Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 45. (1997)
AGSTNER, Rudolf: Von Chandos House zum Belgrave Square. Österreichs Botschaft in London 1815–1997
castle to castle and showed up at the embassy from time to time only to pick up their mail or to take part in festivities at the royal court. They represented the embassy in society in a splendid manner ... Dumba’s successor Heinrich Count Lützow, from 1886 to 1891 secretary at the embassy, had other pleasant recollections: Ambassador Károlyi was known to give all his soirees on Saturdays, as the English, who hallowed Sunday, left earlier and partook less of the buffet. He also had the habit of sending out invitations to his dinners rather late, whereby he could rely upon many regrets. In this way, he flattered his acquaintances without having to entertain them ... Karl Kinsky was one of those rare persons, who only had friends in life ... Nearly the whole world knows that in 1883 he won the ,Great National1 with ,Zoedone‘... In summer we rented one of those charming cottages along the Thames, from where I could in no time reach the city, and yet was able to spend the evenings and early morning hours on the water. We spent two winters in Melton, the famous hunting centre ... We had, at times, twelve horses in our stables - it was a beautiful, unforgettable time ... Austria (-Hungary) and her Diplomatic Mission in London 1815-1997 X. The End When on August 12, 1914 Great Britain declared war on Austria-Hungary, the rupture of diplomatic relations became unavoidable. On August 13, Mensdorff telegraphed to Vienna that he had entrusted the embassy to the protection of the ambassador of the United States, and that he had left chancery secretary Aurel Poppauer with the US embassy in London. His last telegram, despatched in the evening of August 13, reads: British Government puts steamer at my disposal for departure. Together with colony we are 250 persons. Admiralty considers passage to Holland as unsafe and does not take responsibility. I was given die choice of going from Edinburgh to Bergen or from Falmouth to Genoa ... I chose route via Genoa, which will bring me safely to Vienna in 9 days ... Departure Monday, August 17, Vienna August 26. The Austro-Hungarian diplomats and a part of the Austro-Hungarian colony departed from Falmouth aboard the steamer „Aaro“ to Genoa, where they arrived on August 24. Marie Countess Trauttmansdorff, whose husband Karl was counsellor with the embassy, recalls the voyage: The I & R embassy was at liberty to take as many Austro-Hungarian citizens as found space on board (nearly 400) and we left London one evening to embark the following morning in Falmouth. The farewell was very friendly, the heads of the Foreign Office were present at the station to bid farewell, and everybody regretted being at war with Austria. Many Austrians, who had not found a place aboard and had to stay behind, came to say farewell. Accompanied by the sounds of ‘God Save the Emperor’ the train slowly left the station. It was a sad moment, yet then we hoped that war would soon be over, and we were sure to return shortly; how different did it all turn out... Our return voyage lasted for 9 days ... On 18 August we were all on deck, yet the ambassador forbade all festivities in honour of the birthday of our beloved Emperor Francis Joseph I. He did not want to provoke the English naval personnel, who looked after us with great kindness. The captain, however, insisted on serving champagne at dinner and honourably toasted our Monarch, expressing his regret that war had to be declared between our two nations; enthusiastic cheers were tire answer! 53
