New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-03

aries OF the War Department. and to obtain a
ru,iner OF important data with regard to the
HI, and mobilization OF the French army.
Napoleon urged that the Count had violated
10. oiiiy the most elementary principles Of in
terhauonal law, but also the laws of honor:
,,rwas iorgetiul of the fact. however, that he
ni,'"vi hau suggested q similar scheme to his
aide-de-camp. the Marshal Marmont who. when
, uiseo 10 undertake mission OF analogous
hIlIu IN England resolutely declined declaring
,i ,, ne had no wish to be hung. and that while
ms ne as a soldier belonged to the Emperor, he
was determined to lose it as a soldier. and not
as spy.
AND this brings us to the question of military
attaches. whose acknowledged duties carry them
dangerously near to the border line separating
lawful from unlawful military information and
ihVesugation Only some six or seven years
nave elapsed since the German General de VII
iaune had to be withdrawn from the Embassy
at farls owing to the fact that General Bou-
LANCER. while Minister Of War. had succeeded in
discovering proofs Of the German officers having
corrupted several employees of the Gallo war
department and obtained from them valuable
information. General de Villaume was after
ward appointed military attache to the German
embassy at ST. Petersburg and before he had
been there very long he forced in self-de-
fence to begin libel suits against several OF the
Moscow newspapers. which had openly charged
MN with having been recalled from Paris in
consequence Of the French Government having
brought to light the elaborate system of treach-
cry. corruption and espionage which he had
organized there in behalf Of his Government.
The lawsuits never came to anything and by
joint accord between the German and Russian
Governments were allowed to drop-not. how
ever, before the Moscow newspapers had, with
the object Of jusufying their assertions. made
arrangements for the presence at the trial of a
number of French witnesses to prove the guilt
OF the General.
More recently Captain Borup. the military at
tache of the United States Legation. was with
drawn by the American Government in conse-
quence of a simila. charg having been brought
against him. Not that this charge was ever
proven, although he expressed his readiness 10
waive his diplomatic privilege and stand Trial
In way II would have been perhaps polite
to have permitted him to do so. as he would
have been able TO show to the satisfaction %
his accusers that while he may possibly have
purchased information that was offered To him Tor
his own Government he had never communicated
II to the military attaches of Germany or Italy.
which was the principal offence imputed to him
One of the principal members or the french mp
lomatc service the Comte de Mouy, who for so
many years repreSen ted France as Ambassador
at Rome in discussing the subject Of military
attaches. defined a Hypothetical! case such as
that which subsequently became a reality in the
case of Captain Borup. as follows: THE military
attache." he declared. must not seek to corrupt
for the purpose of obtaining information. but ne
is al liberty 10 purchase information offered to
him. He must not provoke or organic esplon-
age but is permitted to profit thereby. From
this II will be seen that the border line between
the two is exceedingly faint so faint indeed. that
it requires tact and diplomatic casuistry de-
veloped TO an extraordinary degree To correctly
appreciate the definition. This Captain Borup
NAV be said to have possessed in the fullest
manner and although certain organs OF me
French press. falling through misapprehension
to take n correct view of the matter. nave IN
cited public opinion against the Captain yet ac-
cortling to diplomatic and military ethics of the
French authorities themselves he cannot be sara
to have been guilty Of any transgression OF the
laws Of honor violation Of that hospitality
which France gracefully accords to every for
eign mission. and particularly to that OF the
United States EXATTACHE.