Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-06-22
An Important
Mission
1t InUoIUed the Very Ex-
istence of the Amer
lean Union
By F. A. mitchell


Half a century ago when 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 l 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 II, 1866. was written:
mot to be opened for fifty years."
Ten years before the date for the
opening of this package my GRANDPA
Tiers papers came into my possession.
1t is needless to say that awaited the
coming of April IL, 1916, with impa-
tience When 1t came round ut exact
ly ~ 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. a member of the embassy
OF the United States at Paris, I 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
diplomatic secret, but | presume in
half d 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
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 1t to you I must explain
the situation.
"As you know, the emperor has en-
barked on his Mexican scheme. II
the federal government of the United
States is re-established over the seced-
ed states the French will be obliged
to leave the western hemisphere. II
the emperor can bring about the es-
adjustment of the COnfederacy 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 q view to
establishing the independence Of the
Confederacy. and that England has
consented to Join him has recently
come to me. How I have obtained
this information II 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 be to break the
p 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 not
interested In the western world, and
II they were they are too small to have
any effect there Prussia is a growing
power. but has made no move toward
colonization or aggression In any form.
1T Is but a few years since Russia
suffered defeat by these two powers,
and she Is still smarting under the
fall of Sebastopol and the failure OF
the Crimean war. I have learned, too,
that the car 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 the
worlds waters through the Dardanelles
and making his people a 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 czar Of Russia of this
move on the part of France and Eng
land. While II Is not necessary that
you should know how 1t came to me- |
It is essential that you have proof OF |
what you are to assert. Here" taking |
up an envelope containing papers. ARE
documents that substantiate what you |
aro In CAV M the cZar"
He handed them to me, and while | |
perused them he waited, endeavoring |
to engage In other work, but I saw |
that he was engrossed with the affair |
In question and could not divert his |
mind to anything else. When I had
finished he continued:
These papers nre for no other eyes
than yours and the cars. You are not
to send them to him; you are TO do.
liver them In person or not at all
When he has finished reading them
you are to say to him that they have
been intrusted to you for his inspec-
ton, but not his possession. He will
not keep them after you have assured
him OF this"
Having thus posted me as TO what
had to do the minister dismissed
me. and the same afternoon started
for Russia On reaching st. Petersburg
avoided the American embassy. de-