The Washington herald., 1910-10-09
SECRETS OF NATIONS
CLOSELY GUARDED.

SLO|LA~A ~ IAN ILL.,
One OF lse most fascinating phases of
international life is how secret news is
obtained and how it travels through the
underworld of diplomacy. SOvereigns.
more or less, all are secretive-for rea-
sons that are obvious-but none more so
than was queen Victoria, who guarded
zealously the secrets immured In Wind
sor Castle. never allowing documents 20
be examined. thus successfully preventing
the publication OF many a memoir or rev
elation OF value to historians.
So set was the late Queen upon this
course that she followed It even in her
personal affairs. thus depriving her con-
temporaneous world OF the true history
Of the courtship between her and Prince
Albert known as Prince Consort after
their marriage. And yet her own letters
reveal that her engagement to the prince,
usually declared 10 have been a case OF
a wife falling IN love after marriage,
proves to have been case of genuine
love at first sight
The Times surreptitiously secured the
first intelligence OF one OF the most
momentous events in England's modern
history-Sir Robert PeeIs conversion 10
free trade.
Sir Robert, at the time, really was al
the cross ways and did not know
which party 20 favor. lie seemed inclined
10 stick to the protectionists. on a GER
"a daf hos l. IL
cabinet officers by announcing his con
version TO the cause Of free imports.
When they recovered from their surprise
his colleagues resolved TO keep this secret
for a time. at least, at any cost But
that night at dinner a certain official
whispered the news 10 a lady sitting by
his side II was said then that this mem
Der OF the aristoeracy that very night
sold the news TO the Times. but there
was no proof still, the premature an
nouncement forced the hand Of the
British government
Germany particularly is prolific IN yield
Ing diplomatic surprises. not 10 speak Of
the present Kaisers erratic but otherwise
really harmless speeches
There is no other campaign about the
origin Of which there was and is so
much conjecture than the Franco-Germau
war OF 1901. Many accounts have been
given. but they all differ in some material
point. Bismarck. Of course, had the Sc
cret, and Ia his letter after his downfall.
published. perhaps. 10 spite the young
Emperor. he gave convincing" descrip-
ton Of the causes that led toaud precipi-
tated that terrible war Butt Kaiser.
perhaps aroused that the wen-preseryed
secret became public property retaIiated
with quite another story.
The two nations. never very friendly
neighbors. were at loggerheads over the
Spanish succession, one Of the mediatized
Hohenzollern princes being spoken Of IS
a candidate for the throne after the last
revolution following Queen Isabells's
misdoings.
Toward the close Of a somewhat breezy
correspondence between the two foreign
Offices, France definitely demanded"
Prince Leopolds retirement from the
candidacy and an apology Get il be
said right here that the prince actually
never was candidate. nor would he
have listened 10 any overtures coming
from the King OF Prussia. the two
branches being widely separated IN pol
tiles and religionl This message was
delivered 10 Bismarck. as Prussian for
eign minister, who after his success
against Austria and Hanover. was thirst
Ing for a trial Of strength with the
French ''archenemy" TO wipe out the in
suits inflicted upon Prussia by the first
Napoleon.
That telegram disappointed Bismarck.
He knew that war was being forced
upon Prussia. and yet the wording OF the
telegram was nothing If not polite II
was bellicose, and yet not enuogh so 10
cover the insult 1t really carried. for
Bismarck we'll knew that the court Of
the Tgiieries was aware that King WI
liam did not hold the key 10 the situa-
ton
The Iron Chancellor's blood boiled. II
must be said TO the great mans dis
credit that he deliberately omitted GER
tain words before giving the contents OF
the mote" 10 the Diet. which was IN
session. The result was 10 change
Frances message into a threat. which
the shrewd statesman, who knew his
Germans, still further aggravated By
shouting in the meeting of the Diet.
Wiz Deutschen fuerchten nur Colt al
LEM" Owe Germans fear only Godr0
The terrible result is history.
But the above Is only one side of the
story. While Bismarck was working for
war at Berlin. be had helpmeet al the
court Of the Tuileries in the person Of
the Empress Eugene She was a native
of Spain. a Countess de Montijo AID de
tested the Germans. She was determined
that no Teuton should ascend the throne
OF Spain, and at the Tuileries led the
clique" which worked night and day 10
give France the opportunity TO humble
the pride of Prussia, whose aged ruler
she sneeringly dubbed 'ie MARQUIS de
Brandenbourg," borrowing the quodlibet
from the words used by Louis " who
thus expressed his contempt for Frederic
the Great until the latter whipped the
French so badly at Rossbach during the
seYen-years' war.
A French historian records that on the
day that the first shot was fired al Spich-
eren Hoehen. Eugene. at the TuiIeries
gave expression 20 the terrible words
This Is my war;" How soon she had
occasion TO lamsnt her indiscretion!
II was not urFil 1895 that the German