ONASSIS GIFT TO PRINCE MOSTLY FOR THE BIRDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000600090029-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 17, 1999
• Sequence Number: 29
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2000/05/24: CIA-RDP7
`art Buchwald in Monaco
Onassis Gift to Prince
Mostly for the Birds
By Art, Buchwald
BliWireless to the Herald Tribune
O 1956, N.Y. Herald Tribune Inc.
MONTE CARLO. Anr_ 17 -
crate Onassis the
Greek shipping opera and
majority stockholder in the
company that controls the gam-
bling casinos and best hotels in
Monaco, has just been asked to
give Prince Rainier III a wed-
ding gift.
"The best wedding` gift you
can give me," the Prince wrote
Mr. Onassis, "is to stop the sport
of pigeon shooting in Monte
Carlo."
. Shooting at live pigeons is an
old European custom and ap-
parently the Prince would like
to abolish it in his tiny prin-
cipality, where even the pigeon
population?ts at a premium.
Onassis ' Agrees
"All right," Mr. Onassis told
this correspondent. "I'm going
to give the Prince his wedding
present. I already gave Miss
Kelly a diamond bracelet and
our company.,gave her a dia-
mond and ruby tiara for a wed-
ding gift, but if the Prince wants
"We have all the kusiness we
can handle now," he replied.
"But it will make the place a
little more romantic. It will
make it a little warmer. And
more huma4n particularly if
there are children. It would
be a blessing for all of us if Miss
Kelly lived a normal life here.
Up until now the Prince hasn't
been seen much in Monaco, but
perhaps she will switch him
around."
Mr. Onassis and the Prince
me to stop our pigeon shootings were very good friends up until
Contests, I will, Frankly, I about two years ago. They used
didn't know until I. came down ,to go to night clubs and stay up
here that they shot live pigeonsi until 4 a. m. together. But for a
I thought they used clay ones." reason that Mr. Onassis said he
wrong Idea about this place.I
They're under the impression
that the Casino supports the
while principality. It was true
thirty years ago. There wasn't
a stone or tree that didq t come
from Casino profits. But now
we're lucky to break even. We
have to support the ballet and
the opera and pay the wages of
750 people."
"But where does the money
come from?" we asked.
10 Per Cent Tax
"First of all there's a 10 per
cent sales tax on everything in
the country. You don't see it
because it's included' in the
price of the item. Then, in ex- I
"How do you feel about the didn't know, the friendship change for customs duties on'
wl?dding?" we asked Mr. Onassis,. cooled and they haven't passed tobacco, the French government
who. has been invited. . , the time of day to each other gives Monaco a lump sum of
"It's '~yonderful," Mr. Onassis since. It was about the time Mr. money. The :-entire t'evenue
said. "And I can substantiate Onassis bought a yacht for the comes to between $6,000,0001
that. To begin with, Miss Kelly. Prince, and $7 006Q00 1ftr payin for
is a wonderful girl. She's one of We asked for an explanation. water, gas; utilities, the police,;
the few movie actresses I. know the fire . departmC itr and the
It happens
who has divers' shoes other functionq, as well as $150,-
.' "I don't know, it happens to 000 allowance Jo the Prince,:
"Divers.' shoes?" I the best of people," he said. there is 'a surplus loft of $2,000,-
"Yes, she not only has her "You take a fancy to a girl and 000. The Casino plays no part
feet on the ground, but she's got then lose interest in her. The in the revenue. Wepay, the same
lead in them." nicer the girl is to you after that, 10 per gent tax as anybody else."
"Good for Princes" the more you dislike her. Maybe 'Don't you "She'll do a lot of good for the It's something like that." make the Casino, pay even
Prince." He has been a terribly; Mr. Onassis also told' us, "If tually?"
unhappy fellow to date.. He's I'm going to give up pigeon "Never," Mr. Onassis asserted.
been living alone'for four years sh'boting I would also like to give `)Gambling in the, old days here
in a palace surrounded by noth up gambling." . used to be an exuberance of
jug but executives. What fellow1 "You're kidding, naturally," luxury and wealth. This kind.
o
t
+s -cone, +.
n
land
After the sun sets you want a "No I'm not kidding at all, to take money from little people
wife and friends. You want to I'm against gambling. I always who don't have a shirt on their
forget you have a sense of duty.; have been. I would like to make backs. There is a Spanish
I think she'll give him the home the casino into a -church. We proverb, 'If you're going to-be
life he has missed." could call it the Madeleine de a woman of ill repute and make
"Will the marriage help busi- Monaco. . no money, you might as well
ness in o
XpprnyP_rVFnr Release 2000/05/24 - naco?" "Lots of people have the be an hoe w "
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