M. Loubet, the President of the French Republic, will land
in England on Monday on his visit to King Edward VU., and will be royally entertained. He will, be escorted across the Channel by a fleet, will be received at Victoria Station by the King in person, and will dine at Buckingham Palace. On Tuesday the City entertains him at lunch, and the King dines with him at the French Embassy, both being afterwards present at a special performance at the Royal Opera. On Wednesday the President pays his visit to Windsor Castle, witnesses a review at Aldershot, dines with the Foreign Secretary, and attends a State Ball at Buckingham Palace, leaving London on his return on Thursday morning. We mention these details, which are rather out of our way, in order that our French friends may see that no distinction is made between the honours paid to any great Sovereign and those accorded to the chief of the French State. Frenchmen are sensitive on that point, especially as regards England, which from tradition they still regard as a country pre-eminently Monarchical, aristocratic, and stand-aloofish. They are mis- taken, for this time at least. The people like France when- ever she is in a gracious mood; they have the right impres- sion of M. Loubet's personality; and the only fear is lest their welcome should be embarrassingly warm.
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