The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-03-12
My diplomatic
Mission
1t Was My First and
My Last
By F. A. mitchell

4
/ am the daughter Of an American
admiral When my father was retired
he joined us in Washington, where
we lived. At his death, his income
being cut off, found it necessary to
do something to add to the small In
come of my mother and was given q
clerkship in the navy department, but
the salary was small, and l confess
/ looked forward to the humdrum life
before me with dislike.
| Notwithstanding our limited re
sources maintained my position III
society. Washington does not suffer
socially from commercialism as other
American cities was invited just as
often after my entrance upon my clerk
| ship as before. Indeed, I occupied a
| better social status than many newly
rich people who, having suddenly ac-
quired wealth, settled In Washington
to spend it.
| One evening during a reception at
the White House the wife of a mem
Der of the Russian diplomatic corps
sought me out and drew me away from
the throng for a chat. She gradually
led the conversation upon myself and
asked me how l would like to enter
the diplomatic service. Upon asking
her what she meant she explained that
diplomacy was synonymous with chi
canery. There was a constant effort
between the diplomats of the world to
get possession of each others secrets
and thus forestall action. l was inter
ested, and the lady proceeded to tell
me that women were usually mixed
up in these affairs and were relied on
principally by their husbands to ex-
tract information from their diplo-
matte rivals. Then, after pledging me
to secrecy, she told me that the Rus
sian embassy was at that time In want
Of an attractive woman to obtain a
secret from a diplomat and that she
would be paid literally for the service
rendered
OF course the lady was sounding me
to learn if l would undertake the mat
ter l neither accepted nor declined,
leaving her, intending to think 1t over.
/ did think 1t over and came to de-
cision that may be considered peculiar.
l determined that would not dishon-
or my fathers name by becoming a
spy; but, being infatuated with the
idea of swimming in that undercur-
rent of duplicity that had been men
I n no
but not for pay. l had an object In
view that concerned my own individ-
ual self far more than Russia. When
had made up my mind called on
the lady who had been given the com
mission to employ me and told her
was ready to listen to a proposition.
l dare say that this may be consider
ed whipping conscience around the
stump, but at the time was not aware
Of doing anything dishonorable. l was
employed by the Russian embassy-no
particular person in it was specified
to get secret from the secretary of
legation Of Great Britain. 1t was sus-
pected by the Russians that England
was making a secret treaty with the
sublime porte. Russia has always been
at issue with the other European pow
ers as to Turkey, and ever since the
Gar Nicholas l. was outwitted by the
British minister, just previous to the
Crimean war, Russia has been eager to
get even with England by some sharp
diplomatic move. | was therefore en-
ployed to draw this secret from Ed
ward Claiborne, who would surely be
cognizant of it, who had chosen diplo-
macy as profession and was expect
ing soon to be raised TO the rank of
ambassador
At the next important social func.
ton, given by the secretary Of state, a
member Of the Austrian embassy asked
permission to present his friend Ed
ward Cathorne. What the Austrian
had to do with the matter / did not
know. Evidently he was either In some
way connected with the plot or was be-
ing made tool of. That was nothing
to me, but ! experienced peculiar
sensation Of pleasure at Icing launch
ed in the whirlpool Of diplomatic chi
canery. l graciously permitted the in
reduction and found Mr.. Claiborne
very agreeable. Indeed, he was of the
best type Of English gentleman, not no
BILE. but well connected at home and
in every way desirable. l refrained at
this first meeting from anything con-
nected with the work had undertak-
en- | simply endeavored to make my
self as agreeable as possible to him.
saw at once that he was an intellectu-
al man, and | treated him accordingly
that Is, talked Of anything but
weighty matters. Girls make a mis-
take In thinking that men of depth
wish deep women for companions. One
might as well expect lawyer to talk
law for amusement. However, / per-
mitted Mr.. Claiborne to do most Of the
talking, leaving him to chat as he lik-
ed Small talk is all that can be in
troduced at social functions anyway
Mr.. Claiborne asked permission to
call upon me, which was, of course,
granted. We occupied the same house
as when my father lived, two story
lGick near - circle. and it had in ii
al the attractiveness of simplicity. My
visitor told me during the evening that
he would sail for england on leave of
absence the next week. | told him that
! was about to go abroad, and by com
pairing notes it turned out that / had
engaged my passage on the same
steamer on which he had engaged his
that is. | knew my friends of the
Russian embassy would do my bidding
In the matter. Mr. Claiborne seemed
very much pleased to have my compa-
ny on the voyage and offered his moth
ers and sisters' hospitality during my
stay in England.
was offered passage across the
ocean and ample funds for other ex-
penses by my employers, but Mr.. Ca
thorne knew that I was not able to
travel extensively so chose one of the
poorest staterooms and declined to ac-
cept anything from the Russian en-
bassy until l had finished my work.
Fortunately | had enough for the pur-
pose saved from my salary. 1 offered
to resign my position In the navy de
partment, but on account of my ia
theirs services was given leave of
absence. l learned afterward that
those who sent ME on my mission were
much puzzled at my declining to be fur
nished with funds. But they contin-
ued to be puzzled till they heard def
nitely from me later, for l gave them
no satisfactory explanation. l also
learned that from this time they began
to doubt me and took measures to get
the information they desired through
other parties.
Mr.. Claiborne was devoted to me on
the voyage. He talked about every
thing except diplomacy, on which he
maintained a rigid silence. l did not