MIGHTY INTERESTS

Northern Advocate, 19 June 1926, Page 5

MIGHTY INTERESTS

INVOLVED IN REFERENDUM EX-KAISER’S CLAIMS. NINETY CASTLES AND £50,000,000. (Received 9.16 a.m.) BERLIN, June 17. All Germany is on the tip-toe of expectation in view of the momentous referendum on Sunday next on the question of confiscation or otherwise of vast valuable properties claimed by the ex-Kaiscr. The ballot paper is a simple document, requiring a cross or a circle respectively for or against whichever side wins. What is virtually a conflict, Republic versus Monarchy, will enormously strengthen the political position. A campaign on behalf of confiscation has been vigorously carried on. Though, no voice has been officially raised on behalf of the Doom exile, it is difficult to .forecast the result. Twenty millions at least must vote in favour in order to carry the day.

That the ex-Kaiser will be reduced to beggary, oven if confiscation is carried, is of course nonsense. Ho will be given a pension, together with some property which he unquestionably owns. He will remain a rich man, as will also his cx-Royal colleagues. The ex-Kaiser at present receives the equivalent of £SOO weekly from the Republic, while his furniture, plate, art objects and lavish Doom residence represent a substantial fortune. He has received £50,000 from one book and is asking £60,000 for the manuscript of another book just completed. He remains extraordinarily extravagant, and is scarcely able to balance Ins budget. The ballot concerns 90 castles, 600,000 acres of land and £50,000,000 in money.—A. and N.Z.