Very cautious and coy was that gruff Bulgarian elder statesman Nicholas Muchanoff, when he arrived in Rome last week, reputedly to represent Tsar Boris of Bulgaria in the matter of Princess Giovanna of Italy. This royal match has been rumored for so many years that incredulity must again be to the fore. All the same M. Muchanoff allowed himself to be most significantly quoted by the militant Fascist daily Il Tevere. At the very least his words served notice to Italians that a Roman Catholic princess need not switch to the Orthodox faith in order to become Bulgaria’s petite Tsarina.
“According to Bulgaria’s present Constitution,” said M. Muchanoff, “the Tsarina conserves her own religion. The Constitution stipulates solely that the
Sovereign and the heir apparent must have the religion of the majority of our people [Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox].”
In mellowest mood, the Elder Statesman added: “Royal marriages for political reasons are out of date. Even a king has now the right to choose for his queen the woman that he loves. It is true beyond a doubt that all our people ardently desire to have a queen!”
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