$500,000 from Liechtenstein?

Popular in Czechoslovakia is the Government's policy of seizing the broad acres of great nobles and parcelling them out among the poor. Last week seizure threatened 75,000 Czechoslovak acres belonging to a reigning sovereign, gentle old Franz Paul I, Prince of tiny Liechtenstein. This year Europe's register of kings, the famed Almanack de Gotha, has picked Franz Paul I for its frontispiece, displays him in hoary majesty. That from this old man the young republic of Czechoslovakia should plan to seize 75,000 acres seemed monstrous, infuriated the 10,000 Teuton Catholics who populate the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Abruptly in Prague the plans were changed, but scarcely for the better.

Prince Franz Paul I was informed last week that he can keep his 75,000 acres upon payment to the local Czechoslovak Farmers Co-operative Society of $6.66 per acre, or in all $500,000. Rich is the House of Liechtenstein, but such a sum represents more than twice the annual public revenue of the Principality of Liechtenstein. Few doubted that what Czechoslovak papers called their Government's "generous offer" will have to be refused by the ancient, snowy-bearded prince.

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