The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-14
IA ,raRaUIsE DIE FoNTENoY.

ING GEORGE shows no inclina-
ton to comply. with the sngges,
N gestion that he should attend
In person and preside over the
moro important meetings of the Cab
met. The discussion was started by
the somewhat indiscreet pub Ication
by Lady Giffen of letter written by
the late Sir Robert Girfen. as far back
as 1901, just after the death of Queen
Victoria. in which he made such
proposal. He addressed this letter TO
the London Times, bu, did not send II.
Lady Citizen found it among his pri-,
waite papers. and published 1t the other
day.
The objection to the idea is that
ff the king were to preside over Cab
met meetings he would necessarily
become identifad with the political
party In power to such an extern, tha9
his status as an impartial Judge ana
arbiter between the rival political
factions. would be impaired. In fact.
ne would become a party man, which
would be contrary TO the spirit OF the
British Constitution
On the other hand, the King has
perfect theoretical right to attend and
preside at Cabinet meetings. For the
Cabinet Is after all nothing more nor
less than one OF the committees of his
Priyy Council, and he very often pre-
sides at meetings of the Privy Coun-
Gil. But no British sovereign has at
tended an actual meeting of the Cab
met since the reign of Queen Anne,
two centuries ago. In her time they
| were always held at the odd hour of
G o'clock on Sunday evening, and she
would Invariably take the chair. They
We're tho only occasions when her sub
| jects were permitted to sit in her pres
| ence Not even her husband, Prince
| George, was allowed 10 sit with her
at meals, which she invariably took
alone. and how strict was etiquette in
those days may be, seen by the fact
| that when, near half a century later,
Queen Caroline. the corsort of George
| H.. dned with the Prime Minister, sir
| Robert SValpole in his Chelsea house.
Sir Robert, though her acknowledged
| favorite, did not presume to sit at
table with ner. He stood behind her
chair Throughout the dinner. and then
left Lady Walpole to entertain the
Queen, while he dined with the mem
bers of her suite. The custom OF
/ Kings attending Cabinet councils was
abandoned in the reign Of George 7.
owing to his inability to speak or un
Il derstand English, and 1t may be re
membered that even George Ills Eng,
ltsh was very imperfect, and that ne
usually expressed himself in French
which was the court language in those
days.
Emperor Nicholas, Emperor Francis
Joseph, the Sultan of Turkey, King
GUM and Queen Wilhelmina of Hol-
land never attend Cabinet meetings
Nor does the Kaiser, and it may be re-
membereo that his esentment at be-
ing kept from knowing what Went on a,
the Cabinet councils presided over BY
the first Prince Bismarck was the
principal cause OF the downfall of
the Iron Chancellor. King Alfonso Of
, Spain, on the other hand, presides a
the meetings Of the Cabinet at Madrid
! and joins in its discussions. And SO
too, does the King of Sweden, while
all the more important meetings Of
the French Cabinet are held at thu
Elysee Palace, with President Fal
Heres in the chair, In which he occa
sionally falls asleep during the de
alterations. Here in the United States
it is needless to say, the President al
! ways takes the chair at the meeting
I of the Cabinet. which are held at TIL
White House. and where the Presiden
never goes to sleep-very much. in
deed, the reverse
Lord Alfred Douglas has sold tn
: one-time respected and authoritativ
< clever weekly London journal. Tht
i Academy. which, under his editorshi
: and proprietorship, has been distin
q crui re ttv nd