Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-24
Under Police Protection.

William II acquiesced grudg1ngly.
1.-The responsibility is too great" con-
tinued NJ. Lepine, mot to demand my ut
most efforts. At the same time. 1 know
that 1 ought to respect your imperial mai
esty's freedom of movement. There will
have to be slight compromise. AS long as
your imperial majesty remains in Paris. at
least, l cannot but be accountable for your
safety. 1 cannot but tremble at the
thought of an indiscreet disclosure of your
presence. l will promise. nevertheless, that
not more than three of my most trusted
functionaries shall become cognizant of the
secret. 1t shall be their privilege to protect
your imperial majesty"
The emperor had too much generation for
duty to protest further. He saw that.
fl ON his point of view, the Paris project Of
police was absolutely correct in his atti-
tude He resigned himself to be protected
but" he insisted, mot personally con-
Quoted"
The treaty was made on this basis. and
for a week the three untirng poiciers Sc
lected by M. Lepine performed their duty
with perfect tact. In that time three Ger
mans, two Frenchmen and one Russian
were sent to the cooler to prevent their
Chatting" they having recognized the
august presence. Two others Of higher So
cial rank, both foreigners I believe, were
warned and "shadowed'' after the fashion
Of my friends own treatment. But for
these incidents, the incognito visit Of the
most dangerous visitor a Paris project of
police could have to entertain came off
william, strong in the experience Of at
least one other such secret visit. knew well
how to conduct himself; and, imperially
impatient as he might be, he never once
complained of his surveillance. Herr Rich
ter, commissary of the German sections of
the exhibition, was the only other party
taken into the secret. 1t is said that NJ.
Lepine took it on himself not to acquaint
the president of the republic or his ministry
with fact which would bring them rather
embarrassment than pleasure. They knew
nothing of the visit, officially or unoficially.
Williams Visit of 1850.
How much worry even the most unofficial
visit of William II is capable of causing
a French ministry may be imagined from
the now well-known events of the emperor's
trip to the exhibition in 1885, On that oc-
casion he was not so free. True, the visit
was secret one, but there were too many
| in the secret. The story goes that, in spite
| of the resentment caused in France shortly
before that time by his celebrated Frank
| fort DISCOURSE William insisted on visiting
the exhibition of 1889. He communicated
| his desire to the French ambassador at Ber-
| lin, who, much troubled, at first counseled
against 1t, and then begged that the thing
be done with the most absolute secrecy.
The only persons in France made ac-
quainted with the unwelcome facts were
President Carnot the ministers of foreign
affairs and of war and the director of the
surete generate. M. Cazelles, today a state
councillor. This high functionary desie
mated dozen special agents of the pre-
lecture Of police of Paris and his own staff
to watch over the imperial visitor whom
they took turns in accompanying six at
turn in his most Insignificant movements.
In Germany the emperor confided his in
| tentions to the captain of the Hohenzoll-
ern. to the grand chancellor of the empire
and the empress, and Immediately started
on with two friends and valet. While the