Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-05-14
THE CHANCELLOR'S FALL

THE English ambassador In Paris
at this time was a close personal
friend of mine. Being at the moment
unattached to any foreign mission, !
was living here. and it was my custom
to dine every Sunday at the English
embassy. To this circumstance is
owing the salvation of Europe from
the most desolating war in history.
ION certain Sunday about the time
! have indicated, was dining at the
embassy as usual. During the meal
observed that my host was very dis
| tracted; and, as soon as 1t was over.
he rose up and, taking me by the arm.
led me into his private study. l at
once guessed what was coming, and,
while accepting a cigar, determined
that nothing should be extracted from
me respecting the negotiation l have
described, and of which M. Fleuriot
had kept me partly informed.
My dear baron he commenced,
you and / are old friends. We should
both be equally distressed IL war were
to break out between our two coun-
tries
Without doubt | replied, affecting
to consider the remark a mere chance
observation. Let us be thankful that
such an event is not in the least likely
to take place. And added to myself
Unless you refuse to give up Egypt
HE glanced at me with suspicion.
How far you are in the confidence
OF your foreign Office, he said, 4 mel.
Their know, nor do ! ask you to tell
me. desire to give you information,
not to receive it,
You are too good l murmured
more on my guard than ever.
hope, at the same time he went
on, that what have to say to you
may cause you to take action in what
believe to be the interest OF both
countries. / am sure that If you use
this information you will not allow
its source to be discovered.
That is understood, of course,
replied, beginning to be really inter
ested.
Thank you. Let me say at once
then, that / have reason to believe
that your government has recently
proposed to the court OF Berlin an of
fensive alliance against England, will
view to compelling us to evacuate
Egypt in your favor
Il was thunderstruck at the accu
racy of his information.
But, my lord, this is some chimera
delusion!' cried, affecting the utmos
J. incredulity. Such an idea is too ex
travagant for q feuilleton!'
Lord Soames smiled coldly.
} :" I have already said that / do no
] ask you to commit yourself, my dea
J baron, he replied. I will assume. /
} you prefer it, that ali this is news t,
you. But you have not yet heard VIVA
l wanted to tell you AS you know
I Great Britain has hitherto steadfastl,
refused to join the triple alliance 70
} fear OF being dragged by Germany int
7 a war against France. It is to you
interest. think you will admit, tina
r we should continue to hold aloof.'
! Il shrugged my shoulders withou
: expressing any opinion on this point
, Now pursued Lord Soames, w
| suddenly find ourselves placed in thi
{ dilemma. Prince Bismarck has In
: formed our ambassador In Berlin tina
he will accept, your proposal unles
} England accedes to the triple a1Iianc
: within week from today, and un
I dertakes to employ her navy in
! blockade of the French coast as 500
!. as war is declared
: II was overwhelmed. The revela
a ton of this atrocious duplicity on tn
: part of Bismarck completely stunneI
+ me. Knowing what / did of his char
:. acter, it was impossible to doubt tn
: truth of Lord Soames' disclosure. |
|, was evident that the whole of tn
9 negotiations with our foreign offic
q had been a deliberate ruse in order t
e obtain the means of discrediting us i
the eyes of Great Britain. It was tn
r Belgian trick OF 1870 over againl
s Il could have wept 1t was with tn
: utmost difficulty that / concealed m
= CONSERVATION from the keen eyes @
+ the Englishman.
/ You have been deceived. m
9 friend | answered, in a tone of grea
g confidence. That Bismarck shout
/ make such assertions does not SUI
) prise me in the least. But 1t Is a mer
, invention of his own, believe me.
n such thing had been on the carpe
am the first person with whom n
8 Fleuriot would have communicated
o Lord Soames listened to me wit
y an air of indulgence, as IL l had bee
II child.
d Again permit me to remind 20
It that am simply giving you a warnin
g for your own benefit he said I hay
n only to add that the prince has prom
r ised to show our ambassador the wrl
Of ten French proposal, signed by A
" Fleuriot, next Saturday. Unless yo
can reclaim that document by the
1t England win join the alliance, and wa
e will be declared within a fortnight
Is 1T was useless for me to make flu
a Their protests. They were wasted q
a. this man of ice.
If am obliged to you for yol
frierdliness.' l said. rising. No doul
n the whole story is some clumsy fabI
cation of Prince Won BisInarck's. whic
I'd it will be easy to disproye. If l shouI
u chance to meet M. Fleuriot, howeve
o. / Will inform him OF these SANDER,
y We returned to tine drawing-roor
and I chatted with Lady soames /,