The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-31
Baron Won Hengelmuller Pub
fishes Convincing Story of His
Relations With King Milan.

~ advantage when assailed bv the
press For. more especially
when the attack relates to official
matters. they are deharred b. the re-
quiremcnts OF their calling from de-
Tending themselves.
Thus. the late Lord Pauncefote was
unable to openly exculpate himself
semiofficial Berlin press TO the ef-
feet that at the outset OF the Amerl-
can war with Spain he had endeavorcd
to unite the other foreign anbassa-
doris at Washington in behalf OF
Spain against the United States-in
one word. had sought to originate
something very much akin to Euro
pean coalition against this country,
the Berlin newspapers intimating that
his efforts in this direction had been
frustrated by Germany.
Everybody in official lie az Wash
inRton knew that there was not n
shadow OF foundation for any such
accusation. and that Lord paunce fote
was the most loyal OF friends OF this
nation throughout his career at Wash
ington. Diplomatic considerations pre-
vented the German charge from being
refuted as it should have been by the
Foreign Office in Lopdon Lord
Pauncefote felt keenly the slur placed
upon his fair name In American eyes,
and there is no doubt that the AFFAIR
contributed in no small measure 10 his
death.
In the same way Baron Won Hen
gelmuller. for near twenty years Aus
TRAN ambassador at Washington, has
had to wait until his retirement into
private life, on pension, TO disprove
charges brought against him by the
London Times far back AS 1889,
charges which have been reprinted
time and again-bccause unanswered
in newspapers on both sides OF the
Atlantic. They were accusations re-
flecting upon the efficiency. and profess
sional acumen OF the baron. and cal
culated to damage his reputation and
his prestige.
The charges were TO tho effect that
during his two years stay at Belgrade
az Austrian envoy, he had remained
to such an extent a stranger 10 Ser
Wan conditions that. although he
played cards every night with King
Milan. and was engaged in n game
with him at the palace on the night
OF March .. 1859. quitting him ut
o'clock In the morning. he only learn
ed, without any premonitipn. on rising
shortly before noon. through dispatch
from Vienna. that Milan had abdicat-
ed three hours after he had parted
from him II was stated that oying
TO his having kept his government so
i'll informed, Hengelmuller had been
shclved for time and then dispatch
ed by way of punishment. as envoy
to Rio Henselmuller was obliged to
endure all this in silence !or close
upon a quarter OF century.
Now, however. he has published in
the Neue Free Prcsse. at Vienna. a
BRIEF and convincing refutation Of the
story couched in words that indicate
how bitterly he has resented the i'm
putation under which he has so long
rested. He is able 10 show that on
the very day following the prcsenka-
ton Of his credentials at Belgrade, In
March. 1857, Milan summoned him to
the palace late In the evening, and
announced his resolve to ahdicate,
oVing to the intolerable situation
created BY Queen Natalie, who, at
the Easter court reception had pub
licly refused to imprint the kiss, re-
quired by etiquette, on the cheek OF
Nine. Nasos. the beautiful wife of the
Greek minister. owing to the Kings
usdisguised infatuation for that lady
Hengelmuller spent the greater por-
ton OF the night in dissuading Milan
from carrying out his intentions, de-
claring that he could not possibly alb
dictate OIL the ground of the refusal
Of kiss
a year later Milan again was re-
solved to abdicate, and was so set
upon it that Hengelmuller induced him
TO visit Vienna. on the plea that he
should not take any such step with
out notifying in person Emperor
Francis Joseph, who had been so pa
ternally kind to him from his early
boyhood Milan agreed to do this.
Hcngelmuler came to Vienna. man
aged to warn the Emperor beforehand.
and when the interview between the
two monarchs was over, the King an
nounced to Hengclmuller and to Count
Kalnocky, then chancellor that he had
abandoned his intention. since he was
SO devoted to the Emperor that he
was unable to refuse any appeal
which the latter made to him.
In December 1855. Hengelmuller
was attending shooting party at n
country house In Yorkshire when he
received private letter from Milan.
declaring that he was more deter
mined than ever to abdicate. and ehat
nothing could change his mind, urg-
ing him 10 return to Belgrade. Hen
gelmNlier at once left for the Ser
Wan capital, stopping on his way
through Vienna to confer with Count
Kalnocky. From the time. OF his ar
rival In Belgrade until the final alb
dication at the beginning of March.
Hepgelmuler was in daily correspon-
unite Win h'S government OH the
subject of Milans abdication and little
else was spoken Of between the King
and the envoy in their daily ussocia-
ton. The Viennese government was
kept thoroughly posted on the course
Of affairs. and knew fully forty-eight
hours beforehand of the exact hour
when Milan would proclaim his rcnun-
citation OF the throne in favor Of his
ll-fatcd son, Alexander.
The influences which became imme-
diately predominant under the new
reign were those Of Pan-siay and
Philo Russian character. which Hen
seimuiier had SO strongly combated.
This rendered his stay at Belgrade un-
pleasant. and he felt that his useful
ness there was impaired. So six