New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-22
TWO REIGNS.
Reflections on Royal Leadership in
Diplomacy.

-.,oa that pleasurable duty will. no doubt
-sesatly be performed in The Tribunes
-,.-s-v columns. Yet a looker-on in Lon
- has some special facilities for observ
= vhen sad why q notable book fits in
-4rh the conditions OF public life and what
I'll ts to be drawn from It. What is OF para
o,,t vslue IN this biography is the CORE
.,on6encs OF Queen Victoria and the Prince
~,,sort with Lord Granville: and It is timely be-
.,,ss there is 8 new reign IN which the influence
:, the sovereign Is as strongly exercised in for
t-n AFFAIRS as that OF his mother N her
- English reviewers do not trace parallels
ar pcint out contrasts. but they appreciate the
ssvn,hca1ce Of the frank letters from the Queen
those powerful intervention in foreign affairs is
.born il this Biography. Comparisons are sug-
,.s+ed. however. 10 thoughtful minds. and these
nno- be rnIschi4vous when the Kings diplo-
-scv s so cleverly managed and so beneficial
:, Us results. The book is timely because it
..-ous strong side light on the progressive
-.snonsibfIities Of the Crown in directing the
-.-srer1ent Of foreign affairs in rnomentous
crises
lord Granville. while never Prime Minister was
ne n Queen vfctoria's confidential advisers and
4-ar6s He had courtlv manners. and these she
,Y.A5- and Ike herself he had keen wit and
t-irb- cbatty way Of discussing serious ques-
cons While he was not SO conspicuous q IA
o-;-e as Lord Melbourne early in her reign. or
- Reacons7eld during her later years. he
.o-s,,1red as trusted friend whenever breach
--.sro pe healed in the Cabinet or discipline was
. - enforced among insubordinate ministers
-,s Queen. who was prejudiced against Sir
zobe-r Peel by the changes in the royal house
hold p-oposed by him. subsequently disliked
,,-5 Psluerstou. Lord John Russell and Mr.
GLADSTONE. and frequently employed Lord Gran
;1a II, negotiations for bringing them into line
-,-h 1a- ozvn policies As Lord Granville was a
,,~srIe nan. without an enemy in public life ne
-as ordinarily successful in these special MS
- Sometimes the Queens Speech was re-
1ises. again. change Of diplomatic policy was
.4Arres. or The Cabinet. which seemed on the
-. - co1Ianse. was kept together. He was for
- ,e-iod the Queens confidential agent in
.r,re obstinate ministers and breaking
- n-nosfrion to her viii in the conduct OF
.-.fz, glestions It vas not that he was
- Or = fafterer. He was candid and
.,.sroze7. and on occasions could warn hei 1a'
-+z-s-ce 70 the Prime Minister was dangerous
- that she could not hope TO De oTnnlPotsIN'
She liked hin because he was fearless IL q
-. e,s could face her whenever she was on
dangerous ground. He was her trusted serV"11I
whenever q Cabinet vas 10 be inf1uenceo "oi1
- .e-zf-s- g Prime Minister. or Foreign
,,.-.--.- 1rbfrred or cOaxed into more cautious
st-T,-,s-v The letters written from OSBORNE 70
80 Granville n 1854. when Lord PaInlerS1o-1
=, svrDs1ny with Denmark ana she Was
- :, her stirr7Ips'' and very German are
4-sr- evidence Of the Queens supremacy ~ -
zirlo-,scv OF that day. She made a sUcc7sS-uA
- .,-7z+ +zvo Of her ministers. and subse-
7,eDtjy had the satisfaction OF re1lecl1--s -
=. rss kent England out Of an Unneeesssl1S
So - a. s,e looked on with indignation when
the hedges respecting Denmark We
rhe P-1ssian Foreign Minister
:. 800 influence nowadays be most po7VeELul
-, z,-ac+ior and conduct Of BRUSH IL
1o7,arv so was It also during the 4---
-, when the sovereign did not heslIaI0 ~
-ar;s- ministerial attempts 70 Involve Ensi--41
- what she regarded a mad and useless GIL
hats Il is exercised. however. less agsFeSS-' 01S
NV = zss during the previous reign IheFe
ara 10 savorites II Office with whom the so'ei-
eiga Is II confidential relations; ana tHeIe a
NJ ministers who excite prejudice, distrust ana
1z77essr-e The King has more adaptapliIly
+be1 hts mother. and accomplishes his purposes
without setting q Cabinet against It's ieaoeE "a
EMPLOYING = special uegotiatoE TO keep the peace
s-7org ministers While tbs power Of the Toy2i
Initiative especially il diplomatic aIaIS' ti@0
increased rather than diminished It Is eAIte -
Z wholly constitutional way There IS as MAJ Sc
an Improvement in the avoidance OF
Intervention in the functions Of Cabinet gov
~ the abandonment Of interference II the Sc
rac+;c- and dismissal OF ministers WhAe ING
C7ea7 never attempted King WlIlafn :
Rad done. 70 carry out q personal cholce II 1--'
appointment Of Ministry without reference ~
the wishes Of Parliament, she accepted many u
Baron stocknsrs extreme views OF royal pre-
rogatire and considered herself enUltleo 70 tOi'
troll by direct or indirect means the poi'OS -
me Cabinet; and in at least one instance i0
came near bringing on d constitutions cllSIs ~
complaining OF Lord Talmerstons nesieCI ~
keep her thoroughly Informed concerning -
piornscy With the opening Of the present TEE 81
al questions relating 70 the respohslDill1ieS -
Ministers and the Initiative of the Crown have
disappeared There is no interference Win li4e
freedom and Independence Of ministers 1ee
the kings will IS q paramount force in diplo-
macy and a national resource against o0-'1-
mental i1trigues and political apathy
The Queen IN her tine had a genuine aohor-
renee n VIZ and was not to be beguiled by the
grievances OF wrongs Of small na1ohalI1leS
When she was instigating organized opposition
10 Lord Psir7erston within the Cabinet she was
convinced as she wrote to Lord Granville, that
Denmark mad brought ruin itself and was
q less Importance than the peace OF Europe,
She declared that II would be Madness 10 SCI
he whole Continent on fire Cor the imaginary
advantage Of maintaining tho integrity q Aei-
'aark The only subject Of dispUf" WAS q SaL
difference Of boundary, and for a cause so tri'l@1
England when deserted by France and hussla'
would be drawn into war. with Germany unless
ministers we're warned and the interests o.
peace protected by cautious diplomacy. Li1I
Queen. harassed by loneliness and torIneH'eu
%ith anxiety. was frightened b. Lord Johh t'1s-
sells proposal to send a feet 10 Copenhagen,
70 zf2