"MUCH ADO."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9064, 13 April 1908, Page 4

"MUCH ADO."

When the Right Hon. H. H. Asquith visited King Edward at Biarritz early last week upon the summons of His Majesty to receive the appointment of Prime Minister, vice Sir H. Campbell-Bunnerman, the cable told us that Mr Asquith "kissed the King's hand." No one in the oversea States would suppose there was either good or harm in the ceremony. It appears, however, there was harm, though the harm may be neutralised by great prospective good. So we gather from some comments on the suoject in "The Times" cabled to us on Saturday. It srems, according to the ponderous conservatism of the Thunderer, that the kissing of the hand of the British Kin*? by a British Minister in a foreign country "was a wide departure from a hitherto unbroken precedent." This is really dreadful,, and has seriously alarmed the great Conservative organ for the future of the Empire. It excuses the act to some extent, inasmuch as it allows it was probably "a picturesque, graceful tribute to the reality of the entente that King Edward and Mr Asquith were so much at home in France." Still the departure from precedent was wrong, very wrong,, anff "The Times" apparently echoes the opinions of the Conservatives of Great Britain when it adds that "everyone with sound knowledge of our political system must hope that the precedent willnot be repeated except in a case of necessity." While it is pleasing to think that out of this great cnil good may 'come in the direction of strengthening the "entente cordiale," it is sad to reflect that Mr Asquith should have begun his new career with such a grave poiiticai blunder. What lit ought to have done on the occasion Heaven knows;, but to be guilty of such a terrible "faux pas" as to kiss the King's hand in a foreign land augurs: badly for his future. The King is probably entirely blameless. It was doubtless Mr Asquith's impetuosity that has brought about all: this trouble.