New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-13
nn1rNr ARNIMs DOWNFALL.

Finally Of course, there was the case OF count
Arnim who while German Ambassador at farls
frequently received instructions from bismarck
that were Numerically opposed to those given
him In person by old Emperor William "heil
finally harassed into rendering his resignation
he removed from the archives several OF his own
letters as well as those which he had received
for the purpose Of showing to the Kaiser how
fn,nossible It was 20 reconcile the instructions
f his ma 1estv with those of his Chancellor The
disappearance Of these papers was at once COM
nunicated 10 Prince Bismarck by Baron HoI-
stein. now one OF the chiefs OF the Berlin For
eign Office, but who had been the confidential
secretary OF Count Arnim and for two years an
inmate Of his household and guest at his table
Bismarck. realizing the extent to which his own
position with the Emperor would be shaken il
the latter were to learn that he had been send
ing TO Count Arnim instructions opposed to
those Of his majesty, Immediately determined
upon the arrest and disgrace of the count. who
was not only a great favorite at court. but like
wise 1norganatic connection of the imperial
family.
Finding that the Emperor was reluctant TO
proceed to such extremities toward so distn-
g1Iished a servant Of the state for the removal
OF papers in which he might consider himself to
have had a sort of part proprietorship, mas
much as they were dispatches that he had either
received or sent, Prince Bismarck devised
story which may or may not have had some
foundation of truth. but the purpose Of which
was to show that the count had made use Of
state secrets in order to speculate on the Paris
stock exchange It was not until the prince
had furnished to his majesty more OF less au-
thentic proof in support Of this charge that the
imperial consent was given for the arrest of the
ex-arnbassador. The latter managed to get out
on bail and to escape to Switzerland where.
goaded to fury by the treatment which he had
received, especially by the police perquisition
Of his papers, and the indignity Of his arrest,
he proceeded 10 publish in the form OF pam
phet, entitled PRO Nihilo,' the dispatches and
confidential papers which he had removed from
the archives OF the German Embassy a Paris
ard which he had been accused OF stealing.
That. of course, sealed his doom and convinced
the old Emperor Of his guilt in respect to all
the charges brought against him by Prince Bis
marck.
To the best of my recollection Count Arnim
is the only ambassador or statesman Of modern
times who has been subjected to the indignity
Of imprisonment for the disclosure OF state,
secrets The latter taking them altogether. are
rather badly kept. especially in the Old World.
and for some strange reason men who have the
highest regard for the integrity OF their word
in private life lose that regard in politics. In
deed, the late Mr.. Gladstone, than whom
there was man more truly high minded or
possessed Of loftier principles. wont to
argue that it was permissible for a Cabinet
minister TO impart state secrets to his wife and
70 lis private secretary. Yet both ministers
ana members OF the Privy Council are sworn
''ot 70 reveal to a living soul what goes on be-
soid The closed doors Of the meetings Of the
O0olhet or Council. and private secretaries are
s1icOy excluded from the deliberations, al
'iioueh The perusal of the contents of the dis
pa'ch boxes of their respective chiefs must
necessarily furnish them with an inkling of the
subject under discussion.