Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-27
Duke of Cumberland and Prince Eitei
 Frl.z.

Luxe 0T OumperjAn0 ana Princ0 EItet
 Fri:z.
 that it actually threatens the friendly relations of the millions that make up the population of the two countries.
 A few days ago the Duke of Cum. berland, an officer in the British army. who is now far along in years. an. nounced his unalterable determination to maintain his right to the throne of Hanover and of Brunswick.
 Once the two made one kingdom. but later they were separated by the German government, so that now Han. over is mere province. If the Duke of Cumberland would disavow all claim to Hanover it is barely possible that he might succeed in becoming ruler of Brunswick. but he is obdurate in holding his right to both. and all Europe knows that the power behind him that sustains his courage Is the personality of King Edward VII.
 The Duke of Brunswick forced the issue last October by giving the duke three months in which to resign his claim to the Hanover crown, and thus reconcile himself with Prussia. The diet specified that unless he did so. he must expect to lose all claim to Brunswick. and see another elected to his dukedom. The duke declined. and, as was expected, proposed to leave the question to the imperial courts to de- eide.
 The king of England is making the fight for Cumberland. and the duke is contending so that his son. Ernest Au- gust, may succeed to the title and income.
 To gain an appreciation of the seri- ousness of the quarrel of the royal rivals for Brunswick, it is necessary to go back to the time of George I. When this king succeeded to the English throne he was both duke of Brunswick and king of Hanover. At that time the German empire had not yet come Into existence. The country which the iron hand of Bismarck was to wield into one of the mightiest of modern monarchies. was number of detached and independent states. each having its own ruler.
 King Edward Is of the house of Brunswick-Hanoser, and had no wo- man ruler of England come between him and his ancestor. George I. King Edward would now be the king of Hanover and duke of Brunswick. as his ancestor was. and this would have prevented the present controversy. But just as women in humber walks of life upset the plans of men. so do queens change conditions for kings. Under the Salic law. Queen Victoria could not inherit Hanover and Bruns- wick. This made break in the suc- cession, and they went to her uncle. the Duke of Cumberland. eldest sur viving son of George III. The present Duke of Cumberland and contender for the title is . grandson of that duke. Cumberland, they say. can have the place if he will but yield his preten- sions to Hanover and gain the friend ship of the kaiser. but among diplo- mats this is thought to be ruse to persuade Cumberland to yield up his rights, and then decline to give him bis promised reward.
 The duke. who Is a reasonably astute observer. has declined to fall Into the trap. He demands all or nothing. both his titles. Hanover and brunswick.
 Prince yon Buelow. chancellor of the German empire. is leading the battle for the kaiser's second son. He plans to have him as regent. to which ofice he could be appointed by the kaiser. or as reigning duke. to which position 1 he has no claim. but this could be overlooked if the Brunswick diet Il