THE FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE EMPIRE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1509, 31 January 1901, Page 53

THE FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE EMPIRE

(“N.Z. Times,” January 26.)

In the message forwarded by the New Zealand Premier his colleagues, the death of her late Most Gracious Majesty was described as a loss to the world. This view will be universally accepted, for it has been long recognised both at Home and abroad that the personality of the Empress Queen was a strong c a> tor in the international polities of the world. The recognition was formally made by the press of Europe at the time of the Jubilee celebration in 1887, and it was renewed ten years later during the Diamond Jubilee festivities which revealed the unity of the British Empire with absolutely convincing completeness. Now that this personality is removed, men are naturally beginning to ask what the consequences may bo. There are those who think that possibly the chances of European war may be largely increased.

The wisdom of the Foreign Office of Great Britain has been conspicuous throughout at least the latter half of the long and brilliant reign that has just ended. This, of course, is an assertion which must be taken broadly, for the two political parties > which alternately held the reins of power during that time differed in their policies, and theoretically, under the limited monarchy they served, each was in turn master of the situation. Some of the things done have been regretted, and in certain cases that regret has not yet passed away. But it was long the ooxnmonplace of both parties that those i t the head of the Foreign Office had no counsellor so wk© and so capable as fhe Queen herself. In combination with a character essentially and beautifully feminine, she possessed mental abilities

of a masculine order, and experience bad given her a grasp of affairs historical and diplomatic superior to anything iu the record of the whole body of her responsible advisers. This vast advantage was, owing to her exquisite tact, thorough familiarity with constitutional principle, and systematic attention to public business, ever at the command of her advisers,'in the right way. Thus by sh®tr superiority she ruled in reality, by sheer superiority she ruled in reality, supposed only to rule in obedience to suggestions from her advisers. The honour of the Empire was her first consideration ; the peace of the world came very near to it in her heart; and in the combined spirit of the two her great qualities made her, as was often said, the best of Foreign Ministers.

With the two most powerful Courts of the European Continent, Germany and Russia, the Empress Queen exercised another influence. The Kaiser was her grandson, the Czar Alexander 111. waa married to a sister of the

Prince of Wale 3, the Czar Nicholas is the husband of one of the Queen’s granddaughters. These relationships in themselves might have counted for nothing. But Queen Victoria waa a great personage in her family relations, as she was in the Foreign Office of Great Britain; and as great for the same reasons, viz , her high character, her experienced wisdom, and her many personal qualities. The reverence in which she was held by the Kaiser was shown but yesterday, when he abandoned the national celebrations at Berlin and hurried to the bedside at Osborne. It was also shown a few years ago more than once on occasions which would have tried a weaker spirit of kinship. Alexander 111., whose predominating note of policy was peace,' found in the great Queen a firm and sympathetic sustainer, and there waa at least one moment in the history of Europe when it w as well that it waa so. Nicholas 11. succeeded to this parental tradition, and Europe has not forgotten how he signalised the opening of his reign by a visit to English Queen — a visit followed by a perceptible alteration for the better in the relations between their Empires. In other countries there was not this family influence. But the French nation never forgot its respect for the Queen who had forward* ed the peace of the world by recognising the Second Empire at a critical moment, and preserved it, later on, at a moment still more critical when that Empire had fallen. All Europe recognised her benign influence, and moreover always paid her the respect which armed men have for women in moments when the clash of arms is imminent. Their behaviour lends colour to the theory that a female sovereign at the head of a powerful Empire must be, provided the sovereign qualities are present, always a special factor in preserving the peace of the world. Elizabeth, our

other great Queen, had not that advantage. But the times were not the same. Men were then more prone to fighting, and there were causes of war which modern progress has chained up for ever. There was also, it must be said, a difference in the two women, Elizabeth being without the womanly tenderness which was the great charm of her illustrious successor’s character. The King who now reigns is of course without the last of the causes of Ills predecessor’s power. He lias, however, the advantage of her example, and of long communion with her, and familiarity with her methods. But whether he will succeed to her high place among tfes? rulers of nations is a matter rather hopeful anticipation than for dogmatic assertion.