Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 45. (1997)

AGSTNER, Rudolf: Von Chandos House zum Belgrave Square. Österreichs Botschaft in London 1815–1997

Rudolf Agstner

of Westminster in Grosvenor Square, or in 1891/92 the building 18, Carlton House Terrace, came to naught. As Ambassador Count Beust, himself a former Chancellor and Foreign Minister, put it, they were in contradiction to the Foreign Ministry’s intentions „to obtain for the Austro-Hungarian Government at the cheapest price possible the most adequate townhouse for the longest possible period ..."

VI. 1892 - acquisition of the Westminster lease

In January of 1892 Ambassador Count Deym was informed „that Sir Henry Meux (junior) has quite made up his mind to sell ... The price asked is 35 000 LSt.“. Deym, who in 1891 had spent considerable time and effort to find an adequate townhouse for the Austro-Hungarian Embassy, came to the conclusion that „among all the houses up for lease at this time the present one is best suited, its very limited reception rooms notwithstanding“. When in April Count Kálnoky, Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, considered N° 18, Carlton House Terrace „as too expensise to buy and too costly to live in“, the decision had fallen in favour of 18 Belgrave Square. In

May, Count Deym sent the following estimate to Vienna:

1) payment (for remaining lease until 1924) to Sir Henry

Meux................................................................................................. LSt 31 000

2) necessary repairs and adaptations .......................................................... 1 763

3) premium to the Duke of Westminster (for renewal of head lease for 60 years until 1952, after having returned

the long lease of Sir H. Meux)................................................................ 5 000

4) interior decoration and furniture .......................................................... 10 000

5) installation of electric lighting ................................................................... 550

sum................................................................................................... LSt 48 313

In June, Count Kálnoky informed the Austrian and Hungarian prime ministers of his intention to buy the lease of a town house in London, „which should serve as permanent residence of the ambassador and chancery of the embassy“. He requested them to authorise the Austro-Hungarian Finance Minister to make available to the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Ministry the sum of 600 000 guilders, corresponding to 50 000 LSt. or 80 million Austrian Schillings in today’s purchasing power. Approval was expeditiously given, and funds made available. Count Deym was instructed to conclude a preliminary contract on behalf of „Austria-Hungary“. When the embassy’s solicitors objected to this formula, the agreement was signed on August 16 by „Count Francis Deym, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of His Imperial and Royal Majesty the Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary at the Court of St. James, as representative and on behalf of Austria-Hungary“. A small wing was added to the back of the building, consisting of two rooms that served as archives and chancery for administrative affairs, and another room above to be used jointly by three diplomats.

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