ROTHERMERE AIM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20094, 14 November 1939, Page 7

ROTHERMERE AIM

evidence in court RESTORING MONARCHIES SERVICES OF PRINCESS MORE THAN £51,000 PAID (Else. Tol. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 14, 12 noon) LONDON, Nov. 13. The hearing of the action in which a Viennese, Princess Stefanie ot Hohenlohe-Waldenbourg, the divorced wife of a Hungarian magnate, is suing Lord Rothermere for an alleged breach of contract concerning an appointment as Lord Rothermere’s personal foreign representative- at a salary of £SOOO a year was continued to-day.

Lord Rothermere, giving evidence, denied that he had paid the princess for silence. Pie said that between

July, 1932, and January, 1938, he had paid her “considerably more than £51,000.”

He was in touch with Hungarian magnates in 1932 who wanted to restore the I-lapsburgs, but could not "ill ora' the proper income for them and he offered to contribute £5,000 for five years. He emphasised that hr advocated justice for Hungary entirely on his own initiative because he thought that on the death ot Marshal von Hindenburg the whole of Central Europe might become a melting pot and that the restoration o' the Hohenzollerris and Hapsburgs was the only way to stabilise the position.

Hitler’s Aide

Questioned regarding his relations with Plerr Hitler’s aide, Captain Wiedemann, Lord Rothermere stated that he once thought that Captain Wiedemann was of the highest character, but he changed his view in the autumn of 1938, when Captain Wiedemann and the princess improperly brought pressure on him to settle the action.

Mr. Beyfus, for tiie princess, read a cable message which Lord Rothermere sent to Captain Wiedemann early in 1939 stating: “Everyone is aware that no conduct of yours at any time was capable of censure.”

Lord Rothermere said that the Prime Minister and others in London wanted the best possible terms with Germany. “Therefore, 1 telegraphed Captain Wiedemann in that strain because I knew that he had great influence and was able to carry on the Munich spirit.”