nly statesman that England possessed" was significant in this
connection even if it was unfair. Still more significant was the
description of His Majesty in the Radical _News_ of London, on November
10th, as "the first citizen of the world and the chief Minister of
Peace."

During 1905 King Edward continued his public services along these lines
of international statecraft. On April 30th he paid an unofficial visit
to Paris, accompanied by the Marquess of Salisbury as Minister in
attendance. A great banquet was given at the Elysee by President Loubet
and there followed a general press discussion of the _entente_ between
England and France. In June the King of Spain visited England and at a
state banquet given by King Edward at Buckingham Palace, on June 6th,
the latter said: "Spain and England have often been allies; may they
always remain so; and above all march together for the benefit of peace,
progress and the civilization of mankind." On August 7th a French fleet
arrived in the Solent and its men fraternized with those of the British
cruiser squadron while the King gave a banquet on board the Royal yacht
to the chief French officers. On the following day His Majesty reviewed
two fleets which together made a splendid aggregation of seventy
warships; while the press of the civilized world commented upon the new
friendship of the two nations and very largely credited King Edward with
the achievement.

Early in 1907 the King's visit of two months' duration in Europe did
more service in the cause of international friendliness; later on the
German Emperor visited England, as did the King and Queen of Denmark,
and the King and Queen of Portugal. In June a triple agreement was
concluded between Great Britain, France and Spain for the joint
protection of their mutual interests in the Mediterranean and on the
Atlantic. This arrangement and the improved relations with Germany were
credited largely to the efforts of King Edward, just as the _entente
cordiale_ with France had previously been conceded to be greatly due to
his tact and popularity. In October he was able to crown his work by
accepting a Convention with Russia which dealt primarily with the
affairs of Persia, Afghanistan and Thibet, but really made future war
between the two Powers a matter of difficulty. The year 1908 saw state
visits to Copenhagen, Stockholm and Christiana in April; the King's
opening of the Franco-British Exhibition in London on May 26th and
re