The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-26
KAISER HAS PLAN
TO DTSMEMBER AUSTRIA
Foreign Editor Of London "Times" Tells of Agreement
by Which Slain Archduke's Sons Were to
Rule Poland and Hungary.

Under the title Of THE Pact Of Kono-
pisht." the Nineteenth Century and After
publishes as the leading article Of It's
February number a consideration. by
Henry wickham steed. foreign editor Of
the London Ttmes. Of tho visit Of the
o Tirpits to the Archduke Francis
Ferdinand and his wife, the Duchess Of
Hohenberg. at their castle Of Konopisht
In Bohemia. on June ~. 1914. less than
three weeks preceding the assassination
Of the Archduke. and Of the possible re-
lations between that visit and succeed
ing events.
The writer quotes a correspondent
whose position and a~ntecedents entitle
his statements to careful examination"
to the effect that at this meeting EN-
peror william laid before the Archduke
a plan by which the latter's sons. barred
from succession to the Austrian throne
by his own renunciation at the time OF
his marriage TO the Countess Chotek.
were TO be placed at their fathers death
al the head of two vast realms. the
elder to have the throne OF a united
Poland. stretching from the Baltic to the
Black Sea. and the younger to receive
the throne Of a new empire comprising
Bohemia, Hungary and most OF the
southern Slav lands Of Austria together
with Serbia. the Slav coast OF the east
ern Adriatic and Salonica.
Emperor william. the correspondent
continues. was TO give back a part OF
the Duchy OF Posen to the future Poland
and was to indemnify himself by bring
ing Austria, under the Archduke Charles
EvanTis 1naanh tho nresRpf heir 10 the
Austrian throne. into the German EN-
pire--a move which would acquire for
Germany the coveted outlet on the Adri-
attic.
Close Alliance Planned.
Between the enlarged German En-
pire. the reconstructed kingdom or en-
pire of Poland and the new Bohemian
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Slav realm a close
and perpetual military and economic al
lance was contemplated the CORE
spondent says. This alliance would be-
ONE the arbiter of Europe and would
command the Balkans and the route to
the East. Who would then have dared
to resist had II pleased Berlin to bring
Holland and Belgium into the great con-
federated German Empire"
Whether or not the Austrian imperial
family learned OF these plans for the
reduction OF the Hapsburg domain for
the benefit OF Germany and the children
of the ~.Archdul>e's morganat!c marriage.
either before or after the assassination.
Mr.. Stced points out the Inadequate
police or military protection for the
Archduke and Duchess on their visit TO
Sarajcvo and also the attitude OF the
imperial family toward the funeral of
the heir apparent and his wife. an atti-
tude which reused much commen In
Vienna.
The Archduke was an enthusiastic
gardener and the reason for the visit of
20 be- the Emperor's wish to see the
kunopiSht gardens In full bloom
Mr.. St,ed's correspondent after out
lining the history OF the Archduke's
marriage on July /, 1900. and his re-
! nunciation, in order to obtain his i'm
pcrial uncle's consent TO the marriage.
II IN. rights of succession which his
children would naturally enjoy, says:
This ~irrevocahic act always weighed
upon the Archduke's mind. and made
the position OF his wife especially palm
ful. IA time went on. and particularly
after the birth Of his children. his re-
entmen grew. lie made every EFFORT
to induce the Emperor TO modify the
terms of the remuneration and to raise
the Countess Chotek-who on her mar
rage had received the title of Princess
Hohenberg-to the rank OF A%rchduch-
css."
| These efforts were In vain. the only
concession wrung from the Emperor be-
ing the raising OF the Princess TO the
| rank OF Duchess. This was accom-
plishcd with much difficulty.