18 NOVEMBER 1899, Page 18

The German Emperor, who arrives on the 20th inst., has

apparently found it necessary to cut his visit short. He goes, it is stated, to Windsor and to Sandringhan, but be will not visit Lord Lonsdale, and he has declined an invitation to lunch offered by the City. The official excuse for this change of purpose is that Parliamentary complications will require his presence in Berlin ; but though that may be true, we fancy that his Majesty thinks rather too strong a mean- ing has been placed upon his visit, and likes to preserve

his freedom of action. It is still, however, reported that he will be accompanied by Count von Billow, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and as this is unusual it seems clear that political questions of some kind are to be discussed during the visit. We regret that William IL will not visit London. The Metropolis would have turned out to do him honour, and of all sights calculated to impress a statesman, London en fête, with a million of people in the streets and the soldiers invisible, is the most impressive. The Emperor, however, knows his own business best, and we must regret without cavilling at his decision, which will be a great relief to the Home Secretary and Sir E. Bradford. No precautions are necessary to guard the German Emperor from English- men, but lost in London are many hundreds of foreign Anarchists, and some of them are mad.