NEWS OF THE WEEK.
KING EDWARD arrived in Vienna on Monday, and was received by the Emperor with a warmth which apparently extended to the whole population. All the bitter- ness displayed during the South African War has disappeared, and the Viennese remember that during their history Great Britain and Austria have only once, and then but for a moment, been opposed. Our people have, in fact, forgotten the support they at one time gave, principally in subsidies, to Frederick the Great, and it is hardly remembered even by Austrians. The King was, of course; welcomed with a brilliant banquet, attended by the whole Court, after which the Emperor made a.short'but cordial speech, in which he stated that there were no conflicting political interests between the two countries, and he had a confident hope there never would be any. King Edward's reply was more colourless, but he ended it by creating the Emperor a Field-Marshal of the United Kingdom. It is said that this was "a surprise," and it may have been to the guests ; but the Emperor must have been sounded as to Ills willingness to accept the honour, which is highly prized, and is in entire accordance with precedent, the German Emperor, for example, being an Admiral of the British Fleet. It is not probable that the King, who was unaccompanied by a, Minister, transacted any business during his visit, but he may, as we have pointed out elsewhere, have given his aged host some acceptable advice. A hint that Great Britain does not disapprove such-and-such a policy greatly smooths its way. , A return visit from the Emperor to his guest seems to be foreshadowed by the words reported to have been used by the King at parting, and, we need hardly say, would be most cordially welcomed by the British nation.
