Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-12-03
aussIA's POLICE sSeTEA.


Perfection OF TIE 1ctEtA rFffltf Orgnni-
zation Described by KEENAN,.
..Tbe Russian secret service police system
4 a very complete and far reaching organ.
,atiop.0 said Mr.. George KEENAN,. il re.
,nonse 10 a query from reporter, "and as
an instance OF how thoroughly the govern
ment through this system is able to Keen
Irack of ones movements may well relate
an experience Of my own. When returned
10 St. Petersburg from Siberia the last
lime WAS very anxious to leave the en-
nire AS soon as possible, for several reasons.
NV travelling companion, Mr.. Frost, was
physically broken down, and feared might
eoIIapse at any time. WAS far from well
myself and longed 70 escape from the at
mosphere OF apprehension in which had
lived so long, and OF course very anxious
10 see nv wife who was awaiting me in
London.
$50 | sent my passports to the chief Of
the department Of police and asked permis-
sion TO leave the empire at once, this being
a necessary step before one can leave Rus
STA. In a short time received curt YER
bal reply TO the effect that | couldn't leave
the empire until had received the permis-
sion Of the governor general Of eastern
Siberia. This annoyed me a great deal, as
knew very well that ! couldn't obtain
such permission from the governor general
of eastern Siberia, who WAS 1900 miles
away. under three months aud perhaps as
long again. so called at the American e.
cation and placed the matter before tie
secretary of the legation, Mr. Writ
minister Lothrop AZ that time hap
nened 70 be absent, and Mr.. Writ gave
me letter to the chief OF the passport
bureau In the foreign Office. | delivered
the note in person TO the chief Of the pass
mort bureau. who was an Italian. He read
II through, carefully looked me over and
then remarked, You are Mr.. Kennans I
informed him that was. when he TO-
auired if had ever before lad permit 10
live in the Russian empire. ] told him
that had, III 1858. issued in March Of that
year, believed.
ole Immediately touched bell and d.
rected a clerk who responded TO iind per
nit to live in Russia issued 10 George
KEENAN, in March, 1868. IN three minutes
the clerk returned and handed TO his chief
the identical permit that l had SURRENDERED
when | WAS ready TO leave the empire
twenty years before, and with il was list
Of about forty questions concerning myself,
which had answered At that time, show
ing what my objects were in visiting Rus
sia, where ! came FROM. and, in short, all
about myself.
"The chief scanned these documents and
then informed ne that If the American e-
CATION would send letter TO him officially
requesting permission for me 10 leave the
empire the request would be granted. Mr.
Writ wrote a letter officially requesting
the permission desired. | went from one
circumlocution Office to another, paid
money to this Official aud that, and finally
at the end Of four days WIS given the per
mission of leaving the country. How they
manage TO maintain Il system whereby
they are able almost instantly to turn TO
the record OF any one who has lived in the
empire, when one considers the infinite
number Of such records they are obligedtO
keep, il a mystery to me, one that | can't
explain, but il only goes 70 show what
marvellous institution il is.
''There are in the Russian secret service
police that are exceedingly bright, clever
men, singularly adroit and crafty in OBJ
tanning valuable clews and information
and revolutionists with whom | talked
agreed that Lieutenant Colonel Sudeikin,
of the gendarmes, afterward assassinated,
was one of the ablest men in that line in
the service of the Russian government.
There is one class of secret service Of
ficers who are entirely unknown, who are
in fact simply government spies, and you
are liable Of course TO meet one of them
at any time. Several times have thought
that was being interviewed by one Of
those spies, aud when a man would seek
my acquaintance while travelling. and en-
deavor to draw me out by professions OF
revolutionary sympathies, and remarks as
being an American, Mr.. KEENAN,, you
know everything is wrong here
| would oi s. rye great discretion and be
very guarded in what | said. Detroit
Free Press