Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-06-06
A DIPLOMATIC
EPISODE
1t Occurred In Connection
With the War Between
the States
By HUDSON q. EASTON
By HUDSON q. HAsToN

Everybody who knows anything Of
the diplomatic history attending our in
trrnnl war knows that Napoleon III.
endrnvored to induce England to join
him In intervening and putting an end
to the struggle by division Of the
states 1t is equally well known that
the ear Of Russia. not content with
neutrality. said to the ambassador of
France. ''Tell your master that IL he
Intel fcres In the American civil war
will strike him" At the same time he
showed his readiness to stand by the
federal government by sending a feet
Ia New York.
This IL history. or rather a synopsis
OF the diplomatic history Of that time.
But In diplomacy, while the results
come out. the moves on the chess
board that go to make game usually
rcmain secret. True, now and again
nome one Of these moves leaks out, but
II never bears the official stamp of
truth The following episode is case
In point:
One day the American minister in st.
Petersburg called I'M official Of the en-
hnssy into his private office and said
10 him:
II have just come from an audience
with the cZnr. He has told me that he
has sent word to the emperor of
France that he will not permit the dis
Of hs, A panarIaltn
by European interference. But the
car fears that Napoleon will induce
England to join him In intervening be-
fore the latter learns of the cars po-
siuon. England once committed can
not we'll withdraw, and England and
France together will be too strong for
RUSSIA. especially as the matter would
be fought out on the water. It is Of VI
tai Importance that the British govern
nIent be at once advised OF the czar's
position, and l wish you to carry an
official communication to that effect.
warn you that that fox, Napoleon, has
the best spy system In the world, and
II exists right here In st. Petersburg
as 1t does In Paris. The French am
bassador will endeavor to keep the
English government in ignorance Of
the cars stand as long as possible, 30
that her master may make an English
alliance for the purpose of Intervention
before the cars intention Is known in
Downing street.
I'VE IRE watched by French spies.
Our mail In going through the Russian
post Is wntched by Russian officials in
the pay Of the French ambassador.
There is no avenue that Is not spied
upon. Your going will be known, and
only the most unceasing vigilance will
message. II possible do not sleep on
the way unless you are guarded. Re-
member the union Of the states do
ponds upon your success"
That same evening the official, whom
we shall call Roger Coleman, entered
n railway station In st. Petersburg and
was making his way to westbound
train when railway official, with a
This way. sir" led him to coach,
opened n door and put him in. There
was but one vacant seat, and us soon
rs Coleman had filled It the official shut
the door and locked 1t.
At the first stop most OF those who
were IN the compartment with Cole
man got out. and at the second station
the seats were all left vacant except
one occupied by young girl. Several
persons. seeing that there were only
two persons In the compartment, start
ed 10 enter II, but they were told by an
official stumbling by the door to go to
another coach Some dme before the
trnin moved on he shut the door and
locked IT,
The light In the coach being poor,
Coleman folded his arms, closed his
eyes and lenned his head back on the
cushion. He had no intention Of going
to sleep He was simply thinking OF
the Journey before him and wondering
how he would be interfered with IL at
all. For some time he sat perfectly
mOtiOnless Then between his eyelids
be saw the girl, who sat on the other
side Of the coach and opposite him. be-
gin to look at him. Suspecting her, no
began to breathe like a sleeper and
finally to snore. Then she reached for
his travelling bag. which he had placed
on the seat beside him. Coleman snor-
ed Justify. The girl opened the bag,
and her face lighted up with pleasure
at seeing a passport lying on the very
top OF some toilet articles. Withdraw
ing 1t. she thrust II in her bosom, shut
the bag and, leaning back In her seat,
pretended to sleep.
Instead Of endeavoring to prevent the
theft, Coleman snored on. And this is
what he said to himself: "That being
one OF several passports have with
me. shall not be delayed by its loss.
! was guided to this compartment by
n railroad official or a man disguised
MS railroad official In the pay Of the
French ambassador, the compartment
having been previously packed by the
same person with those who held tick
cts for the FIRST and second stations on
the route This girl was 10 be left
alone with me TO steal my passport"
Az the next station the girl left the
coach. and Coleman, being alone In the
compartment and learning from the
guard that the train did not stop again
for an hour, got little sleep. After tho
next stop there was none TIL the train
reached wilma, and since no one got In
with Coleman he slept til reaching