The Washington herald., 1908-04-05
STOP ABRUZZI NEWS
Italian Officials Suppress All
Cables to Papers.
KING IS OPPOSED TO MATCH
Declines 10 Grant to Miss EIkfns
Title Of Princess, Which Means
semi-niorganatie Marriage Would
he Necessgry-She Refuses 10 Wed
pnIess She Acquires Full Rights.

! LONDON, april 4.-Some idea OF the tai
ian official attitude toward the AbrUzzi-
! Elkins romance may be gained. perhaps.
from the fact that the authorities refuse
10 transmit telegrams on the subject from
Rome TO the American newspapers.
The Washington Herald's Rome corre-
spondent. who had fled the following
dispatch and had it returned to him. in
tervlewed the director Of teIegraphs. who
replied. when the correspondent offered
TO change any portion Of the dispatch
that might be objectionable. that II was
quite useless TO make any alterations. as
the home Office had determined TO stop
all kilograms dealing with the subject:
/ Rome. April "A prominent official Of
( the royal household furnishes the follow
ing Information relative to the Abruzzi-
Elkins affair. to a leading FIorentine
T Journal
Abruzzi never attempted to hide his
admiration for Miss EIkins, and on his
return from America. on the yarese. ne
spoke OF his intended marriage TO all Of
his relatives. but everybody thought that
his admiration was not OF a lasting char
aeter. The King wishes him to remain
faithful to the traditions OF his house and
to keep up its prestige By means of the
nobility in its domestic alliances.
Not Willing 10 Make Grants.
Hence II is not true that he is willing
TO grant Miss Elkins all the rights of
royal princess. The duke realizes that
the opposition Of HIS cousin constitutes
an insurmountabie obstacle to his mar
riage TO Miss Eikins. and he is. convinced
that the only possible solution would be
morganatic marriage.
Before the duke went 10 America in
February. he discussed the marriage with
the King, who consented TO grant Miss
/ Elkins a princely title. which would be
just beneath that Of a royal princess. and
hence the marriage would not be q
strictly morganatic one Miss Eikins re-
fuses to become the wife Of the duke un-
less she acquires by marriage the fun
rights and standing of royal princess
and equal rank with that of her husband
and the wives Of other cousins Of the
King. SO the duke has now come back
to Italy determined 10 persuade the King
20 sanction the marriage without any
restrictions
Appears 10 Be Genuine.
The above information has the appear
ance Of being genuine and it tallles with
the gossip prevailing among the entour-
ages Of King Victor Emmanuel ard Queen
Margherita Il is a well-known fact that
the King opposes the marriage. but, on
the other hand. he is willing to allow its
celebration, provided Miss Elkins does
not demand TO be a royal princess. Queen
Margherlta regards it as a mesalliance
and considers 1t to be beneath the duke
10 marry an untitled woman. The deci-
sion rests wholly with the King, however
and it is not likely that his mother would
influence him directly, but in all proba-
bility every effort viii be made to pre-
vent the marriage.
The duke expects to come 10 Rome
shortly. perhaps to-day. and plead his
own cause. This will entail great deal
Of tact, as he will have 10 overcome oppo-
sition and prejudiees on every side"