New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-18
FRANCE TO TAKE MONACO
r,therwise the Principally
Renon1e a German Possession,

--srtt 1910 BY The Brentwood CornpanvN
uo-,e two or three weeks ago mentioned
.bese letters that the ruler of Monaco
+stinE steps to eliminate his only son.
,.ou-1 Prince Louis, born OF his first mar
80 TO Lady Mary Douglas Hamilton,
Countess Festetics, from the success
- 10 his throne. The official gazette at
,ton.a Carlo ROW formally announces that
=. crown prince has abandoned his rights
!, succession. and the question arises as
= rhat IS 10 become Of Monaco on the
ss-h Of its present sovereign. As pointed
- IN these columns the other day. failing
49, crown prince and his daughter. a
.o,slye-vear-old girl. the throne of the pr:n-
i,alitv would. according TO its laws OF
-s,ccession, pass TO the German Duke Of
---e,h. whose mother, Princess Florestine
Is "a sister OF the late Prince Of Monaco.
e.. me duke who Is married to princess
~ the reigning house Of Bavaria. and
those father was the offspring Of a NOR
,.nstic union between the royal Duke
William Of Wurtenberg ard Baroness VIII
belr1ine Tunderfeldt. is not only a Ger
man. heart and soul. but also an enthu-
siastfc officer OF the German army. COM
harding an important cavalry brigade.
While France has tolerated the existence
., the nominally independent principality
n Monaco on what is virtually part and
marcel Of its soil SO long as the throne was
occupied by g house OF the old French aris-
tocracy, namely, that Of de Matignon,
which secured possession thereof through
marriage with the only child and heiress Of
the last OF the GriTnaldis, it could hardly
srord 70 permit the establishment Of q
thoroughly German dynasty at Monte
carlo and its passing into the hands of z
-tler who by his birth, marriage, affilia-
mons and sympathies would not only be
wholly subject to Teutonic influences but,
as ST officer OF the Kaiser's army, would
undoubtedly bring the principality within
the sphere OF the Teuton empire. Indeed,
Monaco under the Duke OF Urach would
AFFORD an opportunity TO Emperor William
20 secure e station OF the Mediterranean
a, irczlculable value 20 his navy and which
would -ecessitate q radical change in the
maritime and land defences Of France
tnasmuch. therefore as France could not
POSSIBLY tolerate the dukes succession TO
the throne OF Monaco it is rather idle 10
speculate as 10 what would be his attitude
inward the public gambling establishment
Il Monte Carlo. 70 which BY reason OF his
yery pronounced religious sentiments and
great piety ne is understood to be firmly
opposed.
L is IN the anticipations OF the comphca-
iions that are almost certain to arise on
his death, eliminating IN the inevitable an
nexarion Of the principality by France,
thar must be sought the explanation OF his
otherwise somewhat surprising action in
,esting the future care and ownership Of
his museum Of oceanography in the 1nsu-
tute Of France, to which he is extremely
proud 10 belong. This museum of ocean
ograony, which was inaugurated the other
6sy IN the presence Of special ENJOYS sent
b. the kaiser, by France and by Italy, is
rhe greatest hobby Of the princes life, the
one thing TO which he looked to secure
lasting fame for his name and q place in
the annals OF science, If not a niche in
history. and he has lavished upon Il enor-
nous sums Of money. He wishes ii 10 endure
AFTER him, and approaching the fact that
tho institute is one Of the very few perma-
naut organizations in France, which has
survived many revolutions and changes Of
government, and that fl was on this &C
count that the late Due d'Aumale be
o-eathed his favorite home, Chantilly, TO
lis care, lle has arranged that the owner
ship Of the museum and all its contents,
-i-h an adequate endowment, should pass
o. his demise 10 the institute