New-York tribune., 1908-10-12
An AGREEMENT.
King Ed7card Taking ActiUe Part
an Negotiations.

Tondon Oct 11.-There has been unusual a.
tivity at buckingham Palace to-day Where the
King returned last evening, and at the bil'i0h
Foreign Office and the Russian Embassy "here
NJ. Iswolsky, the ussian Foreign MlhlSleI' IL
STAYING the officials were busily engaged IN an
exchange of kilograms with the European capl-
tails.
There also have been many exchanges OF couI-
tesies, the King and other members OF the royal
family and the Cabinet ministers showing NJ
Iswolsky much attention The Russian MIN
ister accompanied " the Russian Ambassador,
Count Benckendorff, was guest of the Prince and
Princess of Wales at luncheon at Marlborough
House. after which he was received 10y the King
Buckingham Palace.
His majesty. before receiving NJ. Iswolsky,
had long conversations with Sir Edward Grey,
the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Sir
Charles Hardinge. the Permanent Under Secre-
tary to TIE Foreign Office, and thus became fully
acquainted with the governments views. The
King anxious to learn the progress of
affairs that Sir Charles Hardinge hreakfasted
with him. and Sir Edward Grey came in i'm
mediately afterward. When the Russian For
eign Minister arrived the King was enabled to
discuss the subject with him along the lines fol-
lowed by Sir Edward in his conference with NJ
Iswolsky yesterday.
In the evening the Russian Minister was the
guest Of honor at dinner at the palace, where
he had the opportunity again of seeing the Brit
ish Foreign Secretary, as we'll as meeting the
Prime Minister, H. H Asquith, and several
diplomat, representatives. These were social
meetings, however, and did not advance the real
negotiations
An official statement issued to the press st the
close of the days proceedings was Identical with
that given out yesterday. 1t was as follows:
An exchange of views has taken place between
or EDWARD Grey and NJ. IsWOlsky. representing
Great Britain and Russia. respectively which
anords reasona bic grounds for hoping that
solution will be found for the settlement Of the
pending questions
Something definite doubtless will occur before
the close of another day. Sir Edward will at
tend the Cabinet meeting Tomorrow morning
ana VIII formally acquaint his colleagues with
the progress of the negotiations This will he
merely a formal proceeding as Sir Edward not
only has the fullest support of the government
but also Of the King and the nation In every,
quarter confidence is expressed in his ability TO
leach friendly settlement, and the policy which
he has adopted from the beginning of the crisis
mas received the unanimous Endorsement Of the
government leaders, the newspapers and all
parties
After the Cabinet meeting the Foreign Secre-
tary VIII again meet NJ. Iswolsky and so GER
tain are all the parties concerned that to-nor-
rows meeting viii bring the negotiations to a
to that effect will be made in Parliament which
assemblies tomorrow for its autumn session in
the course of the afternoon or evening The
King apparently shares this view as he has ar
ranged to leave London for several davs on
Tuesday.
The visits Of the Italian and German Anbas-
sadCrs to the Foreign Office on SATURDAY. and
the friendly exchanges between their govern
ments and Great Britain according to officials
to-day. have helped to smooth the path of those
who are undertaking the negotiations Not the
slightest indication. however has been given as
10 how the divergent views held >by the powers
regarding the proposed conference of the sigma
tories to the Berlin Treaty are to be reconciled
More favora bic news from the Balkans includ-
ing the reported action Of the Servian National
Assembly in voting against war, has further
strengthened the belief that there will be no
conflict
The Greek government, in reply to the Brit
ish statement that until a legal status has been
restored in the island OF Crete Great Britain
cannot hold out any hope that the Cretan as
pirations viii be granted. points out the diff
Guilty of the position Of the administration al
Athens which in way prompted the Cretans
TO declare union with Greece. The Greek gov
eminent expresses it's willingness that the pow
ers should decide the question of union between
Crete and Greece. but at the same time IT saws
that II possesses means of forcing the Gre
tans to restore the legal condition of affairs
The Greek government the reply says will con-
tnue to act with moderation, though il cannot
understand why the powers cannot consider the
Cretan affair at the time when they take the
Bulgarian and Austrian questions under ad-
visement.