THE KING AND QUEEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14916, 11 February 1909, Page 7

THE KING AND QUEEN.

THEIR VISIT TO GERMANY. UNWONTED ENTHUSIASM. United Press Association—By Elccirio Telegraph—Copyright. BERLIN, February 9. The Kaiser’s permission to allow a civic welcome to King Edward and Queen Alexandra, supplementary to the official reception, led to remarkable demonstrations in Berlin, which has never before displayed such enthusiasm to visitors. Despite thirteen public Socialist meetings of protest, the people are delighted at the prospect of better relations between the two countries, but there is no sign of a reduction of armaments. A STATE BANQUET. (Received February 10, 10.35 p.m.) BERLIN, February 10. At the Gala Banquet at the Royal Castle in honour of the visit of King Edward and Queen Alexandra one hundred and sixty guests wore present. The Kaiser warmly toasted the visitors, markedly associating the whole people with his own view that the visit, besides being a token of friendship,, was a pledge of future peaceful and friendly relations between the two countries. King Edward, in an equally cordial reply, concluded by remarking:—“My visit aims at strengthening the friendly relations of the two countries, and thus at the preservation of the general peace, towards which all my endeavours are directed.” THE KAISER’S SPEECH. GERMAN NEWSPAPER REFERENCES. (Received February 10, 11.25 p.m.) BERLIN, February 10. The Kaiser, in toasting the King, said: “I know how much our wishes for the preservation and strengthening of peace are in accord. I am firmly convinced that the visit will contribute to the realisation of these our wishes.” The German newspapers publish long reports of King Edward's and Queen Alexandra’s magnificent reception byall classes of the population. The “ Vossischo Zeitung” says: “The visit is a proof that the coldness which existed between the two courts is a thing of the past. It will not be Germany’s fault if the visit is not the beginning of a better understanding between two kindred peoples.” Some of the German Conservative papers are unsympathetic. The “ Reichhots ” revives tho charge oi King Edward’s attempt to isolate Germany and destroy the Triple Alliance. Tho “ Borsctzeitung ” declares that tho conversations between the monarcha will contain no reference to disarmament. The “ Fremdenblatt,” of Vienna, says that it is the Eastern crisis and tho community of peaceful interests which have drawn Britain and Germany closer together.