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Help for Hungary. The new boys have added vitality to the still overly inbred firm. Headquartered in London's City, the British Rothschilds retain their prestigious positions as gold broker to the Bank of England and substantial dealers in foreign exchange. Since 1966, they have entered industrial ventures with Britain's National Provincial Bank and with four Continental firms, including Baron Guy's Paris bank and Cousin Edmond's* Banque Privee in Geneva. In May, the firm assembled a syndicate that lent $15 million to Hungary, the first direct credit by Western lenders to an East bloc country. Three months ago, its U.S. affiliate bought the Georg Jensen chain of New York-area specialty shops. And next week the Rothschilds will join as a junior partner with the U.S.'s Manufacturers Hanover Trust in opening a new merchant bank in London, thus completing a typical round-the-world circle.
* Rothschilds often have the same or similar first names. Edmund is English; his third cousin Edmond is French.