MONTE CARLO TEMPEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

MONTE CARLO TEMPEST.

CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS* r'-i

PRINCE AND SUBJECTS

DEMAND FOR DEMOCRACY.

AN ABSENT RULER'S WORRIES.

In tho potty politics of Monaco, the tiny principality which contains Monte Carlo * with its 'famous Casino, thero has lately been a miniature tempest. A constitutional crisis has arisen. The Parliament threatens to deposo the absentee ruler Prince Louis 11., who has repeatedly refused to meet delegations sent to him at Paris.

Unless the Prince admits the claims of his subjects or returns to Monaco to negotiate, I hev will hold a referendum of the citizens to decido whether to proclaim their country n republic, allied to France. The Moncgasques proudly prize their independence It is hardly more than a sham. All that Franco permits is a tiny comic-opera army, an issue of postage stamps, and local courts to try trivial cases.

The main issue, as stated by Mr. Anthony Clyne, in (she Newcastle Weekly Chronicle, is whethefUhe country is to bo managed by its inhabitants or by the body which controls the Casino. Until 1910 tho ruler was an absolute autocrat. There is now a National Council elected by universal suffrage, exercising legislative power jointly with tho Prince, who governs, through a Ministry assisted by a Council of. State. The present system does not satisfy tho democratic aspirations of tho Monegasques, who agitate for a modifiertion of the concession held by the Casino and a revision of the fiscal arrangements. Commander in the Foreign Legion.

Tho present ruJer succeeded seven years ago. He commanded a regiment of the French Foreign Legion in the war and holds (he rank of Brigadier-General, flo owns the great, estate of Marchais, north of .Pans, with its Renaissance chateau which the Germans occupied during tho war. In 1919 he adopted as his daughter Charlotte. Tiie following year the Comtft Pierre do Polignac married her and became heir-apparent to the throne of Monaco. Prince Pierre has been attempting to settle the crisis, acting on behalf of his father-in-law

The Casino, with other attractions like sea-bathing and tenuis, of trifling import, ance in comparison, is leased to tho Societe des Bains de Mer for a consideration of about £BO,OOO a year. But sinco tho war Monte' Carlo has declined in favour and the amount paid into the princely exchequer has been reduced. The fortunate natives cf Monaco—the old Monaco, with its medieval buildings, steep and, crooked streets, fortress and cathedral, and palace on its sombre rock —were relieved of rates and taxes by the losses of the unfortunate visitors to the other Monaco, with its exquisite garden*, its magnificent theatre, its luxurious hotels, its sumptuous hails of chance. Formidable rivals to Monte Carlo have

sprung up, catering for the wealthy who liko to combine the usual delights and diversions of the Riviera with gambling. Some are near, like Cannes and San Remo, and some 1 distant, like Deauville. Tho usual tourists aie small fry to Monte ' Carlo. Tho Casino does not extract its huge profits out of them even if they venture within the temple of chance,, thinking themselves very daring and devilishly wicked, and stake a few hundred francs. The Casino flourishes on the really opulent, who. lose their thousands. And since the war fewer of these visit Monaco., Failure to Meet Obligations.

So the finances are not ao brilliant!? prosperous as of yore. When in 1925 Prince Louis went to America, it was said that he hoped to validate his claim to certain oil lands in Mexico. Later there was talk of raising a loan >n America, but nothing came of it. Discreetly silent were all concerned, but their anxiety was manifest. The next season proved a dull one, so that' many shops temporarily closed their doors. The dismayed Casino authorities promptly compelled the council to pass an ordinance requiring all business houses, banks and restaurants to remain open all the year round. This was disastrous for firms dependent on seasonal trade. But appearances must be kept up at all costs. §Tew tennis courts were laid out, and a batftine beach was constructed. Meanwhile, toSfche disgust of the Monogasques, fat -dividends of something like 175 per cent, continfled to flow into the pockets of stockholders. ' Last December the irritation over the failure of the Casino to meet its obligations to the State came to a head. Frantic telegrams to Prince Louis in his chateau at Marchais evoked what the citizens deem evasive answers. The dispute between the Casino and the public authorities culminated in the resignation of the National and Communal Councils.

The alarmed ruler dispatched Princ® L Pierre do Polignac post-haste to Monaco as his representative, with * proclamation which was quickly posted up throughout the length and breadth of the principality - square miles. "On the eve of *.ho season -most essential to Monaeo'i prosperity,"- it ran, " Prince Louis calls th«. people of Monaco, in the name of and by the affection they hold for their country, to an appreciation of their sane and essential duties." But the Monegasque' considered this message, like the previous "• ones, evasive of the main issue. Remaining recalcitrant, they brought up all the grievances they could think of. Fortune Made in Half-an-Honr* 1

Prince Pierro appointed a Commission of six, threo members from each of the Councils, National and Communal, ts seek a solution. But this Commission in turn resigned because tho Prince post* poned indefinitely the elections for the Councils, which were to have been held in March. A deputation to Prince Pierr« turned into a riot, with a mob clamouring at tho palace gates, dispersed with difficulty by the police. Now of tho people of Monaco is exhausted, and they havo sent an ultimatum to Prince Loms.

Meanwhile the croupiers, bored bull alert, drono " Messieus, faites vos jenx." Fortunes are stilh scattered on the preen cloth beneath the glittering crystal chandeliers. The roulette balls rattle round their wheels; and zero—which represents the Administration—still takes its profitable toll, amounting in effect to from 2 to 3 per cent, on all the stakes. There are still occasional runs of marvellous luck. A little while ago a young man cleared" over £30,000 in half-an-hour, having sauntered into the rooms to while away the time before dinner. But the bank inexorably draws its percentage, out of which comes all the enormous expenses of tho attractions of Monaco, the hugs dividends to stockholders, and the payments to the treasury of Monaco. Usual Types ol Gamblers. Tho familiar types of gamblers persist. There are tho rich and reckless, lured by

the excitement, seeking to experience a novel and keen sensation, but not mora concerned over winning or losing than '.he *verage- punter at the . Derby. There iro '.ho professional gamblers, who attend the rooms regularly often for tea hours or so a .day. Some of the professional players actually succeed in making a small incoma year after year, but most have independent incomes which they continually

fritter away m a hopeless attempt to change the unchangeable laws of chance. There are thnse bitten hv the delusion of an infallible system There are the desperate who, fac.ng rain and hopeless of retrieving their fortunes in any othef way, rush to Monte Cnrlo,

A cablegram published on Soofember 12, stated' that Princess Charlotte wa» endeavouring to stem tlie rising tide ol revolution.