local Court of Law accordingly appointed a Mr.Larry C.Hanson,
to be guardian
an Englishman, who resided in the district
provisionally of the Longinotto children (now aged 15 and 12
respectively). This was done with the consent of the mother,
although she apparently has no desire to have a co-guardian.
Subsequently, however, it appears that two or three other
persons (austrians) were successively appointed as curators
or guardians in place of Mr.lianson, who for some reason or
other was relieved of his function. I have enquired of the
Austrian Government why these changes of guardianship were
made.
3. Last year Mra Tonginotto applied to the
Consulate and to the Legation fr assistance to enable her to
be regarded as the sole guardian of her children. Her lawyer
was thereupon given a statement by the British Consul that
according to British law she was the natural and sole
guardian. The Legation also informed the Ministry of Justice
to this effect and asked that steps should be taken to declare
and secure Mrs. Longinotto's sole guardianship. This, however,
produced no result, and the Austrian Government have returned
to the charge on several occasions asking repeatedly what
measures the "competent British authorities" intend to take
in the matter, and whether they wished to take over the
guardianship. The Kinister for Foreign Affairs was informed
that the Legation had no power to appoint guardians and was
not aware of the reason for which a co-guardian was con-
sidered necessary -
4. In the meantime legal proceedings continued
between Mrs Longinotto and certain persons who were disputi
her!