The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-12-05
A
Diplomatic Secret
By EDWIN D. TUCKER

the affairs OF NeXlc0, which We're aD-
sorbing great deal OF attention, when
one OF them said:
IL have heard curious story about
Napoleon ILLS Mexican scheme re-
peated a number of times in different
forms. i wonder which is correct"
ado you refer" asked white headed
octogenarian. Ito the case Of how the
car headed of the French EMPEROR
81 do"
"Well, then, can give you the true
version of that story, for was directly
connected with what occurred.
81 was very young at the time. but
not too young to be connected with
the American legation at the court Of
st. James. One evening at a recep-
ton a member of the British cabinet
accosted me, though l had had no
introduction to him. and after a pre-
liminary conversation on ordinary top
les drew me into a small room where
we We're alone and said to me:
"'You have been mentioned to me as
a person fitted to be the repository Of
an important diplomatic secret-indeed,
to carry out an important diplomatic
move
"He then pledged me to secrecy, i'm
pressing me with the Importance CT
locking within myself what he was
about to say to me, after which he pro-
ceeded
sour good queen. with her usual
sense and foresight. is in favor of
permitting you Americans to settle
your quarrels among yourselves. The
constantly diverting the mind of the
various factions he rules from himself.
has some scheme with reference to
making Judgment somewhere IN
North America. He Is importuning us
to join him in Intervention with view
to separate the United States into two
sections. We do not wish to antago-
nize him by refusal. and we do not
wish to enter into any arrangement
with view to interfering between the
states.
"'There is a power which would
gladly block the emperor's game did
that power know that the game was
Matching. i refer to Russia. The czar
since the Crimean war does not love
France. and he does not love England.
We cannot join Russia In coalition
to prevent Intervention. Should the
car know that France is endeavoring
to induce us to join her In her pro-
posed scheme he would at once take
measures to prevent 1t. This is ex
actly what we should like. 1t would
render refusal Of Napoleon's request
needless and leave us to remain neu
trail In American affairs.
diplomatic secrets sometimes leak
out without any one being aware Of
where the leak is located. You and /
know exactly where this leak is. and II
must remain between you and me
alone
"'You except President Lincoln. OF
course?'
"'Of course l do not. There Is but
one person besides yourself who may
know it.
"'Mr. Seward?'
"'No; the car of Russia
"'The car! How can reach himT
"'That l must leave to you. Con-
sidering that you are member Of the
American embassy here. do not think
you should have much trouble
"'But my chief. the American am
bassadorr
"'He, too. must remain ignorant.
You must leave London without his
knowledge
"'But the proof for the car of the
truth of my story
"T will furnish you with that
81 left London the next morning be-
fore dawn armed with the proof that
had been promised. My mother was
at the time in Berlin. and forged a
telegram from her begging me to come
to her If expected to see her alive.
This telegram I showed to my chief
and was given leave Of absence.
did not go to Berlin. but did go to st.
Petersburg. On reaching the capital i
went to the minister Of foreign affairs.
showed him papers substantiating my
position with the American embassy at
London and informed him that l had
information concerning cabal to
interfere in the affairs of the American
republic, but that I was not permitted
to submit IT except to his majesty.
'"The war between the American
states was at that time engaging the
attention of the world. and the cZar
was only too glad Of information con.
corning it. He promptly accorded me
a private interview and listened to me
attentively till I had reached the end
Of my story, when he asked for my
proofs. | produced them. and he was
both surprised and convinced. He
asked me how I came by them. and l
refused to tell. That ended the inter
view.
Returning to London. I reported to
my chief that my mothers health was
much improved. and settled down to
my daily duties met the cabinet
member through whom the secret had
leaked ut function and In a few
words told him Of my mission. He ap-
parently did not expect that the czar
would intimate to me what he might
do in the premises
"There began to he n feeling among