Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-08
ALBION HAS
A NEW ROLE
GREAT BRITAIN is EvERYBoDVs
FRIEND
EDWARD VII IS LARGE FACTOR
IN WORLDS PEACE
Nation Which Once Boosted Of It'
Splendid Isolation Now Poses
as the Ally Of Many
Powers

Special Cable to The Herald.
LONDON, Sept. Tin many alliances
are many entanglements. Is Edward VII
powerful enough, or. what is more inn
portant, slxilful enough to keep the skein
Of European politics from getting into
snarl?
That is the somewhat disconcerting
question which the diplomatic world is
discussing
When England abandoned her policy of
splendid isolation she went to the oppo-
site extreme. She began by making
friends with the United States. She all
lied herself to Japan on terms so sweep
ing that she has already regretted them.
She bound herself to France In an en-
tente which is virtually an alliance. She
entered into compacts with Italy, Spain
and Portugal, which imply a close COM
munity of interests. She has just nego-
tated a rapproachement with Russia, and.
to complete the circle, she has now
reached friendly understanding, TO char-
acterize it by the mildest diplomatic
term, with her rival, Germany.
England Everybody's Friend
England. in a word, is now everybody's s
mutual friend. The connecting link in
each of her complicated relationships is
the personality of King Edward lie
alone can MAINTAIN IL. Ills PoSiloh 40
unique in history.
National rivalries and ambitions have
not been destroyed racial prejudices still
exist, human nature remains the same.
The real arbiter of the worlds peace at
the present moment is King Edward. His
self-imposed task d greater in RESPONSE
bility and more arduous than any ever
laid upon the shoulders of single man.
This is the situation which absorbs the
- ka& rNf hn
World, and we'll it may. 1t would not be
true to say that they regard the future
with misgiving, but any situation depend
ing largely upon the life of one man, al
ready advanced in years, must be de-
scribed as uncertain. The principal requi-
site for the success of King Edwards
mission is present in abundant measure,
namely. full confidence both in his capac-
ity and his bona fldes.
The time worn expression, "perfidious
Albion has disappeared from European
politics since he came to the throne. The
most suspicious of his continental rivals
now credits the English sovereign with a
sincere desire to develop his empire along
peaceful lines, and with this end in view
to reduce the heavy military burden
which is beginning to hamper his coun-
try's industrial and commercial progress
Another factor bids fair to be King Ed
wards potent ally for a considerable time
to come The prevailing spirit of the ma
tions is for peace. No one has been able
to understand or control the strange laws
governing the psychology Of public opin-
ion, which usually decides questions of
peace or war
No one has been able to explain why an
incident or situation which at one moment
will cause a nation to spring to arms
will at another time scarcely ruffle popu-
lar passion That King Edward will
know, perhaps better than any other man
how to use his great influence to soothe
and mitigate such outbursts is conceded
by all who understand his tactful ability.
This. however must be included among
the greatest of the unknown difficulties
which he must expect to encounter.
Other Dangers Ahead
Other more definite dangers lie before
him. How will he deal with the great
crisis which inevitably will arise when
Francis Joseph's scepter passes, perhaps
to his unpopular legitimate successor,
perhaps to anothers hands?
How will he safeguard the world S peace
when Japan develops covetousness?
Unforeseen quarrels will also arise, and
the role of everybody's friend, and that
friend not disinterested one, is as full
of embarrassments between nations as
between individuals.
1t is noble but thorny path which
King Edward has selected to tread, but
he enters upon it encouraged by the
hearty goodwill of all mankind. The
world may well speed him on his way
with the earnest cry of Long live the
king!"