THE LATE KING EDWARD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 237, 1 July 1919, Page 7

THE LATE KING EDWARD

PRUSSIAN CBBAL AGAINST HIM, Some fre6h anecdotes which illustrate King Edward's sincere friendship for France in the war of 1870 are given-by Sir Sidney Lee in the now number of the "Anglo-French Review." King Edward, then Prince of Wales, was, it appears, specially disliked by the Prussian Minister ill London, Count Bernstorff (whose son gained such an evil notoriety during the war at Washington), who conducted a veritablo campaign against the Prince. He complained Hint the Prince had told the French Ambassador ''ho cordially hoped for Germany's defeat." The Prince was invited by tho British Government to explain, when he wrote tlniH to Mr. Gladstone:

"I think it right to inform you that tho Prussian Ambassador has thought fit to inform my sister, the Crown Princess, of statements supposed- to have been mado by me at a dinner lately given by the French Ambassador, very derogatory of Prussia. 1 beg to assure you that the.so statements are without any foundation."

The Prince did sympathise With Franca none the less. He wrote of the French defeat at Worth as a "terrible blow." When the Empress Eugenie reached Eng. land he sent his equerry to her with an offer of hospitality, an act which excited warm reproof from the (>w-cu (Victoria)' ami her Ministers." But 'as ha said in nnotber ease where he showed his French sympathies, "when one's friends are down in their luck ono vouid wish to help thorn if ono can."

110 wished to raise a fund to help tho French peasants, but the British Government yas afraid and Warned him that "Prussia is likely to misinterpret anv. thing -w'.v.vh tho Prince does. 'Though the German 51.5 disliked him he did his best to influence tio Prussians in favour of moderate terms oi peace—which would havo prevented a renewal of war. He spoke of France cs "that great friendly l'owcv" and un occasions sue. Rested to French statesmen thai- ,tWr boycott of the French aristocraev was a mistake. A conversation'between liim and M. Gambetta is recalled in which ho pointed put how England had created a titled aristocracy of merit, when tho following .remarks passed (iftinhetta: In a Republic we can havo only ono aristocracy, that of science and mer t-and it can establish its K* without: titles. Tho Prince: Yon are a trim .Republican m. (lambotta. . • Gambetta: Permit me _to admit' the fdet, mi, Bui 1 thmh it quite locicu that you should bo ; a Royalist. : ' g 1