New-York tribune., 1908-09-02
EDWARD AND LEOPOLD
Why EHgldnds King Is about to
Visit Brussels.

tCopyrigh;. 1905. by the Brentwood Company
King Edward has received from King Leopold q
very pressing request to visit him at Brussels on
his way back from Marienbad, and hear that the
English monarch has consented and that he will
stop off at Brussels for twelve hours his return
Journey to London else will across to Bel
eium for a day at the beginning of October king
Edwards action in tho matter is due 10 the fact
that Leopold his letter Marienbad recalled
ir close ties of relationship their former intimate
friendship and declared that his health has become
of late exceedingly bad that II is improbable
that he will be able to leave Brussels again In
fact, that lis days virtually numbered
A year ago described in these letters how he
was suffering from open wound in his leg result
ing from phebitis which had resisted all attempts
OF by the leading specialists Of Europe. ana
for which he had subjected himself in vain to the
tortures of the hot air treatment in Paris men
tened at the time that in the of such nlalady
as that of Leopold there always the danger
of gangrene Ii seems that of late his condition
has become very much worse, that there has peen
quite recently meeting of the most eminent Bel
CLAN physicians and foreign specialists at Brussels
and that they have come the conclusion that
there is nothing 70 be done and that Leopolds
davs are virtually numbered. They have declared
that 1t is possible that if he remain very quietly
indeed, at Laeken, his suburban palace near Brus-
sells. with complete rest and freedom from all ex-
citement, fatigue and trouble, he may possibly
linger on for some months. but that otherwise he
is apt to be overtaken by death at almost any mo-
rnent.
There is no doubt that the bitter fight which he
has been wasing in connection with the Congo Free
State controversy has had the effect of devei-
oping the progress of the malady above men
toned, and also OF the other ailments from
which he is suffering and it is said that 1t
was the alarming result of the medica! con-
sultation at Brussels on the subject of his health
that caused the government to consent so unexpect
edly those concessions which led the belgian
Chamber of Deputies to the annexat ton of the
--1n
Everybody. even in political circles in Belgium. was
firmly convinced that the debate would prove IN
terminable. and that the chamber would have TO
bring its special session to close without having
made any progress in voting the annexation bill
owing 70 the interminable distractions and new
difficulties constantly being put forward by the
King through his government Suddenly, almost
without warning. those objections were Withdrawn
by Leopold. and In few hours the bill TO universal
amazement, had passed the House. 1t only remains
now to be voted by the Senate, the sanction OF
which is already assured, and TO be signed by the
King in order TO become law. Thanks to this one
of the principal sources of friction between the
English and Belgian governments and between the
courts of St James and Of Brussels, mas peen re-
moved.
How close the relations of Leopold "lth
Edward VII in former days is best shown oy the
fact that when the Belgian King used 10 WISH
London several times during the course or the
year he would invariably put not at any hotel.
hut ct Marlborough House. where a special oeo
was always kept for his use, owing to the fact
that ordinary beds were too short for man OF
his extraordinary stature His father, Leopold l.,
was Queen yictora's guardian, uncle. mentor and
confdant and treated by her as rather
and throughout the greater part of his life Leopold
II made point OF writing TO his cousin. queen
Victoria regularly week: in fact she was
the only one of his relatives to whose wishes ano
advice he was accustomed to defer But the scan
dals of his private life. which had become so
shameless in late years; his unsavory quarrels
with his daughters. his queer associations and MS
unfrendiness toward England in connection WIZ
+hn Congo all contributed to ALLEVIATE him from
his English relatives who have participated IN the
rovaI boycott to which he has been subjected oy
foreign courts and there has been no interchange
of visits between Leopold and any of his Enshsh
i,nsfolk since Edward VII succeeded to the throne
eight wears ago King Edwards impending visit
TO Brussels will therefore be in the nature OF
reconciliation. and is bound to attract much at
| tention