The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-03-18
A DIPLOMATIC
EPISODE
1t Occurred In Connection
With the War Between
the States
BY HUDSON E. EAsfoN
By HUDSON E. EAsfON

Everybody who knows anything of
the diplomatic history attending our in
ternal war knows that Napoleon III.
endeavored TO induce England to join
him in intervening and putting an end
to the struggle by a division of the
states. 1t is equally well known that
the car of Russia, not content with
neutrality, said to the ambassador of
France, Tell your master that If he
interferes in the American civil war 1
will strike him" At the same time he
showed his readiness to stand by the
federal government by sending a feet
to New York
This Is 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 4 game usually
remain secret. True, now and again
some one of these moves leaks out, but
| it never bears the official stamp of
! truth. The following episode is a case
| In point:
One day the American minister in St
Petersburg called an official Of the en-
bassy into his private office and said
| to him:
II have just come from an audience
with the car. He has told me that he
has sent word to the emperor of
France that he will not permit the dis
memberment of the American republic
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-
sition. England once committed can
not well withdraw, and England and
France together will be too strong for
Russia, especially as the matter would
be fought out on the water. 1t is of Vi
tai Importance that the British govern
ment be at once advised of the cars
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
it exists right here IN st. Petersburg
as it does in Paris. The French am
bassadOr will endeavor to keep the
English government in ignorance of
the cars stand as long as possible, so
that her master may make an English
alliance for the purpose Of intervention
before the cars intention is known in
Downing street.
I'VE are watched by French spies.
Our mail in going through the Russian
post IS watched 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
enable you to get to London with your
message, If possible do not sleep on
the way unless you are guarded. Re
member the union of the states de
bends upon your success"
l. That same evening the official, whom
we shall call Roger Coleman, entered
q I railway station in st. Petersburg and
= was making his way to q westbound
n train when 4 railway official. with &
IL This way, sir" led him to coach
opened a door and put him in. There
was but one vacant seat, and as sooI
rs Coleman had filed it the official shut
e the door and locked it.
e At the first stop most of those who
/ were in the compartment with Cole
y man got out, and at the second station
vacant 6AceD
Q one occupied by young girl. Severa
# persons, seeing that there were onl.
n two persons in the compartment. start
ed to enter it, but they were told by al
r, official standing by the door to go t
another coach. Some time before tn
e train moved on he shut the door ant
- locked it.
The light in the coach being poor
,e Coleman folded his arms, closed hi
n, eyes and leaned his head back on tn
p cushion. He had no intention of goin
II to sleep. He was simply thinking o
u the journey before him and wonderin
how he would be interfered with if a
all. For some time he sat perfect
mOtiOnless. Then between his eyelid
he saw the girl, who sat on the othe
side of the coach and opposite him, be
gin to look at him. Suspecting her, b
began to breathe like a sleeper an
finally to snore. Then she reached fo
his travelling bag, which he had place
On the seat beside him. Coleman sno
ed Justify. The girl opened the bal
and her face lighted up with pleasm
at seeing a passport lying on the yer
top of some toilet articles. Withdraw
ing it, she thrust it in her bosom, shl
the bag and, leaning back in her sea
pretended to sleep.
Instead of endeavoring to prevent tt
theft, Coleman snored on. And this
what he said to himself: ''That bein
1 one Of several passports I have wit
ne, shall not be delayed. by it's los
was guided to this compartment /
railroad official or man disguise
IS a railroad official In the pay of Il
French ambassador, the compartmel
having been previously packed by IL
same person with those who held tic
ITS for the first and second stations
ly the route. This girl was to be lie
st slone with me to steal my passport"