New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-23

INSCRIPTIONS and designing confederates. he
was able 10 fabrcate memoranda and dis
patches which. when first published in fac
smile in the Partisan newspapers. almost con-
WINGED those acquainted with the handwriting
of Sir Thomas and OF Lord Dufern that the
documents printed were authentic. Neither
the Embassy nor the French Government was
able 10 say a word in refutation Of the charges
brought against the two English officials in
question. and the only way in which the French
police were eventually able to deal with the mat
ter was by inducing one Of the newspapers which
had purchased the forgeries 10 prosecute crimi-
naIIy the perpetrator thereof charges Of
obtaining money under false pretences, the affair
figuring in the annals Of crime under the head
ing OF the Norton forgeries"
But in spite OF the conviction OF the criminals.
the impression that Lord Dunerin had rendered
himself guilty Of precisely the same charges
brought by Dr. Wtte against DR.. Won Holleben
prevails 10 this day among the masses OF the
French people who, even IN commenting on his
death the other day. referred TO him in conse-
Quence thereof as having been the foe rather
than the friend Of their country.
Lord Duffern Immediately after this episode
made a clean sweep OF every French or foreign
servant at the British Embassy in Paris, re-
placing them with Englishmen. and this course
was likewise adopted at the German Embassy
on the banks OF the Seine. when Prince Munster
discovered the way that his waste paper basket
had been utilized in connection with the Dreyfus
case. But, judging from the experience 70
which DR.. Won Holeben has just been subjected.
It is dangerous to trust even ones own country
men, and the very fact that DR.. Witte, obvi-
Gus Of his obligations as a German citizen, is
making use Of the opportunities which he en-
joyed during his brief connection with the Ger
man Embassy at Washington TO injure the
latter in the eyes OF the American people. con-
stitutes one Of the very strongest reasons why
the public here should follow the example Of the
administration at Washington and treat his
stories with the contempt which they deserve.
The whole affair will probably have the effect
Of rendering not only every foreign mission at
Washington bur likewise all officials and public
men more careful even than heretofore about
placing any confidence whatsoever in persons
whom they employ merely temporarily, and who
as likely as not avail themselves of every op-
portunity during their engagement TO secure
possession of information which they can turn
to pecuniary account in INSCRIPTIONS man
ner after being discharged. And II will likewise
increase the caution observed in putting ones
signature to letters addressed to people who are
either strangers or whom one has reason 10
distrust The only documents which Dr. Wltte
appears to have are in the shape Of letters Of
bearing the signatures Of the German Ambas-
sador and of Professor Nunsterberg. of Har-
ward University. Now. If these gentlemen had
taken the precaution OF writing TO DIT White in
the third person instead OF in the first, the man
would not be to-day in possession Of their sigma
lures. OF course, it is more difficult to use the
third person in German correspondence than in
English, but still it can be done and in this
particular instance would have been Of much
toa
first person. the author Of the letter, even when
it is dictated, is bound in common courtesy to
afhx his signature thereto. this necessity is
tirely obviated when the missive is couched in
the third person. In the latter case not stroke
OF the authors handwriting need appear.
An INSCRIPTIONS man will not hesitate to use
letters written in the first person and signed by
official or prominent personages as credentials.
and for all sorts Of nefarious purposes. even
when the letters nothing more than
fusal to accord interview or to grant fnan-
ciaI assistance. Many are the ingenious tricks
devised to entrap great financiers, dignitaries
Of the State and of the Church into writing
over their signature even the most brief and
curt note solely for the purpose OF obtaining
their signatures and . sample Of ter hand
writing. In fact, many are the frauds which
have been perpetrated in this country Just in
this particular manner, frauds which might
have been averted had the letters sent to the
individuals guilty thereof been couched in the
third person.
1t is not discourteous TO use the third person
in correspondence. On the contrary il affords
the opportunity of being excruciatngy polite
which serves TO atone for the formality Of the
phraseology. Thus in England Edward VII fol-
lowing the example of his mother. the late
0ueen Victoria invariably corresponds With his