BELGIUM: King Albert Hints

With the greatest indignation King Albert and Queen Elisabeth learned last week that the Budapest newspaper Magyarorszag had stated that their Majesty's daughter, Crown Princess Maria José of Italy, already desires a separation.

Maria José has been married 13 months. Magyarorszag asserted that after a quarrel between the royal couple, Crown Prince Umberto has "resumed his relations with an English movie star with whom he was well acquainted several years ago."

From Rome came no denial. At Brussels the press received a communiqué from the Royal Palace. Text: "The honor of a family, whether royal, middle or working class is entitled to protection. The Prince of Piedmont* may decide to bring legal action. Up to now His Royal Highness and the Belgian Royal Family have opposed with disdainful silence all such rumors."

If Umberto of Piedmont did not see what King Albert was driving at he was dense indeed. At the Belgian Royal Palace, correspondents were confidentially told that "if any tiffs have taken place they have not been more serious than in the case of any young married couple." It was positively though unofficially denied that a separation is contemplated.