Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-03-08

Friendly Powers Spy on Each Other
Spying goes on between nations, no
matter how friendly their relations,
says Pearson's Weekly. A govern
ment has as much to fear from the
inquisitiveness of an ally's secret
agent as from its bitterest foe. For
spying Is one Of the departments of
international business and as such no
sentimental considerations are allowed
to interfere with it.
P. w. was recently returning from
New York, and among his fellow pas
sengers was a young Japanese naval
officer. AS he was the representative
Of an allied power, no information was
withheld from him by his British fell
low passengers.
When we reached the Irish coast we
even assisted him in making out his
map Of the coast line. He marked
down this rock or bay, that fort or
creek, and everything he could observe
in detail.
We thought him a keen young naval
officer, gaining general information.
Besides, might we not one day be
fighting on behalf Of his own country?
Well, it is probable that the map he
so carefully made out Is now In the
files of either the French or German
governments. Not that the Japanese
fN he
was stolen from him. He was prob
ably strictly honorable, and gaining In
formation only for his own govern
ment. But that government, however
friendly to ourselves, is as eager to
get hold Of a secret regarding Britain's
defence as our bitterest foe.
For a secret is a negotiable article
in diplomatic circles. Japan's possess
ing a British secret means that she
has an article possessing a distinct
value-to somebody else. In exchange
for it she can secure something of vital
importance to herself, which money
could not honorably purchase.
Japan might have obtained Russian
secrets from France in times of peace,
if she paid the price. That price
would be really valuable secret about
Great Britain Of use of France should
she be at war with us.
Thus you would see the amazing
sight of two powers, exchanging with
each other secrets about their dearest
friends, for all the world like two la
dies at a tea party!
1t is not treachery, but merely bus
mess. Spies Of all nations encounter
risks-sometimes risks Of death-to
secure secrets for which their own
governments do not care a rap.
For instance, an Austrian traveller
suddenly makes his appearance at an
Indian frontier town. He is, Of course,
according to his own account, collect
ing specimens" of natural history in
those regions, and the general reader
might quite easily believe that.
After all, what, we reason, does Aus
tria care about our Indian frontier
Under no circumstances could she
make an attack there, as her frontiers
are thousands of miles away. and her
relations with Britain quite friendly.
Well, the Austrian traveller Is COL
lecting, not specimens" but details
as to our Indian frontier. to be hand
ed over to Russia, in exchange for
something else. What it is depends
on Austria's own requirements.
Probably she is very anxious to
know something about the Italian
frontier, which Russia has been able
to secure from-Spain. In exchange
for her Indian information, therefore,
Austria could obtain the needed secret.
In the same way British officers
have been interfered with by Germany
for too close observation Of the man
euvres of German troops. Why? Not
because Germany has the slightest
fear Of conflict with Britain on her
frontiers, but because she knows only
too we'll that any secret obtained by
us would become the property OF
France, should that power have any
thing valuable to give us in exchange
about-well, our dear friend, the
United States.