WILHELM'S RANCHES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 482, 11 October 1928, Page 13

WILHELM'S RANCHES

EX-KAISER’S LAW-SUIT IN AFRICA FARMS WORTH MILLIONS of Hohenzolleru, former Emperor of Germany, is the plaintiff in an action pending in the High Court of South-west Africa. This lawsuit is, however, not being carried on by the former Kaiser in his official capacity but as the private individual he has been since the 1918 revolution swept him to the peace of Amerongen. According to the pleadings Wilhelm demands the return of certain valuable farms in the Fatherland’s former colony. South-west Africa, to-day a mandatory territory under the Union which adjoins it. By the Versailles Treaty all the holdings of the former rulers of Germany had to be abafidoned, but the Kaiser claims that the clause that robbed him of several millions does not apply to those ranches on Africa’s veld. Away in the 18th century Frederick the Great's father created a family endowment trust bearing the majestic Teuton appellation of “Koniglich Preussiches Hausfideikommiss” from which the Royal Family was to get an income. The King of Prussia, who, of course, later became Emperor of Germany, had to administer this trust, and now, after 200 years and 6,000 miles from the State where the document was drawn up, Wilhelm 11. is claiming the farms and Africa for the "next of kin.” The first round of the law suit, which has aroused much interest in the Dark Continent, was won by the Government of "South-west,” as it is called. Judge Gutsche, who, by the way, is himself of German descent, ■demanded a detailed explanation of the Curious 1720 deed, and so the case i has been hung up many months. Now ! it is to begin once more.