MYSTERY MAN OF EUROPE

Shannon News, 17 December 1926, Page 2

MYSTERY MAN OF EUROPE

£10,000,000 BAIT THAT FAILED. LOEWENSTEIN'S OFFER. I Captain Loewenstein, Belgian' mul-ti-millionaire, and Europe's Man pi' • Mystery, departed from his usual custom recently, when he drew the'spot* light of world publicity full upor. j himself by his astounding offer of a aoan of £10,000,000 to the Government of Belgium for two years, free ' of interest. ' j Such generosity sounded too good to be true, but, even so, surprise was expressed when this attempt at "philantrophy" was / turned down with an - emphatic no. People were then left wondering who, and what sort of a man is Captain Loewenstein. The Belgian Government, in exchange, for the loan, was to print and s hand over to M. Loewenstein bank notes to the value of 1,750,000 francs, t almost the equivalent of the loan at the present rate of exchange. The Belgian financier also stipulated that if the franc should have depreciated at the end of two or three years, for which. the loan was contracted, the Belgian Treasury could bo called upon by him to refund the £10,000,000 gold in return for 1,750,000 bank notes. That would have been all very well, but the conditions went further, an.d aimed at giving M. Loewenstein control of all exchange, operations in the Belgian franc during the period of the loan, the Government to apply a plan, prepared by Captain Loewenstein, for stabilising the franc. Quite a pretty-plan, and one that was intended to give Captain Loewenstein a hold not only on the exchange rates, but also a grip of the artificial silk, metal, and coal industries of th© country. Picture a man who lives with an aeroplane at the front door, a secre- ! tary at his elbow and a telephone within an arm's reach; a man who never wastes a second —who is ceaselessly on the move from early morn- • ing till Jate at night; who make a fetish of physical culture, as well as the control of millions. In that picture you have Captain Loewenstein. He hatss the limelight as he hates laziness, and at 49 years of age. finds himself one of the world's richest men, almost entirely by his own effort and genius. Hi& father was a Brussels banker of small standing, and from this business the son launched out into a manner which was to electrify finance. Captain Loewenstein never makes mistakes. When ho speculates, ho knows he is on sure ground. He uses the cables as little as he can! it is to keep his secrets that he has ever at his command high-pow-ered aeroplanes to dash to the markets and exchanges of Europe. He employs a fleet of Imperial Airway 'planes to bring business men to Interview him from all parts ot

it is on an unprecedented scale. Recently, he gave a select dinner at Barcelona to some of his friends, and for the repast he sent an aeroplane to Russia to fetch fresh vaviare, and another to Toulouso for poulardes. It was a costly affair, but the dishes were worthy of the palates of the International magnates.

This extraordinary man came to Hvo in England just before the war, and ever since has spent the hunting seasons on his beautiful estato at Thorpe, Satchville, near Melton Mowtfray. The manner in which he sits a horse is applauded even in critical Leicestershire, and, when he is not out with the Quorn Pack, ho is spending the day with some other pack. He rises at an early hour, and, even while he is being shaved, threo private secretaries hover about him, taking dictation at redhot speed.

] ( 1 Europe, o Captain Locwonsteln frequently e r tertains men prominent in finance circles, and when lie gives a banquet.

Then this “super man” summons his own private boxing instructor, and enjoys several rounds with him. After this, he may leap on a horse and go for a gallop, or else hasten to the tennis court of the golf links to play with his professional. Although there are few financial pies in the world in which he has not a finger, Captain Loewenstein remains one of the most secretive and mysterious men alive. Indeed, to the general public, his name means nothing. ■ Yet he is one of the most powerful men behind the scenes in the drama of nations. His work on a matter of finance can make or mar aspirations of more than commercial importance.