The sun., 1903-11-22
NEW BOSS IN WORLD POLITICS.
EDWARD WIS INFLUENCE IS
NOW RECOGNIZED.
Social Visits With Other Rulers show I'm.
pOrtant RcsuIts-Terms Of Arbitration
Agreement With Italy Agreed On
Broader Than tho One With France.
.speciol Cable Dsspateh 10 THE SUN

Broader Than tho One With France
Special Cable Despatch to THE sun.
LONDON, Nov. 2l.-King Victor EN-
| manuel and Queen Helena Of Italy have
been received kith genuine cordially ir
England and their departure to-day brought
| TO close another Of those incidents whose
| Importance is not to be measured by merely
! social spectacular standards. 1t would be
impossible to estimate the future political
| effects Of the exchange Of visits by the
, chiefs Of European States in the past six
months
1t may be pardonable to repeat In con,
neotion with this the point made by the
present writer early in the spring, that the
world was destined to find new master,
who had begun to shape the international
relations of Europe. His handiwork is
now fully recognized, and his name is
Edward VII.
AS a result Of the conferences which
have been held in connection with King
Victor Emmanuel's visit the terms OF an
arbitration treaty between Great Britain
and Italy have been agreed upon The
scope of the treaty is somewhat broader
than the recent Anglo-Frenoh agreement.
The ratiications will probably be exchanged
within fortnight.
1t may be said in general terms that the
rap ,rochement now existing between Italy
and Great Britain is much closer and more
friendly than that between Italy and the
other members of the Triple Alliance, al
though not imposing the same technical
treaty obligations. The same process OF
disintagration, II one may Use that term,
ka, IL Al Oft iNn
with Russia to an extent much more serious
than Is yet apparent.
Itwould be gross exaggeration to say that
the Franco Russian Alliance is in danger
Of dissolution in the near future, but it is
true that the bonds uniting he two countries
have already become more technical than
sentimental There is an equal probability
OF divorce under such conditions, in a
NATIONAL alliance as in matrimonial ones
1t becomes clear almost daily that as the
Dual and Triple alliances lose their most
important element of cohesion the ties
become st ronger between Italy, France and
Great Britain.
This new unratifed grouping Of Powers
is partially offset by the understanding
between Russia ard Germany 1t is argued
by some who have studied the rival inter-
ests Of the two countries that it will be i'm
possible for this combination to tecome
general or permanent, because the COM
mercial relations of Russia and Germany
cannot be harmonized. The German agra
rian conditions are almost as bad as the
Russian, and 1t will be impo ssible to arrange
a commercial treaty between these two
Powers.
curious incident has come to the knowl-
edge Of the correspondent Of THE SUN.
which has perhaps some bearing on the great
process Of the regrouping Of the Powers
which is now going on. Early in Septem-
ber Emperor William wrote personal
letter to King Edward suggesting that he
would like to visit him In England during
the month Of November. The writer does
not pretend 20 know what reply King
Edward sent to this communication. but, at
all events, the Kaiser permitted it to become
known in certain diplomatic circles through
one Of his intimates that he had made this
suggestion to his royal uncle 1t is possible
that the Kaiser's recent illness accounts
for the fact that he did not make the visit.