The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-06-07
CEMENT FRIENDSHIP 0F ENGLAND AND SPAIN
EDWARD AND ALFONSO E1- CHANGE EXPLORATIONS AT
 STATE BANQUET.

England Often Have Been Allies and
 Hopes They May Always Remain so--
 To March Together for the Benefit of
 Peace and Progress of CiviIizatIon--
 AIfonso's Day in London.
 London. June G. King Alfonso of Spain saw the sights of the metropo- list to-day in typical London weather. Rain poured down all day long, ac- companied by chill east wind. and oVercoats were worn and umbrellas car- ried The limp decorations gave the entire city bedraggled and forlorn appearance.
 The young monarch, however, car rted out long programme with evi- dent enjoyment After receiving the diplomatic corps at Buckingham pal- ace his majesty attended mass at the Roman Catholic cathedral at Westmin- ster. Later he visited Westminster Ab- bey, lunched with the Duke and Duch- ess of Connaught and was an interested spectator of the military tournament at Agricultural hall. He gave reception to Spanish residents and to the Anglo Spanish and American- Spanish com mercial bodies of London at the Span ish embassy and paid a surprise visit to the houses of parliament, which In- fortunately had adjourned before his arrival
 The day concluded with state ban quet at Buckingham palace, which was attended by members of the royal fam fly, the nobility, the diplomatic corps, and practically all the notables in po- litical England.
 The banquet was laid at the long ta-
 ble in the picture gallery, and there
 were covers for 120, the famous gold
 plate being used. The members of the
 royal family assembled in the throne
 room, from which King Alfonso con ducted Queen Alexandra, and King Ed
 ward the Duchess of Connaught to the banquet table. The general guests were
 assembled in the green drawing room
 After their majesties and the members
 of the royal family passed, the guests were paired and followed them. Count Wolff Metternich, the German ambassador, took in Mrs. Whitelaw
 Reid, the American Ambassador took | AtA cAhO 0oSAOSo VI OlllclliQ. 1llt5tt
 were seated to the immediate right of King Alfonso. Among others present at the banquet were Count Mensdorff,
 the Austro- Hungarian ambassador; the duchess of feMarlborough, the Span-s ish ambassador. U. Polo De Bernabe,
 and the duchess of Roxburghe.
 King Edward toasted King Alfonso, expressing, on behalf of the queen and himself, pleasure at the long wished flor visit which is most gratifying to the whole of the British nation, whose
 wishes vie in friendly rivalry with the great country you so recently visited in welcoming your majesty with the, ac- Iclamation which is your due. 7 King Edward recalled the time when King IAlfonso's father stayed in England as a cadet at the Sandhurst military col l lege, adding: II am proud to think your majesty has accepted the rank of a British general" Then, after a fe- Ilicitous reference to Queen Christina, King Edward concluded: Spain and England often have been allies. May they always remain so, and, above all, march together for the benefit of peace, progress and civilization. I drink the health of your majesty and the pros-l iperity of the Spanish nation
 Speaking in French, King Alfonso re- piled: T am profoundly moved. thank you from the bottom of my heart, for myself and my august moth- l CT, for your amiable words of welcome 1 in this noble country, united with mine by strong ties of common interest and I lineffaceable pious memories. It was here my lannented father learned the duties of constitutional sovereign, having always before him the august example of the great queen, your re- vered mother, who filled with her good- ness and glory almost a whole century.
 The cordiality of sentiment which has united our two royal families extends also to the good relations happily exist ling between Spain and Great Britain, (which ought to develop in the future to the mutual advantage of the two friendly nations.
 q drink to the health of your n1aJes- lty, the queen and the royal family. and to the happiness and prosperity of the great fourishing British empire.