New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-17
RULERS AS DIPLOMATS.
Monarchs Instead of Statesmen as
First Riddles IN Concert of Europe.

Until few years ago the foreign relations OF
the principal countries on yonder side OF the
Atlantic IN the han1s OF statesmen OF
worldwide fame who were looked upon to such
extent the first fddles in the concert OF
Europe that they obscured the figures Of their
respective monarchs. 1t was Bismarck rather
than old Emperor William who was identified
In the popular mind with the policy OF Ger
many. Gortschakoff's views that were supposed
to prevail over those OF Alexander II where tbs
international affairs OF Russia were concerned
while Crispi rather than King Humbert, and
Lord Salisbury more than Queen Victoria stood
in the eyes OF the public for Italy and Great
Britain. respectively, In questions Of external
policy. In one word. the Foreign Ministers
completely overshadowed their sovereigns To-
day the situation ia reversed It is the monarch
who has taken the helm In matters Of this kind
and the minister has been reIegated to thu
background. where he now occupies his time IN
putting into execution the plans and projects
OF his ruler. Thus. In discussing the attituds
which Germany Is likely to adopt IA any inter
national controversy, no one dreams any longer
OF locking to the palace OF the Wilhelmstrasse IN
Berlin. as In the days Of the Chancellorship OF
Bismarck. but the gaze is turned In the dirsc-
ton Of the Kaiser. whose views alone deternins
the course which his empire will pursue in the
affair. and. whereas. during the previous reign
~ q
course to adopt. sometimes even without re-
gard TO King Humbert's wishes II Is to-day
King Victor Emmanuel III who controls thu
foreign policy OF his country to such degree
that the very name OF his Foreign Minister Is
an unknown quantity abroad. As for England
the radical changes which have taken place IN
her international relations since the accession
to the throne OF Edward VII bear so markedly
the impress OF his initiative. control and direc-
tion, that on the Con inent tie expression OF
the Court OF ST. James has ceased to be a
mere figure Of speech. and the name Of Downing
Street no longer carries The same weight az IN
the days OF yore.
II must be thoroughly understood that this
assumption by the monarchs OF Europe OF the
reins Of the foreign policy OF their respective
countries IS In no sense despOtic usurpation
but a wholly constitutional resumption OF pre-
negatives vested by popular viii IN the Crown
and which had only temporarily been abandoned
by the monarchs. through either weakness or IN.
difference. to their ministers. In England IN
Italy. IN Germany. as IN all other monarchical
and even Republican countries. the control and
direction OF the foreign policy are cOnfded BY
the terms OF the constitution to the suprems
head Of the state. But Il may safely be taken
for granted that the people would not have per.
mtted their rulers to resurns these rights. which
they had alisnatsd and allowed TO lapse. had
not the conviction prevailed that tho foreign
interests OF the nation were safe in the hands
OF a monarch, whose prestige and welfare
bound I'd with those Of his subjects than n
the charge OF statesmen whose action IS only
too likely TO b Influenced by considerations oil
personal ambition. CT party politics and some
times by motives that are less creditabls. More
over. through the possession by the Crown Of
the control OF foreign relations-s possession
-,
"a continuity Of policy Is assured. which con.
tributes IN no small measure to the maintenancs
OF peace and to the avoidancs OF those ruptura
that apt to bring an unexpected war.
While there IL doubt that King Edward la
been the principal factor on the English side
IN bringing about the agreement signed lar
week, providing for mutually satisfactory set
Element Of all differences which have until now
existed between France and Great Britain,
would be unwiss to attach any crsdencs 20 the
reports according to which he has been staying
at Copenhagen for tbs purpose OF discussins
with his sister-in-law, the widowed Csarins, tina
question OF his assumption OF the role OF media
tor between japan and Russia wen TIA
possibility OF effecting with the latter soms such
arrangement as that which he brought about
with France; and all the cable dispatches
the subject. whether from London Paris OF Ber~
lin. no matter how assertive. must be received
with hesitation. For II there IS quarter
more than any other from which offer Of
mediation would be unwelcome at St Peters
burg, It would certainly be from England
power to which the Russians disposed to al
tribute the principal responsibility for the pres
ent war. True. they have realized now fact
TO which most OF them were blind until few
weeks ago. namely. that the Japanese have Iona
been determined to fight FOR their own suprsn-
acy in Corea and for the destruction OF MuscO-
vite domination Of Manchuria. and were re-
solved to provoke the war. for which they have
been quietly preparing since 1896. at the present
juncture. rather than wait until Russia had
established herself too strongly on the Pacific
coast Of Asia. menacing the very existence OF
DAT Nippon. But the people in Russia are con
WINGED that the Japanese would never have vent
ured to embark upon the present conflict had
it not been for their alliance with England
which not only assured them of the moral and
probably OF the financial backing OF Great Brit
ain. but also the certainty that other foreign
power would be permitted to intervene. Nor
is this an unnatural supposition For had I. not
been for this alliance. 1t Is possible that Russl
might have found this spring European govern
msnts willing to cooperate VIII her in enforc-
ing her demands upon Japan, just as IN 1895.
when. by means Of analogous methods. she COM
PEELED the Mikado to surrender all the fruits Of
his victorious Invasion OF China
There Is every reason to believe that these
sentiments the part Of the Russian Peopls
with regard TO the responsibility OF England for
the present war are shared-at any rate IN
measure-by the reigning house &C Romanon.
and that the relations between the courts Of 81
Petersburg and OF ST. James strained Far
from there having been any meeting az COpen-
hagen between Edward VII and Empress Marie.