FORMER MONARCHY

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

FORMER MONARCHY

RESTORATION QUESTION. NUMEROUS DIFFICULTIES. London, Oct. 5. The presence of four avowed monarchists in the new Austrian Cabinet puts a restoration of Royalty on the political map, writes Mr. R. Bemays, M.P., in the News Chronicle. The Grand Duke Otto, a goodlooking youngster of 21, educated by an ambitious mother for the Throne, sits idly in a country house hi Belgium regretting the past and dreaming of the future. Meanwhile, although at the last election the monarchists polled only 150 votes, Dr. Dollfuss’ resurrection of Austrian patriotism has reawakened memories of Imperial pageantry. Every week-end thousands of Viennese visit the glorious palace at Schonbrunn, venerating the memory of Franz Josef. They recall the curlyhaired Otto playing in the gardens, Picture postcards of the exiled Otto and his eight brothers and sisters are popular. Dr. Dollfuss does not discourage loyalty to the Hapsburgs. Socialists at present are oppressed. They say they were better treated under the Empire, and favour a change'of regime. Nevertheless there are many difficulties in the way of a restoration of the monarchy. The immense Imperial palaces are ludicrously grandiose in a country two-thirds the size of England. The expense of their upkeep would be insupportable. Moreover, restoration would be impractical unless Austro-Hungary were recreated, which Hungary and CczechoSlovakia would certainly oppose. Finally, the Viennese ask, “Will Otto give us bread?” Until that question can be satisfactorily answered, Otto will not be restored.