The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-10-15

bennett but I am afraid he is DELHI
erately keeping away"
Cut off Paris, then" Tring d.
rected. do everything you can to
find the French Ambassador. He
may have been sent for, but it IS
doubtful whether he can have left
the house yet.
HE must be found, Atkinson.
Do you understand that? There
was always a chance of serious
trouble if anything leaked out be-
fore tomorrow. Seems to me we've
run up against it,
II understand perfectly" the
young man declared, hurrying out
of the room.
The Premier, cool and grave,
led Matresser aside.
Il sent for you," he said, "be-
cause I am anxious to know
whether you will act once more in
the capacity of-shall I call it
envoy extraordinary - from st.
JameS'S?"
IT am willing to do anything T
can, sir"
will you leave for Paris or
Rambouillet tonight?"
Certainly. If Heston can give
me plane I can be there at day.
break"
You will have a disagreeable
task" the Premier warned.
ut was not exactly child's play,
sir, in East Africa"
you will have to stand up to a
very excitable man and, if neceS-
sary, you will have to tell him
why we did not dare to trust him"
Il think I understand the situa-
ton. sir, except for one point"
Matresser said. THAT, must con-
feSs, puzzles me-"
GO on"
"Why was full disclosure not
made to the French Cabinet last
night? I understand that that
was the arrangement"
PLANS GO AWRY
"A very serious interference with
our plans arose." the Premier con.
fided. How the news was kept
out Of the evening papers cannot
imagine.
"SymonS here, with IS CORE
Spondents in Paris, knew nothing
Of it. You read of the crashing
of the French plane near Bou-
logne?"
"Of course. All three passengers
killed, weren't they?"
The Premier nodded.
"The unidentified one was
Somerby."
"What-Lord Somerby?"
Lord Somerby, our Ambassador
to France" the Premier groaned.
Not one of us had the slightest
idea that he was travelling by that
plane.
I'm afraid there was something
little unuSual-but never mind
that now. He was on the plane,
burned to death and his papers
with him. His appointment with
the French Premier was never
kept.
mot a soul at our Embassy there
knew what had happened to him.
Our special wire to Paris has
been cut on the French side"
MatreSSer was truly aStounded,
But what made Somerby travel
by that plane?" he demanded.
An act of idiocy," the Premier
said gravely. He has paid for it
with his life. 1t is for us to try
to pull things straight again if we
can.
Your plane is waiting at Hes
ton. Matresser. You must reach
Lacheur and Desselin before
dawn, If you have. to break into
their houses. If you don't, we
shall be at war with France by
midday"
IN do what can, Sir" Matres.
ser answered.
The British envoy extraordinary
paused in some WEAKNESS. BY
means of cunning, tact, princeIy
largesSe and Stoical perseverance,.
he had forced his way into an all
night conference between the
Premier of France and his Score.
tary for Foreign Affairs, but it
seemed to him that he had never
found so unreSponSive an auditor
as this stiff, gray.bearded and
gray-mustached, Stockily built lit
tie mantle Premier.
LONG CONFERENCE
II trust" Matresser wound up,
that you have now, sir, a clearer
of this matter.
You will realize, of course, that
everything would have been put
before you in a more statesman
like manner many hours ago, but
for the unfortunate accident to
the plane in which Lord Somerby
was travelling"
The conference which was being
held between the three men in a
bureau of the Quai
d'OrSay had commenced at three
O'Clock in the morning and had
lasted more than two
hours.
There was Monsieur Henri
Lacheur, Premier of France at
that moment but only two months
before a dresser of calf skin in
Orleans, and Monsieur CASTOR
DeSselin, who had held the post
of Minister for Foreign Affairs
half a dozen times during his life
time and who had now been hur.
riedly recalled to office.