New-York tribune., 1902-01-18
" NOBLESSE OBLIGE, "
SOME POINTS IN CONNECTION WITH
THE RECEPTION TO BE ACCORDED
TO PRINCE HENRY OF PRUSSIA.

TO PRINCE HENRY OF PRUSSIA
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Emperor williams action in sending his
only brother ali the way across the Atlantic for
the purpose of conveying an expression of friend
ship and high regard to the President and 10
the people Of the United States, following closely
upon his invitation to Miss Alice Roosevelt to
christen his yacht, now building here consti-
tutes 30 marked a piece of international cour-
tesy and so graceful a compliment that It is
20 be hoped that nothing will be allowed to mar
the royal visit Many questions and problems
Of etiquette likely to arise in connection
with the latter. Indeed. they are foreshadowed
in Wednesdays cable dispatch from Berlin
which, in giving the Kaiser's official progra mnoe
OF the trip. providing for an exchange of visits
between Prince Henry and the President adds
the significant words that this portion of the
programme. of course, depends on its accept
ance at Washington"
This would seem to indicate some doubt in
the minds of the Emperor and of the authori-
ties at Berlin to whether the Prince may ex-
pect to be treated with the same honors that
would fall TO his share if he were paying a
state visit to the sovereign of some European
great power.
That uncertainty of this kind should prevail
is not altogether surprising. 1t is the first oc-
casion on which prince of the rank of Henry
comes TO the United Statas in his Official capacity
a special state mission from the ruler Of one
OF the greatest empires in ChristeEdom, and
consequently there are few if any precedents
TO guide the authorities here in connection with
the procedure to be observed. True, there have
been plenty Of royal and imperial visitors to this
country. But with the exception of the In
fanta Eulalie. who here at the time Of
the Columbian celebration. and of the Emperor
Dom Pedro, who came to earlier exposi-
tion. they have all of them been here incognito;
that is to say, unoficially. Even King Edward
when he called upon President Buchanan. at
Washington. some forty years ago more. did
so as Lord Renfrew; that is to say, a mere
noblenan, and not in his capacity Of Prince
OF Wales and of heir apparent to the throne or
Great Britain.
Now. Prince Henry is coming to this country
officially that is to say, not merely as a royal
parsonage. but likewise the special repre-
sentative OF his brother, the Emperor. and this
being the case, the court Of Berlin and the Ger
people Will naturally wish that he be wei
coined with the distinction and treated
with the same consideration that he would re-
ceive at the hands of the sovereign and govern
rnent Of any other great power to whom he
might be dispatched on a similar mission OF
state. Prince Henry has already several
occasions undertaken journeys Of this kind for
his brother. He has gone both to Vienna and
TO St Petersburg in the name Of the Kaiser. and
on each occasion he has been welcomed at the
railroad station by the monarch in person, who
escorted him to the quarters prepared for him.
An hour two later the royal visitor proceeded
10 pay his respects to his imperial host who
within an hour later would make point of re-
turning the call in person in the apartments oc-
cupied by the prince.
According to this procedure. President Roose-
welt would therefore be merely acting in ac
cordance with the forms OF international cour-
tesy, adopted by both the Gar OF Russia and
the venerable Emperor OF Austro- Hungary, if
he were 10 welcome Prince Henry at Washing
ton. either at the railroad station If he arrives
by train, or at the landing stage II he comes up
the river. Judging from the tone OF the publica-
zion at Berlin OF the official programme devised
by the Emperor for the trip, he does not expect
the President TO meet his brother the latters
arrival at Washington, and appears to antici-
pate that the prince viii make the first call.
which will be returned in person by the Presi
dent But there is doubt that the German
Government and the German people, not only in
the Old World, but likewise in this country. will
warmly appreciate the courtesy of the Chief
Magistrate of the United States, IT, following
the custom of the rulers Of Austria and Of
Russia, he makes point OF greeting either at
the landing stage at the railroad station at
Washington a prince who has travelled far.
that is 10 say; clear across the Atlantic, in or
der TO convey to him and to the American ma
tion expression Of German goodwill to the
United States and Of the Kaisers regard for
its President. IT has apparently been decided
in the Old World by the great powers that not
only is the United States to be treated in all
matters Of procedure and etiquette Of
their number, but that the President should be
accorded the same honors by them if he were
the ruler Of monarchy instead of republic.
King Edward gave expression TO this some time
ago when he intirnated that national executives
were entitled 10 the honors due to sovereigns,
no matter whether they bore the title Of kings,
emperors or presidents. II in this order
OF ideas that ne addressed an invitation to the
United States Government, and TO its Chief
Magistrate, 10 be represented by a special en-
bassy at his coronation 1t is in this order OF
ideas. too, that the Kaiser is sending his brother
10 America, and the United States in acknowl-
edging what may be described as the social OBJ
legations of great power which the Old World
is anxious to honor will be complying with the
precepts of that old adage of ''Noblesse oblige"
New-York. Jan. IL, 1902. EX-ATTACHE.
THE GOVERNOR of NEw-JERsEY.