ROTHERMERE SUED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1939, Page 6

ROTHERMERE SUED

PRINCESS ALLEGES BREACH OF CONTRACT LIGHT ON MAGNATE’S ACTIVITIES “WANTED TO BE MODERN WARWICK.” RESTORING EUROPEAN DYNASTIES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, November B.' Alleging that Lord Rothcrmere had engaged her as his » persona] foreign representative, the Viennese Princess Stefanie of IToheillohe-Wald-enbourg, the divorced wife of a Hungarian magnate, sued Lord. Rothermere for breach of contract. Her counsel, Dlr Beyfus, declared that Lord Rothermere sought a feat lire for the “Daily Mail” and the Princess persuaded him to champion 11m cause of Hungary and supplied him with _information for an article in the “Dlail” on June 31. 1927. ■ which ever since had been celebrated in Hungary as a day of national rejoicing.

The Princess during 1932 rejected a suggestion, that Lord Rothermere's son. the Hon. Esmond Harmsworth should be nominated King of Hungary. Thereafter there was some coldness in her relations with Lord Rothermere, who, hearing that she was publishing articles about her part in the Hum rri

rcaty revision campaign, paid her £5,000 not to publish any more. Mr Beyfus suggested that Lord Rothermere did not want anyone to share his glory. Next Lord Rothermere appointed the Princess as his personal foreign representative at £5,000 a year as he had decided to seek to restore the Hohenzollerns and Hapsburgs to their thrones.

Mr Beyfus declared that Lord Rothermere wanted to be a modern Warwick the King-maker and asked the Princess to make contact with the exEmpress Zita and the Ex-Kaiser and acquaint them of this campaign to establish monarchy as a bulwark against Bolshevism. Lord Rothermere corresponded with the ex-Kaiser, the Crown Prince, Herr Hitler and the Regent of Hungary (Admiral Horthy) on equal terms, as though he were a sovereign power himself. The Princess acted as his ambassadress.

Lord Rothermere suggested offering the ex-Empress Zita an annuity of £25.000 for five years, although only a year or two before lie had told the Princess that lie found it difficult to keep his head above water. The Princess advised Lord Rothermere' not to deal with the ex-Empress Zita and the ex-Kaiser, but to make contact with the Crown Prince. As a result, Lord Rothermere accepted an invitation the Princess obtained for him to go io Germany, where fie was given a royal reception. Lord Rothermere promised the Crown Prince to restore the Hohenzollerns and told the Princess that Herr Hitler should make her a duchess.

Sir William Jowitt. appearing for Lord Rothermere. said he did not dispute the contract for the plaintiff’s valuable services, but contended that a year’s notice was sufficient for their termination.

Mr Beyfus pointed out that the Princess had accepted Lord Rothermere's advice not to take action against articles libelling her in the French Press. Lord Rothermere, fearful of publicity, assured her that all would be well. Lord Rothermere promised to pay her £5,000 a year for life, saying:,"! have never let down a woman.”

Mr Beyfus stated that Lord Rothermere paid the Princess £46.000 during 51 years and requested her not to keep accounts of her expenses, which included expensive gifts for various notabilities. The Princess continued in Lord Rothermere’s service and secured an invitation for him to meet Herr Hitler at Berchtesgaden in 1936 and escorted him there from the frontier. Lord Rothermere sent her on a vital mission in January, 1928, to Herr Hitler, to discuss the return of colonies to Germany.

Thereafter the Princess and Lord Rothermere quarrelled over an income tax return and Lord Rothermere dropped her without a single word. The hearing was adjourned.