Penshurst in 1910, served as British ambassador at St. Petersburg from 1904 to 1906 and was permanent under-secretary at the foreign office from 1906 till the king's death. While he was attached to the foreign office, he usually accompanied the king on his foreign tours, and the precise capacity in which he travelled with the sovereign occa- sionally raised a constitutional controversy, which the true facts deprived of genuine substance. The presence of the foreign minister or at any rate of a cabinet minister was necessary to bring any effective diplo- matic negotiation within the range of the king's intercourse with Ms foreign hosts. Mr. Hardinge was personally agreeable to the king. He was well fitted to offer advice or information which might be of service in those talks with foreign rulers or statesmen on political themes in which the sovereign occasionally indulged. He could also record suggestions if the need arose for the perusal of the foreign minister. In debates in the House of Commons some ambiguity and constitutional irregularity were imputed to Mr. Hardinge's status in the king's suite, but it was made clear that no ministerial responsibilities devolved either on the king or on him during the foreign tours, and that the foreign policy of the country was unaffected by the royal progresses (Hansard, 23 July 1903 and 4 June 1908).
The king's route of 1903 was one with which he was familiar. His first landing- place was Lisbon, where he was Jon ' the guest of King Carlos. The two monarchs complimented each other on their lineal ties and on the ^ancient alliance between their two countries. After short visits to Gibraltar and Malta, the king disembarked at Naples on 23 April, and four days later reached Rome. The good relations which had always subsisted between England and Italy had been little disturbed by pro-Boer prejudice. The Roman populace received King Edward with enthusiasm, and he exchanged with King Victor Emanuel professions of warm friendship. With characteristic tact the king visited Pope Leo XIII at the Vatican, where he had thrice before greeted Pope Pius IX. From Rome the king passed with no small gratification to his favourite city of Paris for the first time after more than three years. He came at an opportune moment. The French foreign minister, M. Delcasse, had for some time been seeking a diplo- matic understanding with England, which should remove the numerous points of 'riction between the two countries in Egypt, Morocco, and elsewhere. The king's ministers were responsive, and his visit to Paris, although it was paid independently England's of the diplomatic issue, was diplomatic well calculated to conciliate ^ rencn P UDUC opinion, which was slow in shedding its pro-Boer venom. On the king's arrival the temper of the Parisian populace looked doubtful (1 May), but the king's demeanour had the best effect, and in his reply to an address from the British chamber of com- merce on his first morning in Paris he spoke so aptly of the importance of developing good relations between the two countries that there was an immediate renewal of the traditional friendliness which had linked him to the Parisians for near half a century. The king and Tiie president, M. Loubet, and President M. Delcasse did everything to Loubet. enhance the cordiality of the welcome. The president entertained the king at a state banquet at the Elysee and the speeches of both host and guest gave voice to .every harmonious sentiment. The king accompanied the president to the Theatre Fran9ais, to a military review at Vincennes, and to the races at Long- champs. He did not neglect friends of the old regime, and everywhere he declared his happiness in strengthening old ties. His words and actions closely resembled those which marked his visit to Paris under Marshal MacMahon's auspices in 1878. But, in view of his new rank and the recent political discord, the episode was generally regarded as the propitious heralding of a new departure. On 5 May he returned to London and was warmly received.
The king lost no time in returning the hospitalities of his foreign hosts. On 6 July President President Loubet came to Loubet in London to stay at St. James's London, Palace as the king's guest, and y ' M. Delcasse was his companion. Friendly negotiations between the two governments took a step forward. On The king's ^ Nov. the king and queen royal guests, of Italy were royal guests at Windsor, and were followed just a year later by the king and queen of Portugal. There was nothing in the visits of the foreign sovereigns to distinguish them from the ordinary routine of courtesy. The visit of the president of the French republic was unprecedented. It was proof of the desire of France to make friends with England and of the king's sympathy
