Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-28
kIN6 OF SIAM IN GOLD
GORGEOUS REPRESENTATION BY
PORTRAIT PAINTER.
Discussion Of International Politics
Precipitated by italian
Newspaper.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
PARIS, July c7.-His majesty, Chulalong-
korn. King OF Siam. is delighted with his
portrait by NJ Carolus Duran, which has
just been hung in the salon OF the Societe
Rationale. and will remain there till the
exhibition closes. The picture is practi-
cally all gold. The king stands against a
background OF old gold plush. His dress Is
white. but the embroideries on the collar
belt and sleeves are OF gold. His sword
has a golden hilt and scabbard, his helmet
Is white and gold His right hand holds a
golden scepter. his breast is one mass of
orders. mostly of gold, and Is crossed by a
golden sash. Over his shoulders hangs a
cloak Of cloth of gold studded with dia-
monds and pearls 1t can easily i'm
agined how a painter like NJ. Carous Duran
reveled in this magnificence, and how gor-
geously his brush has rendered such riot
OF gold.
1t Is not often that anything the Italian
newspapers may say upon the subject of
international politics attracts much atten-
ton in France. but the recent series OF
articles appearing In "a Tribuna of Rome
partake in some respects of the character
of startling revelations. 1t should be re
membered that La Tribuna is the semi
official organ of Italian liberalism and
hence not as susceptible to clerical in
f1uences as most of the Italian newspapers.
Perhaps the most interesting thing in con-
nection with the revelations is that the
British government is shown to have been
responsible In the final analysis for the eX
clusion of the pOpe's representative rom
the first peace conference at The Hague.
thus establishing the precedent that the
Catholic Church. admittedly the greatest
peacemaking force the globe. was to be
without representative at the conference.
History Repeats Itself.
has repeated itself in this instance. In 1859.
when France proposed a conference Of the
European powers with the object of settling
the problem OF Italian unity on a federal
basis. so as to secure the temporal inde-
tendency Of the papacy. the British gov
eminent brought the proposition to naught.
And now the Italian journal reveals the
fact that in 1899. when all the great
powers of Europe were favorable to the
representation of the pope at The Hague
conference. it was again the influence of
the British government. which strangely
enough at that date included the Duke Of
Norfolk the representative of the con-
sentative Catholics of Great Britain, that
defeated the suggestion. The car. upon
whose initiative the conference was sum-
moned, was willing to recognize the moral
position of the pope and the great influence
that he repeatedly exercised In behalf of
the cause Of peace, and accordingly he
pressed upon the Italian government that
it should withdraw its opposition to the
papal representation. His representations
were seriously entertained by the Italian
foreign minister of the day. Admiral Cane
varo. He was anxious that Italy should
stand well with Russia. as he was en-
deavoring to secure concessions from
China and as Is well known. Russia was
all-powerful in that quarter at that time.
He was also DESTROYS of improving Italian
relations with France. with whom the first
commercial treaty had just been concluded.
to the chagrin of Germany. The latter
power was cooling off, and Italy desired to
come closer to the dual alliance.