Rothermere as Kingmaker; Court Story

Northern Advocate, 9 November 1939, Page 6

Rothermere as Kingmaker; Court Story

(Received .1 p.m.) LONDON, November 8. ALLEGING THAT VISCOUNT ROTHERMERE HAD ENGAGED HER AS HIS PERSONAL FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVE, THE VIENNESE PRINCESS STEFANIE OF HOHENLOHEWALDENBOURG, DIVORCED WIFE OF A HUNGARIAN MAGNATE, SUED LORD ROTHERMERE FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT.

• Her counsel, Mr. G. 11. Beyfus, K.'C., declared that Lord Bothermere sought a feature for the “Daily Mail.”

Tho Princess persuaded him to champion the cause of Hungary and supplied him with information for an article in the Daily Mail” published on June 1, 1927, which ever since has been celebrated in Hungary as a day of national rejoicing

> Son Suggested As King The Princess during 1932 rejected a suggestion that Lord Rothermere s son, the Hon. Esmond Harmsworth, should be nominated as King of Hungary. Thereafter there was some coldness in her relations with Lord Rothermere, who, hearing she intended publishing articles about her part in the Hungarian treaty revision campaign, paid her £SOOO not to publish any more. Mr Beyfus suggested that Lord Rothermere did not want anyone to shai^ his glory. . Next Lord Rothermere appointed the princess as his personal foreign r e P" resentative at £SOOO a year, as he had decided to seek to restore the Hohenzollerns and Hapsburgs to their throne. Modern Kingmaner Mr Beyfus declared Lord Rothermere 'wanted to become -a modern Warwick the Kingmaker, and asked the Princess to contact the Empress Zita and the ex-Kaiser and acquaint them of this campaign to establish monarchy as a bulwark against bolshevism. Lord Rothermere corresponded with the ex-Kaiser, the Crown Prince, Hitler and the Regent of Hungary on equal terms, as though he was a sovereign power himself.

The Princess acted as ambassadress. Royal Receptions

Lord Rothermere, added Mr Beyfus. suggested offering the Empress Zita an annuity of £25,000 for five years, although only a year or two before he told the Princess he found it difficult to keep his head above water. The Princess advised Lord Rothermere not to deal with the Empress Zita or the ex-Kaiser, but to contact the Crown Prince. As a result, Lord Rothermere accepted an invitation the Princess obtained for him to go to Germany, where he was given a Royal reception. Lord Rothermere promised the Crown Prince to restore the Hohenzollerns and told the Princess that Hitler should make her a Duchess. Paid Her £46,000. Sir William Jowitt, K.C., appearing for Lord Rothermere, said he did not dispute the contract for the Princess’ valuable services, but contended that a year’s notice was sufficient for its termination. Mr Beyfus pointed out that the Princess had accepted Lord Rothermere’s advice not to take action against articles libelling her in the French Press. Lord Rothermere was fearful of the publicity, and assured her all would be well. Lord Rothermere promised to pay her £SOOO a year for life, saying; “I never let down a woman.” Mr Beyfus stated Lord Rothermere had paid the Princess £46,000 during 51 years. He requested her not to keep account of her expenses, which included expensive gifts for various notabilities. Invitation to Meet Hitler. The Princess continued in Lord Rothermere’s service, and secui’ed an invitation for him to meet Hitler at Berchtesgaden in 1936. She escorted him there from the frontier.

Lord Rothermere sent her on a vital mission in January, 1938, to Hitler to discuss the return of the colonies to Germany Thereafter the Princess and Lord Rothermere quarrelled over an income tax return, and Lord Rothermere dropped her without a word. The hearing was adjourned.