Tactful Seipel

Reporters with belted overcoats and large black cameras crowded the platform of Vienna's smoky Westbahnhof to greet the most interesting man in Austria, eagle-beaked Monsignor Ignaze Seipel, onetime Prime Minister of Austria, leader of the Christian Socialist Party, crafty cleric, on his return from delivering a series of theological lectures at the University of the tiny independent Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. As the ex-Prime Minister alighted, the newshawks blurted quick questions. Was it true that he favored the return of the Habsburgs to reign in Austria? Did he want to form a separate most Catholic Kingdom of united Austria and Bavaria? Did he want to indemnify the Habsburgs for property confiscated by the Austrian Republic? In Luxemburg had he visited ex-Empress Zita of Austria, as reported, and discussed with her these matters? Deftly Mgr. Seipel avoided the more contentious questions.

"I did not see Her Majesty the Empress in Luxemburg," said he, slowly pulling off his grey silk traveling gloves. "When I learned that she had come to visit the Grand Duchess* it would have been too late to request an audience. I would not have done it in any case, however, because it would have been considered tactless and would have given a wrong impression at the very moment when Austrian Catholics were demanding an investigation of the legitimacy of the confiscation of Habsburg property."

*Charlotte Aldegonde Elise Marie Wilhelmine, Grand Duchess of Luxemburg, sister-in-law of melancholy Zita.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.