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Thursday, July 7, 2011

No welcome mat for former Emperor Karl

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 July 7, 1921

Former Emperor Karl of Austria has renewed the lease on Schloss Hertenstein, near Lucerne, and he has no plans to leave Switzerland in August, as originally planned.

The British and Spanish Governments have "found excuses for not receiving him in their countries," reports the New York Times.  King Constantine of the Hellenes has wished "to take him in," but he fears complicating his relations with neighboring Jugoslavia.

Thus, the Swiss Government will continue to provide the former emperor and his family with refuge.  But what bothers the Swiss  is that, although Karl "does not overtly attempt to regain the Hungarian crown," his presence in Switzerland "keeps numerous Royalists plotting," which brings no advantage "except that of bringing grist to the mills of certain hotels."

A week does not go by without "some Habsburg partisans" arriving in the country.   The Dowager Queen Maria Cristina of Spain's visit to Basel, about an hour by train from Lucerne, to meet with her brother, Archduke Eugen, is  believed to be connected with Karl's plans.

The King of Spain recently advocated for Karl's restoration during his recent trip to Paris and London.

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