The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-19
An Important
Mission
1t inUoiUed the Very Ex-
istence of the Amer
lean Union
By F. A. mitchell

IL
fairs Of the western hemisphere. Many
English for several reasons favored the
Confederate cause
As for France, her part i'm American
affairs was of far greater Importance
than that of any of the others. But
here begins my story. which will per-
NIT one TO tell who mingled in the
events which concerned her. My grand
father. then a young man of twenty
three. was attached TO the American
legation at Paris fell heir TO his
papers. On one package sealed with
the seal of the United States and dated
April IL. 1866. was written.
Not to lie opened for fftt years.
Ten years before the date for the
opening of this package my grandpa
Tiers papers came into my possession.
Ii is needless 10 say that | awaited the
coming of April L.. 1916. with impa-
thence. When it came round AT exact
ly II O'Clock midday tore off the COW
er to the package This is what it
contained.
| propose to put in writing what is
doubtless the most important diplo-
matte event III the history of the Unit
ed States. 4 member of the embassy
of the United States at Paris. have
been concerned in this event. and
desire that my descendants shall have
an opportunity to know of this fact
There is no designating the life of a
diplomatic secret. but | presume In
half century all the parties concern
ed In the matter will have passed away
and there will be no necessity for Its
further keeping.
One morning when | was engaged on
my chiefs correspondence he sent for
me to come to his private room. and
when | entered he gave orders to
the attendant to admit no one till fur
Their orders: then. locking the door. he
motioned to seat beside him at his
desk and said to me:
II am about to intrust you with n
very important mission. but before
committing it to you must explain
the situation.
"As you know, the emperor has emf
barked on his Mexican scheme. If
the federal government of the United
| States is established over the secej-
ed states the French will be obliged
| to leave the western hemisphere. If
| the emperor can bring about the es-
adjustment of the Confcderacy he will
| not only face divided North America,
but will secure the friendship of the
| southern people.
"A knowledge of the fact that he
has made proposition to England to
intervene in America. with view to
establishing the independence of the
| Confederacy, and that England has
| consented to join him has recently
| come to me. How | have obtained
! this information 1t is not necessary
| that you should know. You need only
be informed of the fact that France
| and England are about to issue joint
acknowledgment of the independence
| of the Confederate States of America.
! and the next step will he to break the
| blockade.
| There is at present but one power
that may he interested In defeating
this project of France and England
| Sweden. Norway, Prussia. the German
states and fragmentary Italy are not
Interested in the western world. and
| if they were they are too small to have
| any effect there Prussia is II growing
! colonization or aggression in any form
1T is but a few years since Russia
suffered n defeat by these two powers
and she is still smarting under the
fall of Sebastopol and the failure OF
the Crimcan war have learned. too
that the ear looks with jealousy upon
England's constantly increasing power
on the sea. He dreams. as all his pre-
decessors have been dreaming for cen
turtles, of securing an outlet to til,
worlds waters through the Dardanelles
and making his people maritime ma
ton
The minister paused and seemed lost
in thought. Presently he resumed:
II wish you to be the bearer OF in
formation to the car of Russia OF thi.
move on the part of France and Eng
land. While II is not necessary tha
you should know how it came to me
1t Is essential that you have proof o.
what you are to assert. Here" takin.
up an envelope containing papers. ''ar,
documents that substantiate what yoJ
are to say to the ear"
He handed them TO me. and while
perused them he waited. endeavorin,
to engage i'm other work. but | saw
that he was engrossed with the affai
i'm question and could not divert hi
mind to anything else. When ha,
finished he continued:
: These papers are for no other eye
than yours and the cars. You are no
to send them TO him: you are to de
liver them in person or not at all
When he has finished reading then
you are To say to him that they hav
been intrusted to You for his inspec
4 i.,s 1.