PRINCE RESIGNS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 85, 12 April 1937, Page 9

PRINCE RESIGNS

KING CAROL'S BROTHER

DISPUTE OVER MARRIAGE

PERSONAL QUARREL

United Press Association— By Electric Teleurnpu—Copyright. i (Received April 12, 10.40 a.m.). BUCHAREST, April 10. ■ Prince Nicholas, the only brother of King Carol, has resigned his rank and titles as a protest against Carol's refusal to recognise the validity of his morganatic marriage in 1931 with a divorcee, Madame Saveanu (nee Dimitresch-Tohany), and to legitimise the son of the marriage and give him the title of Prince-and his mother the title of Princess.

As Prince Nicholas,' in accordance with the law providing that a member of the Royal Family marrying without the permission of the King, becomes a commoner, ;.the marriage will now be valid. The* couple will probably go abroad. ;

Prince Nicholas was the head of the Regency Council for three years until King Carol claimed the Throne. Immediately after Nicholas's marriage it was pronounced invalid, but Nicholas and his wife were permitted to undergo two years' exile in Paris instead of his serving a sentence of two months' imprisonment in a fortress.

An official communique dealing with Nicholas's banishment explains that the Supreme Court in 1931 declared his marriage with Madame Saveanu illegal. Enforcement of the 'decision' was postponed, as it was hoped that Nicholas would realise that his marriage was incompatible with the prestige of the reigning house. ' There. has been a long-standing quarrel between Carol and Nicholas over personal matters, and it has been aggravated by differences over Madame Lupescu and Madame Saveanu. The quarrel recently assumed a political complexion, as Nicholas has. been-in close" contact .with the Fascist Iron GuardJ • ~;'■•■'.. . ' . ''

Madame Lupescu is a close friend of King Carol, and has been since 1922, shortly ■■ after his morganatic marriage with Mme. Lambrino was broken up. In 1926 Carol, who. was ' then Crown Pi'ince, renounced his rights to the succession and went to live with Mme.., Lupescu (her " real,, name is Wolff) at Venice. His dramatic return to Rumania' in 1930 was attributed in part to her influence. She "has also been active in politics since Carol ccgained the throne, and is credited with powerful influence/despite resentment against her because of her Jewish origin. In 1935 the "Iron Guard" was reported to have^ issued a demand to King Carol that he break his ties with Mme. Lupescu. Members of the organisation were said to have taken an oath to kill her, and a reign of terrnr was threatened , unless she. left the country. ' . :, ■, \