p. 9 | Visiting Rulers

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 13, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 19.

Visiting Rulers

King Edward is still the guest of the French nation, and is receiving the warmest possible welcome both from officials and from the people generally—so remarkable is the change of sentiment which has taken place within the last two years. King Edward had hardly left the city of Rome when Kaiser Wilhelm paid a visit to that city. He was received enthusiastically by the Italian people and King Victor Emmanuel, and then paid a prompt visit to the Vatican. This visit coming immediately on the heels of King Edward's visit, has created considerable comment. The emperor is desirous of retaining the favor of the pope, in order that he may have the support of the Centrist (Catholic) party in the Reichstag. In making this visit the emperor, in deference to the pope's feelings, went to the Vatican direct from the German embassy instead of from the government buildings of the Italian capital as he had previously done and as King Edward did in making his call at the Vatican. The pope was greatly pleased with Emperor William's course in this respect, as it was a tacit recognition of the pope as a sovereign. Whether Emperor William's visit was for the purpose of forming a new triple alliance or of preventing any advantage coming to England from the king's visit, is a matter of uncertainty.