The Washington herald., 1911-10-02
KAISER HONORS HEIR
TO TURKISH THRONE

feet, Engiand's generalissimo, Sir John
French, was inspecting the French forti-
fcatIons on the German border.
In Austria, as well as in Hungary, It
has become a leading issue with all
classes to try to fathom the riddle as
to who will be the next Empress. 1t
seems to be a foregone conclusion that
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, upon ascend
ing the dual throne. will make his NOR
ganatic wife, the Duchess of Hobenberg
his empress and queen. AS have point
ed out repeatedly, he will find that the
Msgyars will receive their countrywom-
an with open arms. Besides, there is
neither Salic law nor pragmatic sanction
to hinder the Hungarians from accept
ing as their Queen whomever they please
But as to the old Hapsburg dominion
itself, Austria, 1t is quite a different
matter. Franz Ferdinand has never for
gotten the friendly action of the Ger
man Kaiser when he received the duch-
ess with all the honors due a real crown
| princess at the time when the Hapsburg
| pair visited Potsdam several years ago.
| Emperor William was shrewd enough to
| foresee Franz Ferdinand'S ultimate de-
| sire, and thus tacitly gave him to under
| stand that the court of Berlin would
|
attempt to raise his wife to his own high
| rank.
1t is an open secret in court circles
at the Vienna Hofburg that Franz Fer
| dinand's mind Is fully made up to pro-
| claim the Duchess of Hohenburg as his
empress ss soon as aged Franz Josef
closes his wearied eyes in death. This,
of course, would make his sons by the
duchess his legitimate heirs in the sue
4 - 1-aNA - 49, all,
such coup" are great, yet they are not
insurmountable. First of all. there Is the
solemn oath taken by Franz Ferdinand
| before his uncle, the Emperor Franz
Josef, just before he was given the i'm
perial permission to wed the then
Countess Sofia Chotek, that he never
intended to have the lady occupy another
position than that OF his morganatic
wife, and would not try to legitimize any
offspring of that union. But it IS under
stood that the Vatican would absolVs
Franz Ferdinand of said oath, as the
Pope and his cabinet are building great
hopes upon the Duchess OF Hohenberg
to re-enfold the Austrian ruler again as
dutiful child OF the papal hierarchy.
What appears more troublesome is the
fact that in order to be successful the
archduke. upon becoming emperor, would
have to change the pIagmatic sanction,
which governs the Hapsburg succession.
This can be accomplished only with the
knowledge and consent Of every member
OF the House of Hapsburg At present
there is a clique at the. Hofburg which
fights the aspirations of the former maid
of honor of the Archduchess Isabella
with all the weapons of feminine art and
diplomacy. This faction is headed by
the two daughters of the aged monarch,
Archduchesses Valerie and Gisela. But,
on the other hand. the archdukes, one
and all, are dependent upon the good
will Of the head OF their house to such
degree, even IN things materialstic.
that they will have to succumb to the
will Of Franz Ferdinand as soon as he
is proclaimed emperor, and that they
will have to persuade their wives and
daughters to do the same.
Now, as to the Austrian Parliament.
This has the power to hinder the plans
of Franz Ferdinand. But 1t Is hardly to
be surmised that the members will do
so. 1t is absolutely immaterial to the
public in Austria who Is Empress, as
long as she is a good woman who will
do her best to raise good, brave chill
dren.
Another thing. II there had been a
real desire to oppose the plan Of the
heir to the throne, it is urged, the next
in succession, Archduke Karl Franz
Josef, would not have engaged himself
to wed the little Princess of Parma.
the fourteenth of twenty-one children.
nearly all of whom are sickly, some even
mentally unbalanced. She is very deli
icate and it is not likely that she would
increase the house of Hapsburg. And
finally, be it said, Karl Franz josef
has no ambition to rule. He is lively
and vivacious, like his father. the late
Archduke Otto was. He vastly prefers to
live the life of an independent princely
grandseigneur than to shoulder the re-
sponsibilities of a ruler over so turbu-
lent an empire as Austria Hungary.
FLANEUR.
Copyright, 1911. by Court Gossip syndicate)