “It is also no secret that the relations between the Luxemburg and German Courts have never been more regular or hearty. The Princesses and the Grand Duchess Maria Adelaide and the Grand Ducal mother take every opportunity of making journeys to Germany. 19 TO MARRY 59. “Luxemburg papers of a week or so ago announced that the Grand Duchess had returned from Cologne, where she had passed some days. The Crown Prince of Bavaria and the Grand Duchess of Baden are favourite guests at Berg Castle, and a well-informed person asserts that tho Grand Duchess never makes an important decision on political affairs without first consulting the German Chancellor, Count Hertling. “ Now comes the crowning act of this scandalous procedure. The Grand Duchess has abandoned all reserve and has openly gone over to the Court of tho enemy. It is old Hertling’s skilful hand which has steered her thither. One can easily see that in difficult moments Germany’s experienced Chancellor would not withdraw himself from his grave anxieties and come to Luxemburg to bandy empty compliments.

“The result surpassed the worse anticipations. The Grand Duchess Maria Adelaide, head of the ruling princely House of Luxemburg, has given the hand of her sister Antonia to one of the princes who violated her country, and has oppressed her people! She makes herself accessory to the German crime. “But when ono reflects that tho bride does not number 19 summers, and that her betrothed is about 50, and a. widower with a son to boot, one must assume that love itself cannot serve as an excuse for this alliance, which can a., nothing hut the result of a political ■aloubition. It is an assurance given by the Nassau family in case tho chances of war .should turn. “Luxemburg is welded to Germany bv dynastic bonds and condemned after the war to enter the federation or at least the political sphere of Germany. ’ “ What avails it that the Grand Duchess iu 1914 _ solemnly protested amiiust the violation of her country? Her acts contradict her words. Does if avail that in her Speech from the Throne on November 10. 1914, she declared that she shared all her people’s thoughts and feelings? Hew assertion ill rows her ignorance or duplicity into greater relief. Never has a princess worse uiiderstml her subjects, or taken lose account of their sympathies and antipathies. The Grand Duchess bctrnved her people by treading underfoot their frelmgs, honour and interests She betrayed the Allies by conspiring with their enemies. Her people and the Allies will remember |bi s at the approaching day 0 f the great settlement-”