The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-02-27
to carry out. an important diplomatic

move
"He then pledged me to secrecy, i'm
pressing me with the Importance c,
locking within myself what he wat
about to say to me. after which he pro
ceeded:
"'Our good queen. with her usual
sense and foresight, is in favor OF
permitting you Americans to settle
your quarrels among yourselves. The
emperor Of the French. who must be
constantly diverting the mind Of the
various factions he rules from himself
has some scheme with reference ia
making Il Judgment somewhere IN
North America. He is importuning us
to join him in Intervention with q view
to separate the United States into two
sections. We do not wish to antago.
nfze him by a refusal. and we do not
wish to enter into any arrangement
with a 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. 1 refer. to Russia. The czar
since the Crimean war does not love
France, and he does not love England.
We cannot join Russia in a 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 a refusal Of Napoleon's request
needless and leave us to remain neu-
trail in American affairs.
diplomatic secrets sometimes leak
out without any n being aware of
where the leak is located. You and l
know exactly where this leak Is, and 1t
must remain between you and me
alone
"'You except President Lincoln. Of
coursey'
"'Of course l do not. There is but
n person besides yourself who may
know it,
"'Mr. Seward?'
"'No; the car of Russia
""The car! How can I reach himY
"That I must leave to you. Con-
sidering that you are a member Of the
American embassy here. I do not think
you should have much trouble
"'But my chief. the American am
bassador?'
"'He. too. must remain ignorant.
You must leave London without his
Knowledge
"'But the proof for the zar Of the
truth Of my story?
"'I will furnish you with that
II 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 I forged a
telegram from her begging me to come
to her If I expected to see her alive.
This telegram I showed to my chief
and was given a leave Of absence. ]
did not go to Berlin. but I did go to st.
Petersburg. On reaching the capital /
went to the minister Of foreign affairs.
showed him papers s~ubstantiating my
position with the American embassy at
London and informed him that l had
information concerning a cabal to
interfere in the affairs Of the American
republic. but that I was not permitted
to submit it except to his majesty.
1.-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. 1 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 at a function and in a few
words told him Of my mission. He ap-
parently did not expect that the car
would intimate to me what he might
10 in the premises!
There began to be a feeling among
the members Of the diplomatic corps
at London that some scheme would
soon be inaugurated in the way of In
Prevention in America. The rumors
were presently verified by the ARRIVAL
of an ocean steamer bringing the news
Of a Russian feet having entered New
York bay"
Watehful Nsiahbors.
You may shut your eyes to your own
faults, but the neighbors refuse to do
likewise.-Chicago News.