Emperor Karl and Empress Zita of Austria [1] |
A sensational lawsuit will start shortly against the former Emperor Charles in which the Austrian government seeks to recover $20,000,000 worth of Austrian crown jewels brought to Switzerland by Charles and Count Berchtold [2]. The trial will probably take place in Lausanne.
Charles declares his property is not in Austria but in Italy and that several of the jewels were taken by Austrian troops during the invasion of Northern Italy after Caporetto [3].
Swiss jewelers refuse to buy any crown jewels, fearing future restitution. It is stated that Charles and Zita are specially anxious to sell a diamond necklace worth nearly $1,000,000 worn by the late Empress Elizabeth of Austria [4], who was murdered in Geneva.