Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-09
LIKE MONTE CARLO
WANT TO HAVE GAMING TABLES
AT ALTENBERa.
Andorra and San Marine Have the
Good Sense to Turn q Deaf
Ear to Proposals.

from the New York Tribune.
OF all the dangers that beset those small
states of the old world which owe their ex-
istence and independence either to the Jeal-
ousy or else to the tolerance Of their pow
erful neighbors. there are none more grave
than the temptations held out to them by
the owners Of public gambling establish
ments. who. driven from each of the bigger
countries in turn. are endeavoring in every
direction to secure some point of vantage
and some fo0thold. such as they enjoy for
the present, and possibly for a few years
longer. at Monte Carlo. 1t Is only by the
most solemn pledges that he will decline
to renew the concession sold to the gam
bling house firm of Edmond Blanc, Con-
stantine Radziwill and Roland Bonaparte
that the Prince of Monaco has averted the
loss Of his principality and its annexation
to France. while Altenberg: which Is also
known as Moresnet, has just forfeited the
independence which 1t has enjoyed for near
ly a hundred years In consequence of its
having aroused the indignation of the
neighboring powers by granting conces-
sions for public gambling establishment
on Its soil to those gambling house owners
who have recently been expelled by the
Belgian government from Ostend, Spa and
Namur.
Ancient Republics.
More even than San Marine and Andorra
the adjoining states. In fact 1t may be said
to have owed its origin to an accident,
namely. to the inaccuracy of a map, and
to the obscurity in the wording Of diplo-
matte document. The mistake arose in
connection with article XIV Of the treaty
of Vienna. which dealt with the delimita-
ton of the Prussian and Dutch frontiers.
Commissioners were appointed to settle the
controversy which arose concerning the
matter. and finally it was decided that the
territory in dispute, comprising an area Of
about a thousand acres. with a population
of about 5000. should remain neutral terri
tory, belonging neither to Prussia nor to
Holland. BOTH however. retaining species
OF sueratnty over this smallest of all repub-
lies. which until now has been subject to
Che rule of its burgomaster and municipal
ity Of ten duly elected members.
Altenberg.
The people of Altenberg lived peacefully
and contentedly, free from the obligations
of military service, from onerous taxation
and from political strife. until a few months
ago, when the expelled gambling casino
owners from Ostend and from Spa entered
into negotiations with the Burgomaster and
his council. From a financial point of view
the offers made were of the most tempting
character. The price which the gamblers
were willing to pay to the municipality for
the privilege of establishing public tables
the repeal of the tax of 81 head which the
Inhabitants had paid until that time. but
likewise gave promise of furnishing each of
them with a small annuity. They accepted
the terms and within the last few weeks
large casino has been erected at Moresnet.
where gambling Of the most public and I'M
disguised character Is in progress without
interruption by day and by night.
Situated at a small distance from the
direct line of railroad from Brussels to CO.
logne. and barely twenty minutes by train
from AK la Chapelle. the Altenberg casino
naturally presents unrivaled attractions
and advantages to the gambler. and SO
great has the scandal been caused by the
fortunes which have already been squan-
dered at the tables that Emperor William
has decided to interfere. He has according
ly intimated to the Belgian government,
which, after the Brussels revolution Of 1920
became invested with Hollands rights Of
suzerainty over Altenberg, that he is dis
posed to renounce all claims and preroga-
tives with regard thereto for a merely
nominal sum of money to Belgium, pro-
vided the latter will annex the little state
and extend to 1t the new and extremely
drastic laws against gambling recently en-
acted by the Belgian parliament. This offer
has been accepted by Belgium. and ar
rangements are now in progress for the in
corporation of Altenberg into the kingdom
| of Belgium.
The Kaiser Endorsed.
| Emperor Williams action in the matter
meets with general approval, TOT MS ceS-
| sion of his rights in connection with Alien
| berg to Belgium silences all objections that
might have been raised by foreign powers
| had he seized the territory. while its strate-
! g1c advantages to the empire are so infini-
tesimal that his subjects would cheerfully
abandon them sooner than permit the es-
tablishment on the very borders of the en-
pire of a second Monte Carlo entafling the
| ruin of thousands of their sons. and daugh-
| tiers as we'll, for women form a very large
percentage of those who squander their for
tunes each year at Monte Carlo.
The fate of Altenberg cannot but serve
| as another warning to San Marine and An
DORA, two other small republics, one in
Italy, the other in the Pyrenees. on the
Franco Spanish frontier line. Each OF them
has been confronted by similar temptations.
| to which both have had the good sense to