New-York tribune., 1902-03-16

gConvT1rh-. 1892 BY The Tribune AssociatonD
rspse.al 10 The Tribune by French Cablel
London. March l5-The reopening of Buck
,,ghar Palace for the Kings first court natu-
ally invites hyperbole in the descriptions print
ss even in the staidest journals. The event is
beralded as a function uneXaEpled in splendor.
.,a the contrast is drawn between the new
reyeis Of imperialism and the colorless and
tasrpreless drawing rooms of the Victorian
reign. Lcndon is proclaimed with a fine glow
~ enthusiasm as capital worthy of the mighty
srnire. and there are rhetorical passages in
vrbich The King is credited with the mastery
n the art Of stage management and with the
6sIberate intention Of riValling the splendors Of
the French court during the second NapoleOnic
rnnnire Allowance must be made for the i'm
aginative flights of writers attempting to de-
scribe what they did not see. Diplomats, Off
cials and privileged guests agree IN referring
TO the function exceptionally stately and
brIliant but assert that il was essentially a
Victorian drawing room in the evening instead
NJ the afternoon. and that while the procedure
was simpler and more dignifed there were few
changes in the established order The King, like
the German Emperor, has a natural talent for
,hs stage business Of royalty, but he respects
fbe traditions Of the Victorian reign and is not
likely 10 emulate the tnseI glories Of the second
French Empire.
The society paragrap pliers are constantly an
uouncing the impending transformation or the
social order in consequence Of the opening OF
the new reign. These forecasts INCLUDE the
substitution Of informal week end visits at
Windsor and Sandringhan for the oldtinle dine
and sleep invitations, regular course dinner
parties Withdrawing from buckingham Palace,
the conversion OF Virginia Water into a royal
picnic ground and the encouragement Of host
esses in the extravagant habit OF entertain
rnent in emulation Of the luxury of millionaires.
Nobody in touch with the court knows any
thing about these alleged royal policies. Buck
ingham Palace and Windsor Castle have been
redecorated and the furniture, art treasures
and tapestries have been rearranged in accord
ance with current taste rather than the early
Victorian fashions. The royal residences have
been greatly improved by the removal of the
dark and heavy decorations. BY the intFoduc-
ton Of electric lighting and modern convent
ences increased dignity has beer impaired to all
state functions, and the arrangements for the
coronation have been ordered on a scale of mag
niAcence commensurate with the unique historic
ceremonial These things are known, but the
impending changes In the royal habits of life
and social order are matters Of hearsay and
gossip
There is no definite information about the
court functions which will follow the first court
Of Buckingham Palace. although current rumors
indicate one court in April. four IN May and
one IN early June. and the social paragraphers
who have been assuming that the King would
go 10 the Riviera are now explaining that he
has TOO much coronation work on hand and will
remain IN England.
Foreign affairs are almost as stagnant as
domestic politics The Barcelona riots have in
volved singular ministerial imbroglio. with the
retention Of Sagasta and the reconstruction of
the Ministry as the most probable solution. with
changes in the portfolios Of finance and the in
terror A coalition Cabinet under Montero Rios
is among the possibilities. but the Queen Regent,
who is n adroit politician. will probably choose
the lines Of least resistance and get on as easily
as possible until the coronation.
With impaired ministerial influence the Ger
man Reichst2g has adjourned for the Easter
recess. with the tariff bill hopelessly blocked
and with no reasonable prospect Of its final
passage. The agrarians are utterly Impractical
BE and the government is unable to convince
them that the reciprocity policy and interest in
the export trade will be sacrificed by the imposi-
tion Of the prohibitive duties advocated by them.
The German Emperor has remained neutral as
long as there has been chance Of the coalition
Of the factions on some form OF tariff compro-
misc He will be released from the restraints
Of neutrality whenever II is clear that diplo-
matte interests are affected by the prolongation
Of the hopeless struggle in the Reichstag.
The Danish upper House is less favorable TO
the sale Of the West Indian possessions than
the lower House. but is not likely to OBJ
struct much less to veto. the scheme next week.
It will be Influenced by the court, which has
favored the sale from the outset It is not
generally known in the United States that the
credit for bringing TO a successful issue
the negotiations is largely due to the inter
yention cf Henry White. who, owing to his
personal relations with the royal families of
England and Denmark, was enabled to force on
bargain advanta geous TO both countries. He
visited Copenhagen twice in the absence or the
American Minister. and succeeded In enlisting
The support OF the King Of Denmark and the
court for the propositions which the State De-
partulent was presenting. The sluggish processes
Of diplomacy in this way were accelerated
through the timely intervention of an accom-
llished diplomat whose relations with the royal
families here and there were particularly cord
ial and the American Minister upon his return
was enabled 10 complete the work with zeal and
Intelligence.
II IS hardly worth while 20 thrash over the OLD
straw Of English politics. The government re-
mains stale and the Opposition demoralized- De-
bate continues in the House of Commons IN
What is considered true parliamentary styIe'
With conventional drawl and occasional cpl
gram or well shaped phrase, but seldom Is the
note Of personal conviction heard The series
% London County Council bills has been passed
70 second reading, owing to the energy OF
Sonn Burns and the two Irish debates nave
come on Sir George Wyndham has literary
taStes. and has remembered that Matthew AT
hoio used 10 argue that the touch OF sympathy