New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-10
EUROPE'S BLACK CABINETS.
METHODS EMPLOYED BY FOREIGN Gov
ERNMENTS TO OBTAIN POSSESSION
OF SECRETS CONFIDED TO
THE MAILS.

In spite OF all the official protestations to the
contrary. there il in the General Postofhce OIL
every capital in Europe department admins
tratively known as the "Black Cabinet" where
the mails. both foreign and domestic. are tam
pered with on behalf OF the Government by men
specially selected for the purpose. There arr
few statesmen OF Cabinet rank In the Old Woric
who have not had occasion to resort to viola
ton Of what Is so falsely believed to be thf
sanctity Of the malls confided to the honor OF
the state. through the hands OF which the1
PASS But Prince Bismarck is the first one
openly TO boast of the immense advantages
which while Chancellor he derived from meth
DDS Of this questionable character. During inc
course of a recent interview with one Of tho
editors of the "Neue Freic Presse." which Is
the seml-oniciaI organ OF the Vienna Foreign
Office the Prince dscOursed at some length or
this particular subject. and related with much
gusto how all suspicious-l0oking letters pass
Ing through the General Postoffice at Berlin
were submitted TO three expert officials. one o.
whom opened the envelopes with profound
dexterity. while another took cognzance or the
contents. and a third closed them up. SO as tt
show no trace of manipulation. The ex-Chan
cellor added that he himself and his secretarie:
managed to deal with the kilograms traversinl
German wires.
That the founder OF the German Empire was
not romancIng or making fun OF his visitor ir
speaking thus Is amply shown by the fact
that not one OF the European Governments
dares to intrust to the ordinary malls any OF
its foreign dispatches or letters that are or the
feast importance They invariably make use OF
relatively highly paid special messengers, usual
w retired army officers. for the purpose. who
in England are known as "Queen's Messcn-
gers" while on the Continent they go by the
name OF "Geurrers de Cabinet" They carry
their dispatches about their person. or In thcli
hand and are not permitted to leave them out
of their possession for single instant through
out the entire trip. which has to be accom-
plished without a break anywhere. So appre-
hensivc are the Governments Of attempts To
fathom their secrets that the English authori-
ties do not even place any confidence In the Sc
curity afforded by the maicarS conveying the
Indian mail from Calais to Brindisi. the doors
OF which are scaled by English postal officials
at Calais. and unsealed only by other british
officials at Brndsi. For the Government dis
patches are always conveyed apart from the
ordinary mail by special messenger, VINO
leaves London by the Indian mail every FRIDAY
night and does not rest until he delivers MS
bags to either the captain or tn the special mail
officer Of the Peninsula and Oriental liner at
Br!ndisi at o'clock on Sunday morning.
UNTRUSTWOKTIIY CIPnERs.
II may possibly suggest itself to the reader
that the use OF n secret cipher code might go
Tar to obviate the necessity OF employing special
messengers But In reply to this II need only be
said that there IL probably no cipher code in the
world that cannot sooner or later BE- read hy the
experts which almost every European Govern
mcut retains in its service for the purpose. and
who make n specially Of the art. Sometimes de-
cjphcring Is mere child's play requiring only the
exercise Of little logic and reasoning. sp,cial-
" IA "A part OF the key Is mostly contained in the
first or last word Of the message. At other times
tho indiscrction Of ENJOYS comes to the assist
ancc Of the Government TO which they are &C
credited. as. for instance. when an Ambass Tor
receives by wire a long dispatch In ,pher from
his State Department. and then on the following
day visits the Foreign Minister Of the country
IN the capital OF which he is stationed and com
munlcatcs to him almost verbatim the mes age
which he has received. Incidents OF this kind
are far more frequent than people might be
willing to believe. and II is needless to point cut
that they greatly facilitate the labors OF the
official decphcrers
AT nearly every meeting ~ the international
Postal Congress this question Of official fainper
Ing with the mails and with the kilograms
(Which everywhere In Europe form part ~ ,hc
State postal service) Genes up for discussion.
and invariably leads to the most solemn pro-
testatons on the part OF all the Government
delegates present to the effect that the Powers
which they represent are utterly Incapable CT
any such violation Of the most solemn ard
sacred stipulat!ons OF the Postal Convention.
None are positive In this respect than the
delegates Of Great Britain. And yet for the last
i,unn IL IN IlIv L.. leii -