THE STORY OF MONACO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 59

THE STORY OF MONACO.

(W. Millt:r, in the Gentleman's Magazine. ) Isice having been given up by the Italians to France on condition oi a plebiscite, the two communes of Mentone and Roquebrune were included in the vote. Charles 111 protested, but as 695 against 54 had voted ior annexation, he was ready to negotiate, and on .February 2, 1861, ceded his rights over Mentone and Roquebrune to France for four million francs, payable by the French Government, -which also undertook to secure the passage of the railway through Monaco to keep up the road to Mentone, and to construct one along the coast to Nice. Thus the principality was reduced to one-fifth of its original' sizo ; but, at the same time, the Italian garrison was withdrawn, and the Italian protectorate ceased. In 1855, another treaty established a customs' union with France, which was to work the posts and telegraphs and pay a certain sum to the Prince in return. In 1885, however, the Prince issued his own stamps, and the practice, though it involves a considerable loss of money, has been continued by his successor. But the great event of Charles's reign, which completely transformed the character of Monaco, was the opening of the gaming tables. First started in the old town in 1855, it was at the outset a failure, chiefly owing to the difficulty of reaching Monaco before the opening of the railway. In 1863, M. Blanc obtained the concession to open a gaming room, and, under his auspices, the present establisltmen was begun on the rocky quarter known as the Spelugues, but now far more famous as Monte Carlo. When, in 1868, the railway wos opened, the success of the tables was assured, and the Prince was so sure that they could maintain the principality, that in 1869 he abolished all direct taxes, and thus closed the stormy chapter in Monaco's history, which had been tht chief cause of the revolution at Mentone. Anxious to emphasise his complete independence, he_ created the order of Saint Charles, concluded treaties of extradition with foreign States, formed a staff of consuls,, ministers, and other diplomatists, issued his own money, codified his laws, saw that Monaco was represented it all the great international exhibitions, and obtained complete religious autonomy by the erection of the Abbey of Monaco into a bishopric, for which a new cathedral was .built on the site of the historic church of Saint Nicholas. Just 10 years have elapsed since Prince Albert ascended the throne of the Grimaldi

amid a pageant which recalled the Middle Ages. The reigning sovereign, who is 51 years old, was educated as a naval officer, and has served in both the Spanish and French navies, taking part in the FrancoGerman war of 1870. In England he is known for his papers on oceanography : in France ho has lately m«ide himself conspicuous for his letter to Madame Dreyfus ; at home he is regarded as a very shrewd man of business, who has made excellent terms for himself with the Casino Company. So far, the most important event of his reign lias been the renewal " of M.

Blanc's original concession, which would have expired in 1913, for a further period of 50 years from that date. This new privilege will have cost from first to last a million sterling in hard cash, paid to the Prince ; an annuity rising every 10 years, till it will reach £100,000 in the last decade ; a new opera house, to cost 580,000 ; and, as a recognition of the artistic tastes of the Princess, a sum of £1000 for each of 10 special representations at the theatre. He also receives, as may be seen from the balance sheet of the company for last year, an additional grant of £20,000 lor his law courts, police and army of 75 men, and is also a large shareholder in the concern. Besides all this, the Casino "pays for public works and roads, lighting, the water supply, the official wash-house, the State baths, and the loss on the po?t office, while, true to tLe religious character of Monaco, it gives grants to the bishop, the clergy, and tlie convent*. In short, the contemporary history of Monaco is simply that of the Casino, and the descendant of the Grimaldi is that very modern product — the aristocratic financier.

But a great many things may happen before 1953. Should a war break out between France and Italy, little Monaco would hardly escape annexation by the victor ; public morality might, perhaps, in the customary fashion, be invoked as an excuse for breaking the treaties on which thf independence of this tiny State reposes, and the taxless joys of Monegasque citizenship would then be: a tiling of the past.