New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-07
THE NEW REIGN
George v Familiar with Many of
the Duties of a King.
BY FX-ATTACHE-

| British Empire with a far greater degree
| of facility than Edward VII found IL pos
! sible to do at the time Of his accession.
| For, whereas the late Queen Victoria kept
| her eldest son aloof from all matters of
state, retaining the reins OF government IN
! her own hands with an extraordinary de-
| gree of exclusiveness, King Edward has
| for the last few years been associat,ng his
heir apparent in the duties of sovereignty.
Thus the new King. while Prince of Wales.
visited Buckingham Palace every morning
after breakfast, when in town, and was
wont 10 remain there for two or three
hours. occupying room adjoining that OF
his father the doors being open between
them. and attended to all sorts OF matters
of routine and detail. relieving the late
King OF a large amount of work and
| trouble Moreover. in all important mat
ters, frequently in interviews with his min
listers. Edward VII was in the habit Of
calling his son into consultation so that
the new King knows exactly where his
predecessor stood in every pending issue
and was thoroughly initiated into all his
fathers views and policies.
When Edward VII came TO the throne he
knew virtually nothing of the routine bust
ness Of his mothers government. He had
never been taken into her confidence. and
during the first few weeks of his reign was
obliged constantly TO consult his youngest
sister, Princess Henry of Battenberg, who
had been her mothers constant companion
and associate and who knew far more
about her methods of carrying the du-
ties of sovereignty than himself. In fact.
the confusion was very great, especially
IN view of the accumulation of ar
rears of business during the few days of
Queen Victoria's last Illness The only
matters with which Edward VII was ac-
Quanted were the broad outlines of the
foreign policy of the government. and this
knowledge was entirely due to the circum-
stance that Mr.. Gladstone when Premier
had taken upon himself, without the ap-
prevail OF his royal mistress, to give orders
that copies Of all the important dispatches
reaching the Foreign Office from abroad.
well copies of the replies thereto,
should be transmitted to the then Prince
OF Wales for his information.
Monarch Not a Figurehead.
Queen Victoria did not care to go TO the
length of putting stop to the practice,
which kept up by the subsequent adj
ministraions King Edward was always
grateful TO Mr.. Gladstone for this action on
his part and never neglected an oppor-
tunitv Of showing his consideration and
warm friendship for the Grand Old Man"
England and indeed the entire British EN-
pire owe a deep debt of gratitude to Ed
ward VII for having thus taken pains TO
initiate his and heir into the duties,
the obligations and the responsibilities of
the government of the great British En-
pire. with its nearly 400 10000 Of population.
1t has been customary for writer's and
.ho. b. %
England Is a mere ornamental fgurehead.
who has no voice whatsoever in the con-
duct of the affairs of the nation Queen
Victoria $ correspondence, published by her
son. Edward VII. with the assistance of
Lord Esher. couple of years ago, we'll
as the memoirs of the various statesmen OF
her reign. show how very important was
the role which she played in domestic and
foreign affairs. moderating reckleSsnesS on
the part Of her ministers, safeguarding the
rights and interests of the minority, acting
as arbiter in moments of constitutional
deadlock and controlling the foreign rela
tons of the empire. which by the terms Of
the constitution are vested not in Parlta-
ment, not in the Cabinet, but in the crown.
kinq Edwards influence Abroad.
Her successor King Edward. awaited him
sell or these latter pTeIOSdtlNtS 10 lIlc III
most. without encountering any objections
on the part OF his people, the Liberal min
listers. in fact showing themselves more
eager for his direction of the international
relations of England than the Conserva-
tives. It is to him that Great Britain owes
the alliance with Japan which has become
so weightv a factor In the far Orient, serv-
ing indeed as a moderating infiuence-even
as a saIutary cneck-upOn any aggressive
ideas engendered in the minds of the Japa-
nese bv their defeat of Russia
Through the negotiation of the entente
cordiale with France he converted the lat
ter from a foe which in 1898 was on the
brink Of declaring war against England.
into an ally. and established a friendly
understanding with Russia. by means OF
which the traditional enmity Of the Lion
and the Bear has been completely smoothed
out OF existence Liberals and Unonists
had been looking to him as the only man
in the empire possessed of sufficient tact.
diplomacy and authority to effect COM
promise of those differences which appear
irreconcilable and which have caused so
great perturbation in English life.
The duty of finding solution for this
present constitutional crisis now falls to
his only son, King George, whose almost
daily presence at the DEBATES III Inc LoEuS
and more especially in the Commons dur
ing the parliamentary sessions of the last
two wears has contributed 10 give him
thorough understanding Of the issues at
stake. II speaks well for his discretion
that no one should be able 10 speak with
any degree Of certainty as TO his views
about the matter.
Another problem of International inn
portance with which he will be called upon
to deal in the immediate future is the ne
cessity of adopting some more definite pol
lev with regard TO Germany. His personal
relations with the Kaiser are of kindlier
character than those of his father. Much
bad blood had been created by intriguers
and mischief-makers between William and
his royal uncle, which does not exist be-
tween King George and his cousin at Ber-
lin Should George succeed in restoring
friendlier relations between the Kaisers
court and that of ST Jamess, in reviving
the former friendship between the two en-
pires and thus avert the danger of war.
which is feared on both sides OF the North
Sea he will have proved himself a worthy
successor of Edward VII and Queen Vic
toria as guardians Of the peace of the
world
Traits of New King.
King George has many of the qualities
of men yhO have been brought up at sea.
While he possesses the art of command, &C
CURED on the quarterback OF the ships on
which he has served, he is wholly free
from what is known side" and as
for arrogance. there is not a trace Of IL in
his composition. In fact. he has always