The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-24
An Important
Mission
1t InUoIUed the Very Ex-
istence of the Amer
lean Union
By F. A. mitchell

halI century ago Wnen the Strug-
gle for the American Union was going
on European nations showed them
selves very much concerned In the af-
fairs of the western hemisphere. Many
English for several reasons favored the
Confederate cause.
As for France, her part in 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 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 -, 1866 was written:
Not TO he opened for fifty years.
Ten years before the date for the
opening of this package my GRANDPA
theirs papers came into my possession
Ii Is needless to say that awaited tha
coming of April II, 1916, with impa-
tience. When it came round at exact
ly II o'clock midday tore off the COW
er to the package. This is what 1t
contained:
| propose to put in writing what is
doubtless the most important diplo-
matte event IN the history of the Unit
ed States. 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 1 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 a
very important mission, but before
committing it to you must explain
the situation.
las you know, the emperor has EN-
barked on his Mexican scheme. II
the federal government Of the United
States Is re.established over the seed
ed states the French will be Obliged
to leave the western hemisphere. II
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 ht
has made a proposition to England IL
intervene in America, with view t
establishing the independence of the
| Confederacy, and that England has
consented to join him has recently
come TO me- How | have obtained
this information il is not necessary
that you should know. You need only
be informed of the fact that France
! and England are about to issue john
acknowledgment of the independence
! of the Confederate States of America
and the next step will be to break tn,
| blockade.
There Is at present but one power
| that may be interested In defeating
| this project of France and England
| Sweden, Norway, Prussia, the German
states and fragmentary Italy are moi
| interested In tie western world, ant
| IL they were they are too small to hav,
| any effect there. Prussia Is a CROWN,
| power, but has made no move TOWARD
colonization or aggression in any form
at is but few years since Russi'
| suffered "a defeat by these two powers
| and she Is still smarting under tn,
| fall of Sebastopol and the failure o
the Crimean war. | have learned, toe
that the ear looks with jealousy upol
England's constantly increasing powe
on the sea He dreams. as all his pre-
decessors have been dreaming for cen
turtles. of securing an outlet 10 til
worlds waters through the Dardanelle
and making his people maritime ma
ton"
80
in thought. Presently he resumed:
Il wish you to be the bearer of IL
formation to the car of Russia of thi
move ON the part of France and Eng
land While II is not necessary tina
you should know how Ii came to m'
it is essential that you have proof c
what you are TO assert. Here" takin
up an envelope containing papers. "ar
documents that substantiate what 70
are TO say to the car"
He handed them TO me. and while
/ perused them he waited, endeavorin
to engage in other work, but | sa'
that he was engrossed with the affa
in question and could not divert b
mind to anything else When ha
finished he continued:
=, These papers are for no other ey,
than yours and the cars. You are n
to send them to him: you are TO d