Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-26
Diplomatic Corruption.

lore, tnOuSn the reader OF the pOlltlcal
history of the Old World will remember
to have seen authentic accounts of diplO-
matte corruption, earlier in the present
century, almost sufficient to make the
hair of unsophisticated Americans stand
on end. Russia seems to take the lead in
this work of universal bribery and cor
ruption, to carry her points everywhere
over the interests of the Government with
which she may be treating, and against
the opposition of true patriots in such
countries. Among the expedients resort
ed to to this end, is that of putting the
managers of her foreign affairs lat honey
In possession, as far as possible, of the
apparently secret thoughts of the Minis
tiers of other Governments, and of others
supposed to be influential in public affairs
anywhere Their likes and their dislikes,
their personal habits and associations,
and, ind, ed, information concerning every
thing about everybody whose e1ertions
may possibly make seriously for or against
a project of Russia, is carefully sought
after, to be kept until the opportunity to
take advantage of it may come in play.
We subjoin an account of the way in
which this system of espionage is man
aged, from the pen of the Paris CORES
pendent of the London Times, who, next
to editor Walter himself, is the great man
of the Times establishment. As a politi-
cal writer, he is conceived to be almost
without an equal on the Continent; vet
his professional superiority arises, for the
most part, from the extraordinary tact
and accuracy with which he obtains in
formation which the Governments desire
to keep from the knowledge of the public
In addition to the enormous sums with
which he must be furnished to enable
him promptly to command much such in
formation, not otherwise to be obtained
on the Continent, it is said that the Times
establishment pay him some $4,000 per
annum for his own services. Writing of
Russia's current system of espionage, he
says:
. Since the first day the Turkish question
was agitated. do not remember any day that
1T has appeared with more gloomy aspect
tn
dieting these reports, l may say that hitherto
they have been often traced to Russian agency,
and II is believed that every means has been
already employed in imparting to question
which in itself is of great Importance a still
darker cOloring. Large sums of money, in
addition to the ordinary expenditure for
police purposes. are said to have been paid
for that object. The cost of the espionage in
the Russian interest in France for the present
year is estimated at more than 1000. 900 fr.;
and some OF the persons employed in it. both
Russians as well as French, are those whose
position In society one would suppose ought
to place them above such services One titled
person IS at this moment travelling in Germany,
with minor agents scattered over the country,
1or the purpose of picking up information.
The scale OF remuneration for this not very
creditable occupation varies according TO the
rank and consequent utility of the party
u,
has been for some time, in receipt of more
than 10000 fir. per annum for supplying the
Russian government with secret information
on matters IN general. but particularly with
reference to France and England. But the
cooperation of no one, in however humble n
sphere, Is rejected, provided he has the facil-
NY OF communicating news. Even the most
trlhlng gossip is transmitted; and when no
valuable information is conveyed, the rumors
% mo laa f~l.
less Partaking of scandal, serve to amuse the
Court OF Russia"
Now, there is moral to all this; that
Is IN the solution of the question as to
how long 1T will be before one or more
European Governments essay to back
their diplomacy in this country, by the
same disreputable means? The reader
IN Washington, at least, will hardly start
at the question: as all Washington know
that of late years we have had among us
powerful body OF class who buy and
ell with perfect nonchalance upon all
;'mestlc questions-of public expendi-
';e-aS they can make most by the
reration. Though it may not be compre-
ended abroad, here, as least, it is well
known that they arc always in the market
to use their influence, social and political,
iorany project, and in any way likely to pay
best. This is neither more nor less than
corruption in its worst form. Those who
participate IN 1t cannot be expected to
distinguish much longer between such