Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-30
Secret Service Officials Employed in
ALI Big Capitals,
KEEP THEIR GOVERNMENTS POSTED
Do Many Kinds of Work in Many
Different Ways.
MOLD ERS OF OPINION
Copyright, 1901, by Stephen Austin.)

Copyright. 1901 by Stephen Austn.)
Written for The Evening Star by Stephen Austin.
Moving in the most brilliant and the most
Intellectual circles of society in every great
capital of the world there are certain
number OF men and women. foreigners OF
distinction. plying a strange, unnamed.
but very profitable trade. They are the
secret, paid agents of their respective gov
ernments. Of1ciaIly, they are not recog-
nized as diplomats by the country they
serve: much less by the country In which
they live. Yet they are doing liplomatists'
they live. Yet they are doing dip1omatists'
wages. They would Indignantly resent the
name spy" Yet in return for their hand
some salaries they keep their home gov
eminent infinitely posted on all the under
currents Of political movements concerning
1t In the capitals in which they are estab-
lished. They represent In fact. each to his
own fatherland. unofficial, highly
munerated diplomatic service, plus an elab-
crate agency of what might be called high
class espionage. They are backstairs am
baSsadors and drawing room spies.
To make clear the nature of this peculiar
profession take the case of the original
secret service agent. For many years after
the Crimean war. nihilist refugees were re-
cefved with open arms in London drawing
rooms: English poets. like Swinburne, who
was then passionate republican. celebrat-
ed nlhilist 'heroism" in ringing verse. This
disposition raging all over England did not
by any means suit the book of the Peters
burg cabinet. Heads were laid together in
the Winter Palace to consider the situa-
ton. the old czar himself taking part in
the deliberations Of the council of the
states. Soon after there arrived in Lon
don Russian lady Of great intellectual
power and social charm. who brought let
tiers from grand dukes and statesmen Of
Russia: opening to her the most exclusive
doors In England. This was the now IA
nous Madame Novikoff. She was charged
with the task Of revolutionizing English
opinion toward Russia-and she did 1t. 1t
Is said that Madame Novikoff has never re-
ceived cent for her political work. That
may be So But she it was that created the
profession Of unofficial diplomacy out of
which hundreds Of her successors have
made fortunes.
Securing an Introduction.
The system devised by the brilliant Rus
sian rests upon three central facts, the
persuasive power of the salon, the immense
publicity and influence Of the press and the
leverage which has the lecture platform as
Its fulcrum. The persons charged with Sc
cret service. such as Madame Novikofr is
stiH performing, all proceed by the same
means. Their government procures them
letters which insure their immediate ac-
ceptance by the very best circles Of the
capital In which they are to work. The
letters of presentation, of course, make no
mention Of any political object in the new
comer's residence in the capital. They are
simply ordinary social credentials.
Armed with these documents our unofn-
cial diplomatist lays siege to society. Well
dressed, witty, If man distinguished look
ing. IL a woman beautiful; giving handsome
entertainments. figuring at every society
function. and paying up like little man
when there is question of some public
subscription, our friend gradually gains a
sure footing in the social life of the capital.
Presently our unofficial ambassador has
come to be recognized as authority upon
the affairs OF his country. People appeal
to him for interesting new facts. for ex-
plantations of events taking place there, for
personal Impressions Of public men, states
men, or OF the monarch Of his country,
whose acts are being perhaps unfavorably
commented upon.
How He Does His Work.
Let us suppose that our friend is charged
with the social secret service work of
Austria. There is. perhaps, story going
the rounds which represents the old en-
peror's personal character In an unpleasant
light. Or, perhaps. the journals are blaz-
oning "scare-heads' about the UBIQUITOUS
treatment Of Polish villages by the CEN
trail Austrian administration. The Austrian
ambassador can do little nothing in
such matters; people in society cannot with
propriety even mention them in his pres
ence. If he. should say anything indirect
ly to defend his sovereign or his govern
ment it is necessarily taken prejudiced
statement.
But our unofficial diplomat at the head of
his ultra-chic dinner table, in the salon af
ter dinner and wherever he goes unobtru-
sively takes or makes opportunity to ex-
plain matters. the subject being one on
which naturally he is especially well in
formed. He will begin by telling amusing
stories about the court balls at Vienna.
then pour out gallons of lively gossip about
the ways of the emperor, showing, as if in
cfdentally, the bluff old autocrats fine ma
ture. his good heart, his popularity with
the people Or, If some one has asked
about the treatment Of the Poles, he will
perhaps deplore certain injustces that
have been committed, but will go on to
argue with ingenious appearance Of candor
and sympathy that the Poles are, after all.
a menace to the unity and prosperity of
the dual empire, that they are CONNER
cialiy rascals, and utterly undeserving OF
respect.
All this talk. frightened with picturesque
anecdote and made effective by a winning
manner, will set up current of sympathy
for the emperor, or for the imperial admin
istration, among all who hear It. These
will include members Of the cabinet, sena-
tors congressman, judges political thinkers
writers of books and journalists. The Ieaven
cleverly introduced. works powerfully, par
ticularly through the press
Yields Great Influence.
Nine. Novikoff Is one Of the most skillfuI
Of manipulators of newspaper opinion.
Journalists. of the serious order, the men
who write the important political editorials
and pontificate in the monthly reviews, are
unfailing at her receptions. They call to
get from her what is called in Fleet street
the picturesque strokes for their articles.
And she supplies them skillfully that
often violent anti-Russian comes away
half convinced that the car Is democrat.
that Siberia Is paradise and that the pro-
cess of being ''knouted" Is little less I'M
comfortable than that Of taking a Turkish
BATH
Besides influencing journalists, Nine. Nov
ikoff writes herself. Nearly all the papers
in England and not a few. In America have
had her signed articles whenever Russia
has been Oh the tapis. Impossible to refuse
such lively well-informed. novel matter"
mutter the editors at their desks. And so
they run 1t into their journals or magazines,
labelling 1t, perhaps, "a point of view" But
the point of View Is taken as the whole
truth by hundreds of readers: public opin-
ion. again. is nodded. as clay in the hands
of the potter.
Then there Is the lecture platform, a DO
tent pulpit. China Is getting some lecfnr.,