SCANDAL AT THE COURT OF JAPAN.

Southland Times, Issue 14059, 18 March 1909, Page 2

SCANDAL AT THE COURT OF JAPAN.

COFNT DIVORCES ENGLISH WIFE TO AIARRY A NATIVE PRINCESS. EMPEROR'S ANGER. FORBIDS BETROTHAL AND DEPRIVES OFFENDER OF RANK. A scandal of the gravest and most pathetic character, affecting the head of one of the oldest and most exalted families in Japan, has just come to light at Tokio. The Japanese capital is in a ferment over the discovery of the secret wedding of the young Count Todo in London to an Englishwoman, whom he has since discarded, wifli a. view to marriage with a princess of the Royal House. His h'artlcss desertion lias brought down upon him the severest displeasure of the Emperor, who has revolted his consent to the projected betrothal, deprived the count of his rank, and banished him from court, and requested the resignations of a number of ofiiciaks who were privy to the affair. The story is full of the romance and pathos inseparable from international marriages. Some two years ago Count Todo was sent to England to complete his education, and, against the rules of the ancient nobility to which ho belongs, he contracted a marriage with an English lady. The wedding took place at St. George’s, Hanover Square, the bride being Airs Elena Grace Addison. The count was a young man of 24, short and dark, after the type of his countrymen. Leaving his private tutor in Cambridge, he came to London, and for a time lived ir Pathfield road, Streatham. He met Mrs Addison at the house of a friend. Eve was then 29, a 1 woman at g'vxt pctot-iiuai charm, dark

and tall, with a mass of hair and oblique eyes. Her social position was excellent, her father having been a Hungarian baron, and she lived In Victoria street, Westminster. The Count proposed after a short acquaintance, and the marriage took place by special license in September, 1907. By the Couut’s desire it was kept strictly secret, owing to the possible objections of his people. The Count explained that If it became known he might lose his rank and estates. Two friends only were present, Mr and Mrs Jcmmctt-Browne. After a short honeymoon the Count and Countess returned to a flat in Carlisle Mansions, Victoria street. Exactly throe months after his marriage Count Todo announced his return to Japan. It appeared that his family had heard some hint of his marriage, and peremptorily commanded him to return. “You shall follow me out,’’ he said to his wife. On liis arrival in Japan he found that the family had been revolving ambitious schemes for liis future, and were hopeful of winning for him the hand of the Princess Take, of the House of Kitashirakawa, one of the numerous branches of the imperial family. But fof the English marriage there would have been no serious obstacle to (he realisation of this project. The Todos wore in high favour at court, and, in point of lineage, were equal to other families who had been honoured by an alliance with the Imperial house. A divorce must bo obtained, but it was necessary that the proceedings should lie as secret at; the original marriage. A decree could not be obtained in England, except on the usual grounds, and in any case the result would be a publicity fatal to the schemes of the family. Put the Japanese law lends itself more easily to the dissolution of marriage, and. despite the risk of detection. the family resolved to avail themselves of its aid. It was decided to have the marriage registered, according to statutory form, in a Japanese police office, and then have a divorce immediately effected and placed on record.

The Japanese law treats marriage ns an entirely secular matter, and the only requirement of the law is registration. Provided the wife Juts no objection to the dissolution of marriage, the marriage entry in the police register may be cancelled on the application of the husband. In the case of Count Todo no legal objection could be raised, as the wife was in London. The divorce was accordingly obtained, and the Count transferred his residence to a now police district so as to have a clean record on the books when registering his next marriage. The plans for the imperial alliance wore then pressed forward. The young nobleman made formal application for the hand of the Princess Take, one of whoso relatives is shortly to marry the daughter of the Emperor. His Alajesty gave Ills assent to the match, and congratulations wore still being showered on the Todo family, when suddenly the whole affair became public. The editor of one of the Tokio papers had heard rumours of the young count's conduct in England, and the steps Jo conceal the marriage; lie satisfied himself of the truth of tlic story, and then took the hold step of publishing the facts. The report was at first discredited, but a searching inquiry proved it to bo correct, and brought on the Todo family the full weight of the Kmpuror’s displeasure. The young cmint's ruin is believed to he final and complete. A new head will probably have to be found for the house lie represents. All who are at all concerned in the matter are to suffer appropriate penalties, and all the imperial ofiicial.'; concerned in the negotiations for the marriage have sent in their resignations.

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