EX-KING MICHAEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26713, 6 March 1948, Page 7

EX-KING MICHAEL

NOT BOUND BY ENFORCED ! ABDICATION

RETURN TO RUMANIA DESIRED Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 4. He did not consider himself bound in any way by the act of abdication imposed on him by threat of bloodshed, ex-King Michael of Rumania announced in London, where he arrived with his mother to-day. “ Two Cabinet members said I would be responsible for bloodshed which would occur as a result of instructions already issued if I did not sign the abdication,” he said. “The Government, maintained in power by a foreign country, imposed this act on me.” He said the Cabinet, Ministers, Dr Groza and M. Gheorghiu-Endej, after an armed detachment had surrounded the palace, presented him with the text of the act of abdication.

“The Rumanian Government violated international pledges to respect the political freedom of the Rumanian people, falsified the elections, and annihilated democratic political leaders,” said Michael. “ Removal of the monarchy constitutes a new act of violence in the enslavement of Rumania. I will continue to serve the Rumanian people with whom my destiny is inexorably bound.” This is Michael’s first statement on the abdication. Michael and his mother lunched at Buckingham Palace. The King and Queen, Queen Mary, Princess Elizabeth. Princess Margaret, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Duchess of Kent were at the luncheon. Michael and his mother later left for New York on board the Queen Elizabeth. Ex-King Michael said on board the Queen Elizabeth that he was very hopeful of returning to Rumania one day, and added that he and Princess Anne hoped to marry in Denmaik “ in the near future.”