New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-12
THE NEWS or EUROPE.
MEETING OF TIE GERMAN EMPEROR AND
THE CZAR AT KEEL.

THE CZAR AT KEEL.
rxpRFss1oNs OF RUSSIAN NEwsPAPERs-GRAND
DUKE CONSTANTINE AT NANCY-TIIE BISHOP OF
yFRpUN AND THE RErUBMC-PRINCE
FERDINAND IN IoNDoN-MINlsTER
CoOLIDGE,-PRNCE BISMARCK
tBr CABLE TO TRIBUNEi
c.ov,,ob, 1902 By m. Tribune AssociatiOn
Iondon June l-There is perhaps something
tactitous or excessive in the Importance given 10
the interview at Kiel between the Gar auu ,',e
German Emperor. The importance was III "i'
cose. more personal than political Inc u""ois
Of his own unsolicited and unreturned visit 10 'i'e
Gar ranked in the German Emperors breast.
That wound is now closed True. visit 10 hiei
is not a visit To Berlin, but Alexander tle l''i"
reluctance to Journey by rail is alleged as sur
fjcient reason for his proposal OF seaport lhere
ia nerbaps another. Kie lies geographically mid
way between Copenhagen and Berlin Inc H"-
peror. who was at Berlin, had 10 travel as lar as
the Gar. who was at Copenhagen. in the eyes OF
court chamberains this diminishes the value OF
the compliment implied by the Cars visit. Kus-
sian susceptibihties are TO that extent sootheu'
and seldom has the anti-German feeling peeh
stronger In Russia than 1t is now
Tho etiquette observed at the Imperial meeting
was. of course, strict. 1t is always street, hnt
IL there lie any balance of grathed punctilio. it
Is on the Russian, not on the German slde' Ohe
effect of the meeting at Kiel which the ozar
reached his yacht, was to make II necesS ry ior
tho Emperor. after travelling $50 miles by rail, 10
travel little further by sea in search oil MS
visitor. He steamed at in the morning some
five miles out to sea to meet the Gar, ana es-
corted him to the port. Not till both yachts bad
anchored in Kiel harbor did the Car go on board
tho Hohenzollern on whose deck the two sover
ejaus embraced and kissed each other three times.
The Russian wore German uniform The Ter
man wore a Russian uniform This Vlslt Ested
twenty minutes and was forthwith returned o'
the German Emperor on the Cars yach'' unc
Polar Star. That done, both landed, and went
to che palace. Then there was days sight-
SeSiaG; then at banquet. Then the TWO gIe'o
nss eaid farewell The visit of the Gar had
lssted exactly twelve hours.
There are the usual stories Of marked cordiality
in the manner of each They may pass for what
they are worth. Potentates of this rank 10 not
need to exchange incivilites
II it were supposed that the meeting had any
serious political object, two facts would dispose
of that theory The Russian press, with
Russian censor looking over the shoulder OF each
editor as he writes expressly notifies TO Germany
that she need expect from this interview no lul-
movement in her relations with Russia, who
will sacrifice to Germany neither her interest nor
her dignity.
The second fact takes us all the way
TO Nancy. and the sudden appearance at the
Nancy festival Of the Grand Duke Constantine
That he went by the Gar order Is certain no"
far his coming was expected by Prsiden; Carnot
is uncertain Nor does it greatly matter What
does matter, what is in fact Of higher concern
to the peace and policy Of Europe than any recent
event, is the Grand Dukes presence on such an
occasion. 1t Is the most positive expression OF
the Cars good will to France that has yet oeen
given. 1t means that Cronstadt belongs not to the
past, but to the present There has always peen
O doubt how far the Russian Emperor ana Russia
herself responded to the eagerness OF france ior
n serious political understanding between the
.vo countries. 1t may be still doubtful. But
what Is clear is that the Gar signifls thus pub
Nely to Germany and to Europe that his visit
~ Xie detracts nothing from his friendship, wha'-
aver il be, for France. The French grumbled at
his going just they grumbled at the German
Emreror's visit to England. They would ike 10
monopolze these international compliments. They
are restored to good humor and 10 something more
than good humor by the appearance of the Grand
Duke.
What had gone before adds to the significance
of the incident. The German protests, perfectly
unwarranted protests, against the holding OF
French festival on Frensh soil, had turned all
European eyes 10 Nancy Every act done was
watched; every word spoken recorded and
WEIGHED The Grand Duke in these circumstances
of strained attention stepped upon the Nancy
railway platform upon stage with all Europe
for spectators II was announced in every paper
of Europe that he came TO pay President Carnot
a visit lie paid it. The interview was private;
but. the visit was public, the mult4tudes VINO
thronged Nancy cheering him they had hardly
c6eered NJ Carnot himself. lie took no formal
part in the celebration, and left Nancy before the
ban1uet at the Toel de Vile. His presence was
enough.
IL would have been easy for NJ. Carnot u
spoil the good effect of all this. Any emphasis
would have spoiled it. A careless word or gesture
might have undone all The Car will stand no
nonsense He and he alone is 10 fix the limit OF
friendship, the degree Of cordiality between the
two countries Not too much friendship, but
Just friendship enough, is his motto, and he must
be the Judge Of too much and OF just enough.
NJ. Carnot had TO speak at the Hotel de Vile ban
ouet after the Grand Dukes departure. lie spoke
with perfect tact and discretion. The Grand
Dukes name was not mentioned. There was no
direct allusion TO his visit. Russia not
named. There was q sentence about France and
her friends which might mean anything or moth
ing. The President could not have done il bet
ter, had he been born Emperor and practoed
ell his life in tightrope dancing As the Off
cial representative Of the Republic ne is per
fcot, and he makes the Republic respected By
those who would be the first 10 rdcule his mis-
takes; only there are nohe to ridcule He has
added to his reputation and to that Of tho
Republic and has done it in circumstances deli
cate enough to make the most expert diplomatist
thankful 10 come of with whole skin.
But for the Grand Dukes appearance, the
Bishop of verdun would have been the hero Of
this occasion. lie welcomed NJ Carnot at Bar
le-Duc In a speech breathing loyal devotion to
the Republic we accept Loyalty and fully the
form Of government France has chosen OF