New-York tribune., 1909-07-25
EXTRAORDINARY CLAIM BY GEORGE MEREDITHS EXECUTORS

invoked to arrest the disclosure of CORE
spondence il has been in vain. The most strik-
ing illustration of this condition Of affairs is to
be found In the fact that the courts seem to be
powerless even to prevent the revelation Of con-
hdentiai letters OF monarchs. royal personages
and government dignitaries of high rank, when
they contain official secrets and matters affect
ing the welfare Of the dynasty Of the state.
II was this that led Lord Esher. in July. 1907.
to address from his place in the House of
Lords a question to the Lord High Chancellor
as to the extent of the ground covered by the
so-called official secrets law of 1889. II was
understood at the time that he was making
this inquiry in behalf OF the King, not only be-
cause the latter had been extremely put out.
not to say embarrassed. by the indiscreet revela-
tions contained in the memoirs and printed cor
respondence Of certain English statesmen and
former ambassadors, but also because he had
become alarmed by the rumor that peeress OF
the realm, gifted with exceedingly clever
and somewhat vitrioc pen. about to pub
lish her "reminiscences and letters Estranged
until quite recently from the court and from
most OF her former friends she had given 1t 10
be understood that she would give free rein TO
her muse and as she for nearly quarter
of a century not merely one of the eaders OF
the English great world but also most IN
auential figure In political. official and court
fin A position to print confidential correspond
ence and &c reveal secrets the disclosure Of
which would have been. to say the least. eN-
trernelv disconcerting. The reply from the
Woolsack was very unsatisfactory II was =,
the effect that the official secrets law OF 1909
had been so carelessly dra al ~, ana vas 80
clumsy intricate and altogether uhpracIcal
that neither the bencn nor the government had
ever yentured to invoke it, not even IN the most
Cfc cfa
foreign governments.
Tord Fesber thereupon devoted his leisure dur
ing the Parliamentary recess to the drafting OK
q bill in the shape of an amendment TO TINS Id"
of 1889 with the object of extending IT'S pro-
visions in such d manner as TO cover al roy@i
correspondence and communications ana aiso
the correspondence ard comm nunicatlons OF per
sons then or formerly in the Official world an"
providing against all indiscreet revelations al
fecting the royal house of England ioreish
reigning families and the government. Lord
Esher. who is the deputy governor OF "ihdsor
Castle and the most influential member of the
Kings household, did not venture TO submit the
bin himself to Parliament, but induced Lord
Loreburn TO father IT. 1t was obviously the on
spring OF courtier eager to fulfl ms soV-
eregn's wishes rather than the work OF so
astute a lawyer the Keeper Of the KING
Conscience and reused such storm Of opposl-
tion not only the part Of Parliament but
also of the press and the public at large that 1t
had 10 be withdrawn.
CAUTION OF ENGLAND'S KING.
II is doubtful under the circumstances whether
IL any former correspondent Of Edward VII
were 10 take II into his head to publish letters
received from the latter measures could sue
cessfuly be devised to prevent their appear
ance. And that is why the King writes so very
little himself and why he adopts such elaborate
devices to prevent the papers and correspond
of the members of his household past and
present, from falling into strange hands. Among
the precautions instituted by the King is an un-
written law that the members OF the royal