BID FOR CROWN

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1933, Page 6

BID FOR CROWN

WIFE OF EX-KAISER, HITLER CRUSHES FOND HOPES. ’'Princess Hermine, wife of the exiled eX-jva.'cor William!!., and many’s wealthiest woman, recently became the tin happiest in the.world became the great mission. 1W which she went to vjormany had failed. - Titruiinei went to Berlin in February, oil behalf of her husband to ascertain the chance of the restoration of the

Lijhenzd.-jAin, dynasty—a. nestoi ation which, incidentally, would make her emprecs. Alio waited a whole week for the opportunity of seeing the man who holds the -destiny of the Kaiser in his hands, soys the Berlin -correspondent of the Daily Express, That man is Adolf Hitler, the former house painter, and humble ccupoi al in the Kaiser’s army, new the most powerful man next to Prcisi defat- von Hindcmburg., the ex„Kaiser’s former field-marshal. On, February 19, Hermine’s hopes ro >£' high. She had a long and confidential talk with the Vice-Chancellor von Pa ( nen, an ardent monarchist. He is said to have assured her, that he. was doing everything in bis power to. bring the ex-Kaiser back to the imperial palace in Berlin. Hermine waited three dnvs more for her great chance to see Ilitlei and place her pica- direetlv before him. Hitler, of coiin-e, could not see her officially or publicly. Then Frau Victoria von Dirkoen, widow of the noted German diplomat, and step-mother of ,the German Ambassador in Moscow, arranged -the historic nicrling- Frau von Dirksen.: once, enormously wealthy, has lono- been an ardent Hitlerite. Her po.io-i hiG been the gathering place of illustrious pb’itieians even at the time when the Hitlerites were treated a-s outlaws by the forces' in power.

In Frau von Dirksen, the. monarchists - -sUw an ideal go-between. She wa 9 personal friend of the Hohonzol-1-rrms. and at the same - time a. “soldier,” ns- she styled herself, in the Hitler Brown Shirt Army.

The great evening came on February 22. Fmmi von Dirk-ren had arranged an elaborate dinner party in her palatial villa in the Margarctcnstrasve, just off the Tiergarten, the millionaire residential quarter of Berlin. .;. ;

N The eiepl’-nt' party assembled precisely at eight ...o’clock . in order not to keep Hermine . waiting. Five min. uteu later, she appeared. .To.her surI prise, and probably chagrin, the one guest whom she wanted to see so much was Dot present. The talented hostess started a somewhat forced conservation. Hennine bravely concealed her disapooiiitlnent. The mmutiiS'-passed. .The conversation flagged.: ,The old English clock in the hall struck the quarter horn— and - still no sign ;oF4he-.-niiisi:ng- guest. Unnoticed,! Frau 'von Dirksen sent down the footman,-their the -butler, and finally the-rn-ajd to' look out for the Clianbellcr’s Another fifteen minutes passed.'' Aiid at last -Hitler* walked in through- the door which ufes being held open for him. Frau von Dirk-en lteaypd a sigh of relief aslie told Hermine, in almost a whisper, “He lias come.” •

Several minutes again passed. Frau voii Dirksen peered into the- hall, and to her alarm daw that one of her disVugui'Jied guests had buttonholed the “leader” and was talking high finance. Frau von Dirksen stepped up and greeted her tardy guest. Hitler, was .perfectly unconcerned about his late arrival." Hi s hostess led him into the drawing-room, and the first person to whom she introduced him was Her•niine.

Under ordinary circumstances, the introduction might have been difficult —a member of the former reigning house and th->- Chancellor. Who should be,., introduced to whom? But since Hermine was a woman it wa 3 Hitler •who, was introduced to her, of course. At, dinner Hitler and Hermine were separated. But Hitler sat with Fyiau von Dirksen.

After dinner the long-sought tete-a-tete was arranged. There Hitler is said to have told Hermine that, mutch as he respected the liou-e of Hohenzrllern and revered their deeds on behalf of the Fatherland, he felt that the time for the restoration of the mo-n, rchv was not ripe. The politreal and economic difficulties of Germany were so great, lie is reported • to have told Hermine, that it was immrsible to risk a restoration. Hermine’s heart sank. She tried hard not to show her disappointment. Whether she attempted to brine- Hitler ronn-cl to her point, of view is not known; her nature would speak against such fen acton. A"vway, ats if bv signal, Fran von Dickson joined the two and switched the conversation off t~ else.