“I therefore resign voluntarily, and respectfully return the titles and rights of an Archduke, as well as my military title into the hands of Your Majesty, but request Your Majesty submissively to deign to grant me a civil name.
“Far from my fatherland, I shall seek a purpose in life, and my livelihood probably at sea, and try to find a humble but honorable position. If, however, Your Majesty should call your subjects to arms, Your Highness will permit me to return home and—though only as a common soldier—to devote my life to Your Majesty.
“Your Majesty may deign to believe me that this step was only impeded by the thought of giving offense to Your Majesty—Your Majesty to whose Highness I am particularly and infinitely indebted and devoted from the bottom of my heart. But as I have to pay for this step dearly enough—with my entire social existence, with all that means hope and future—Your Majesty will pardon
“Your Majesty’s Most Loyally Obedient Servant,
“Archduke Johann, Fml.”
Whether one cousin would use such a tone to another, even an emperor, is a question which every reader must consider for himself, quite as he must decide whether grown sons of kings were capable of such middle-class sentiment.
There follows the reply of Franz Josef which has the ring of genuineness:
“Dear Archduke Johann:
“In compliance with your request addressed to me, I feel induced to decide the following:
“1. I sanction your renunciation of the right of being regarded and treated as a Prince of the Imperial House, and permit you to adopt a civil name, which you are to bring to my notice after you have made your choice.
“2. I consent to your resigning your commission as an officer and relieve you at the same time of your responsibility for the Corps Artillery Regiment No. 2.