Russians Seized Michael’s Jewels

Northern Advocate, 7 January 1948, Page 5

Russians Seized Michael’s Jewels

LAUSANNE. Tue. GO a.m.)—ExKing Michael has denied reports that he left Rumania to be free to enjoy himself and be married and that his special train was loaded with valuables and filled with refugees escaping from the new Rumanian regimeMichael said the Royal party con- , sisted only of 14 people. j It is disclosed that Russians examined Michael's luggage before the i train left Bucharest and took away all ! valuable jewels, for which they gave a written receipt. 1 ; The Russians kept several pieces of ' luggage and even cut open apples to i see if anything' was concealed. ; Michael's secretary (M. Mircea Inotiu) at a Press conference emphasised that tlie reasons for King : Michael's abdication were "political, and only political,” and had nothing to do with his proposed wedding. NO MONEY TO MARRY The Daily Mail’s correspondent quotes M. Inotiu as saying: “If Michael had remained King he would have married Princess Anne in Bucharest. “Now he does not know when or where he will get the money to wed.” Michael did not wait for a settlement of his personal property, said the j secretary. I He had no money invested or banked outside Rumania and had i brought practically none with him. ! He was not even allowed to bring his famous collection of jade, i His passport. issued by the Ru- ; manian Republican Government, de- | scribed him as Prince Michael of | Hohenzollern. | Princess Anne’s family circle stated I that the Princess tonight, after a telej phone talk with ex-King Michael ; agreed to leave on Friday with her 1 parents for Lausanne, when the j couple's wedding date would be dej cidcd.