Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-25
Alfons0's
Visit.

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Wait recent visit Of Alfonso XIII
to France. The visit Of
Alfonso has achieved great success, al
ready foreshadowed by what Count Al
varo de Romanones. the Spanish premier.
is reported to have said i'm Paris the 9th
instant: To-day Spain and France have
reached friendly agreement Tomor-
row the two countries may take a
further step"
The visit of the King of Spain was
inspired nominally to accentuate the
definite conclusion of the Franco-Span-
ish treaty relative to Morocco. That 1t
has taken a wider range will not as
tOnish those familiar with the desires
Of the governments at Paris and Mad
rid.
The Franco-Spanish entente since 1904
10 the interior troubles in both countries.
militant socialism and anarchism added
10 the intrigues from the exterior.
King Alfonso has been constant in his
attachment to France. and 1t Is due to him
more than to his ministers. either con-
sentative or radical. that the present
friendly situation has been attained.
King Alfonso. accompanied by Count
Romanones, premier. and Gen. Mas Lat
ric and others Of his staff arrived i'm
Paris on the morning of the 9Th instant,
where at the Bots de Boulogne station
the royal visitor was welcomed by Presi-
dent Poincaire. The king reviewed the
troops on arrival. and then, escorted by
the military, marched to the ministry of
foreign affairs.
Arrived at the Arc de Triomphe there
was u single discordant note not from
the crowd that enthusiastically cheered
the king, but from the distance, "Vive
Ferrer! But this manifestation was
promptly suppressed by the police.
The dinner at the palace Of the Ely see
was gorgeous AFFAIR. The king and the
upper end of a horseshoe-shaped table.
Alfonso was In gaia dress. wearing the
grand Gordon OF the Legion Of Honor.
having at his right Nine. Poincare: the
president wore the golden fleece. con-
ferred upon him that day. Al his right
was Nine. BERTHE. the wife OF the British
ambassador
The political significance of the kings
visit is apparent In the toasts. which
may be cited textually. The president
said:
France guards a grateful souvenir Of
the two last visits OF your majesty, and
recalls with emotion the sympathy you
have always manifested for her. France
is happy to welcome again a sovereign
who has known how to charm her by
his loyalty. his good grace and his
bravery, France salutes In him the
noble nation which has given to history
SO many glorious pages and offered to
the world SO many examples Of chivalry.
congratulate myself particularly that
may welcome your majesty the day after
the unanimous vote by which the assem-
blies Of our two countries have given their
appreciation to our Mediterranean agree
ments.
1.-The long and courteous negotiations
which resulted In recent conventions
would have. had It been necessary, pre-
pared Spain and France to know each
other and esteem each other better.
1T is not yesterday that the two great
neighbor nations have understood the
close solidarity of their
Labor of interests and the perma-
c;v;l;,e+;or nent reasons of their
sSAsAAN@saOA' traditional friendship.
but in working together hereafter in
mutual confidence in the labor of civili-
zation and peace they will see more
clearly than ever in their proximity .
lesson in the law of their common des-
tinies 80
The king, replying, said: You have
wished me welcome i'm terms which IN
crease the emotion I feel in finding my
self on the soil of that noble France
which has always shown me such pro-
found sympathy. Your words go straight
to my heart They will touch also pro-
foundry the queen. who deeply regrets
that she may not gather with me TO-DAY
these precious marks of friendship. The
Spanish nation is shown once more by
this cordial reception the fraternal sem
timents of the French people
..Neighbors in Europe. our two coun-
tries will be hereafter also In Africa and
will enjoy In the agreements signed by
you the enlarged means and the bonds
which unite them in the collaboration Of
peace and progress. ;,
On the morning OF the 9th the king and
the president, accompanied by their re-
spective civil and military households.
visited Fontainebleau. where a brigade
of cavalry rendered the conventional
honors, which were succeeded by maneu-
vers executed in the valley of the Sole.
There the king mounted a magnificent
thoroughbred which the French govern
ment had presented to him.
The exercise was very simple; DrlGaoe
Of cavalry against an enemys cavalry,
followed by deployment and q charge by
the brigade The cavaliers were in fatigue
uniform with lightened knapsacks. but IN
order to add to the picturesQueness OF
the military spectacle the dragons kept
the pennants on the end OF their lances-
At the close of the brilliant maneuvers
the king was conducted to the chateau,
to Napoleon's chamber.
Napoleonic On the bureau the direc-
tor had placed an open
0cAAcs. volume OF don Quixote,"
the same which Napoleon was accus-
toned to read In the throne room in
the apartments of the emperor was the
table on which was signed the abdication.
a COPY of which had been placed there.
The program terminated by grand car
rousel or fitting match and an effective
display of mitrailleuses firing in action.
King Alfonso has shown himself
sovereign Of advanced views and his
sympathetic personality has enectually
controlled a movement in Spain which
might have terminated in revolution.
He has become very popular. He has
extended the frontier of Spain and re-
paired in Morocco the losses incurred
in the last century. King Alfonso has
been as liberal as any hberal. He has
assured the equilibrium OF Europe and
thus contributed to its peace. The
king has been bold and fearless and
has employed his rights without abus-
ing them. He has been exposed to the
attacks of regicides, from whom he
has been preserved almost miraculous
ly. His aggressors have only succeeded
in placing in bold relief the calm
courage of this liberal prince. who has
Profession, and accepted them not only
without. boastng. but as q normal
part of his function. A man in every
sense of the word is hidden under the
mask of this gay optimistic prince.
who. nevertheless, has no cause to be