New-York tribune., 1909-02-09
KING NEARING BERLIN
GERMAN HOPES FAINT.
Little Confidence Expressed IN
Better English Relations.

rSsrifn. Feb. S--The visit Of King Edward to
-.o.rou is regarded here as an event of the
-ea1est political significance at present and the
sas5ing is general that it would be an excellent
,h+-- for both nations If the meeting OF the two
,ons-cEls resulted in q mutual understanding
.snjing to allay international tension From no
,usrter however. is the expectation expressed
gs+b any confidence that the visit of the English
ying will produce direct tangible results.
King Edward is accompanied by Queen Alex
,n5ra- and official circles welcome the royal
;sitors in the most courtly tone regarding their
coming to Berlin return for the Emperor's
Visit TO England. and making no comment on the
,olitical Importance of the event The semi
o45cisl c,Iorddeutsche Allegemeine- -Zeitung,'' in
i. brief paragraph, to-day says:
-re expect the meeting to effect good in the
-elstions between the British and German peo-
-Ies The demonstration of friendly feeling and
kinship to which the visit gives rise will be a
hoth in Germany and England against the es-
+rangenent Of the two nations, and for those
ubo desire TO lead the relations in safe direc-
s;on Assiduous efforts will. however, still be
-ecessery in order TO attain the goal of enduring
friendship. founded upon mutual esteem between
the two greatest civilized nations The visit Of
.he British uonarchs and the reception accorded
them by Germany mean progress toward that
end In this belief we hope the coming festiv-
dies will be untroubled. and that the meeting
will have favorable after effects
The German newspapers, in mary instances
sre inclined TO view the Kings visit q mere
return courtesy. adopting the view that the
British nation is not with the King on his jour
nev tc Berlin At the same time. the majority Of
IN. articles on this subject are inbued with most
friendly poIiteness- The @sKolnische Zeitung"
says:
The fact that King Edward. with his Queen,
Is visiting Berlin for the first time since his
,sssion lends outwardly increased significance to
fhe.occaSicn Whether this will be accompanied
bv political results which the visit is intended
N hiring about the future alone can tell. All
attempts TO dispel the fantasies existing both
Si6es OF the Channel hitherto have failed. but
The sound common sense possessed by sister
nations which have q similar origin will. in
time undoubtedly help to mutual comprehen-
sion II would be mad to deny that the po-
attcaf horizon is clouded. If the Kings visit
succeeds 10 some extent in dispelling the spec
trsi fears and leads the way toward q gradual
and quiet reconciliation, it viii not have been
N vain The relations between Germany and
Great Britain would, II that case, stand in
position of progressive relaxation Of tension but
not thorough understanding.
The 'FranEfurter Zeitung'' says:
King Edwards visit unfortunately will prob
shlv not change the actual conditions, but Il
nav possibly. through the discussions which
doubtless viii take place between the political
personages accompanying the King and Ger
nan statesmen, make clear the direction Of the
poIicv Of both nations. II they succeed in
reaching mutual understanding. they will have
gone long way toward a lasting rapproche-
r7-ur