Karl's mother-in-law ordered to leave Austria

April 28, 1918

Emperor Karl of Austria's mother-in-law, the Duchess of Parma, "has been ordered to leave Austria within twenty-four hours." The mother of Empress Zita will not be allowed to enter the country until "the termination of the war, according to a dispatch from Geneva to the New York Times.
The Duchess is one of "various persons blamed by the semi-official Austrian communications for the famous letter" sent by Karl to his brother-in-law, Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma, who is serving in the Belgian Army.
In this letter, Karl "expressed a desire to restore Belgium and Serbia," and he also would "support France's just claim to Alsace-Lorraine."
One of the explanations offered by the Austrian government after the contents were made public "was that the Duchess of Parma had written the letter and that the Emperor had merely added a postscript over his signature."
The Duchess's "family connections" are much closer to the Allies "than with the Central Powers."