A NATIONAL ASSET.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 72, 26 March 1909, Page 7

A NATIONAL ASSET.

KING EDWARD AS PEACEMAKER BEOENT VISIT TO REVAL. CRITICISM REPLY. By Telegraph. *-Press Association.— Copyright (Received March. 26, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 25th March. The House of Commons is considering a vote on account of King Edward's recent visit to Russia. Sir Edward Grey, Secretary, of State, for Foreign Affairs, in reply to a criticism by Mr. J. G.'M'Neill, Nationalist member for Donegal South, regarding the fact that he (Sir Edward) as Foreign Secretary, did not accompany King Edward to Reval, said that no Sovereign adhered more closely and consistently to constitutional practice. His Majesty's visits abroad' were specially valuable, because he had a special personal gift of convening to the Government and the people of the country he visited an impression of Britain's goodwill. It was, added Sir Edward, a great national asset that the Sovereign should have contributed so much to the smooth relations between Great Britain and neighbouring countries. King Edward, accompanied by the Queen, visited Reval in June last. The meeting of the. King and Tsar took place on board the Russian RoyaJ yacht. The King and Queen were accompanied to Reval by Sir Charles Harding^ (Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs), Sir Arthur Nicholson (British Ambassador at St. Petersburg), Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Fisher, General Sir John French, Lord Errington, and Chevalier de Martino (Marine Painter in Ordinary to the King). When | the proposed visit to Reval wan announced, the Government was heckled considerably by Labour members, and some strong remarks concerning the Tsar were made. Sir Edwaid Grey then explained with great clearness that the Government had taken every precaution to maintain its full responsibility with regard to Royal visits abroad. They were, he said, undertaken on the advice of responsible Ministers, and If no Cabinet Minister accompanied hie Majesty, Sir Charles Har'dinge, who had accompanied him before, was as fully under the control and direction of the Foreign Secretary as any Ambassador | who represents the country at a foreign court.