The King, after inspecting everything in Kiel, visited Hamburg on
the 28th, and was received by the free city with enthusiasm. He was entertained at lunch in the Rathhaus by "his Magnificence "the Burgomaster, who in his speech thanked his Majesty for the honour done to his city, never before visited by a British Sovereign, spoke of the commercial relations which had existed for centuries with "the island Empire," and hoped that those relations would develop in "a peaceful competition which is ever becoming keener." King Edward replied with extreme cordiality, butwithout saying any- thing noteworthy beyond expressing his pleasure at a reception which he was aware was not only accorded to himself, but "to the great Empire of which God had appointed him to be the ruler." The King returned at once to Kiel, where he was again entertained by Prince Henry, and quitted it early on the 30th, after a pleasant and, happily, uneventful visit of five days. During the greater part of this time, in Hamburg as .well as Kiel, he wore the dress of a German Admiral, and the most carping critics have as yet found no failure on either aide in the dignified friendliness of the ceremonials. The German public, however, which does not quite understand constitutionalism, appears to be a little disappointed. For ourselves, we can only say that though we dreaded the Government being drawn into some diplomatic entanglement, like that of the "Venezuelan mess" or the Baghdad Railway, the King has amply justified our belief that if such an entanglement was avoided, it would be through his tact and .good sense. These qualities, and his statesmanlike compre- hension of foreign affairs, have, we trust, prevented the serious complications which arose after the visit of the Kaiser to England in 1902.
Previous page
