The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-22
Friction Between Germany
and England Is SoOthed
QUEEN MOTHER IS CALM
Much sympathy Is Shown for Alfonso
of Spain-New King Can Count
ON No Truce in the Politics
of Great Britain
BY PAUL LAMBETH

BY PAUL LAMBETH
| London May H.-(Special.) liking Ed
ward was the peacemaker even in his
death. The incidents of the splendid
pageant which marked the passage of his
| body from Westminster to the grave and
| the deep feeling and tact which has been
shown by Kaiser Wilhelm during his
visit here has done more to soothe the
friction between Germany and England
than could have been accomplished by
the wisest craftsmanship.
| The German Kaiser has in fact exhibit
ed new phase of his many-sided char
acter by his manifestations of keen
human sympathy not only with the grief
of the royal family but with the great
mass of the English people. There are
those who declare that the Kaiser has
acted the role of grief and sympathy for
purpose and these point to the fact
that there was always a feeling of veied
antagonism between the Kaiser and his
uncle, the late King.
If his sympathy was acting for the
purpose of winning the public, it was
perfect, and it has accomplished its pur-
pose.
| 1t will take more than political speeches
| in the future to convince the English
| people that Germany has designs against
the English nation. Thus the influence
of Edward dead has been greater than
the influence of Edward living in bring
ing about better feeling between the
greatest naval power and the greatest
military power In the world, who have
been almost on the verge of an open
breach more than once since the late King
assembled the throne. With the Kaiser,
former President Roosevelt was the figure
in the ceremonies attending the royal
funeral which has attracted the greatest
Interest Mr. Roosevelt has shown great
tact and has shown no disposition tc
push himself forward, but wherever he
has been the masses have been anxious
TO see him.
Sympathy for Alfonso
Another interesting figure was King AL
fonso of SPAIN The news of the prema-
ture death of the third son and the seri-
Gus illness of Queen Victoria has created
sympathy for him.
Queen Mother Alexandra received all
the visiting kings, princes and special
envoys at Buckingham palace this morn
ing and formally thanked them for theic
sympathy. Her majesty, while showing
traces of her deep grief. was calm and
collected during the audience and was
very gracious in her expressions of
thanks.
| Immediately after the conclusion of the
audience King Alfonso hurried off to
Spain to be with his stricken queen.
| The Roosevets went to Westpark. the
| house of Ambassador Reid, where they
| will remain until Monday. The Kaiser
will stay at Buckingham until Monday
| afternoon or Tuesday.
The other royalties and ENJOYS are
| leaving London.
| There has been some comment on the
| fact that on the ceremonial at West
minister hall Tuesday Queen Alexandra
was accompanied by her sister. the dow
ager empress of Russia, instead of by
| Queen Mary.
Chief Lady Mourner
Alexandra properly took the first place
| as the chief lady mourner, but she should
have been accompanied by Queen Mary,
who is entitled to the precedence over
every ybody except the King. But Alexan-
dra who has an imperious. wilful way
Of her own, held out against the King and
| queen, snHdly getting HeI WISH ,Hdt
| press Marie sit beside her.
| The result was that Queen Mary played
| second part In her first state appear
ance of the new reign.
Political enmIty has not been laid in
the grave with Edward, the pacificator,
and the hatchet has not been buried.
| Though the events of the last fortnight
have drawn attention away from the tac-
tics of party leaders there has been no
abatement of the public interest In the
issues over which controversy was rag
| ing when the demise Of the crown called
| a sudden halt.
Competent forecasters predict that soon
partisan excitement will blaze forth even
more furiously than before.
Swamp the Lords
| One of the foremost liberal organs.
limiting at the rumor which asserts that
King Edward would not have consented
to "swamp the lords" If Mr.. Asquith
had so advised, thinks it nonsense to
suggest that his death has done anything
toward settling the great questions be-
fore the country. 1t recalls John Bright s
| epigram, Nothing is ever settled until
settled right"
| ing; conservatism to stand on the de-
| fensive.
| AS soon as the task Of arranging the
civil list is performed-this being the in
ltiaI work of parliament when the crown
passes-his Irish allies will urge Asquith
| to strike out of the accession oath the
clause offensive to all Catholics. George
v was advised by a section of the tory
press to drop the words on his own
account" And this advice may pre-
figure tory acquiescence in change
obviously desirable when parliament
takes the matter up.
| But the Welsh non-conformists and not
few of the Scotch, the backbone of
British non-conformity, are warning Mr..
Lloyd-George against consenting to any
step that might let down the bars against
vaticanism.
No Truce in Politics
Undoubtedly the new King will find the
British and Irish democracies co-operat-
| ing more closely in his reign than they
co-operated during his fathers. Nor can
he count indefinitely upon truce In poll
tics to enable him to get experience of
his responsibilities.
In the course of fortnight 1t is ex-
pected Mr.. Asquith will have reached a
final decision as to the main lines of
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