The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-05-07
GIVE
NEW FACTS ON
'76DIPL0MACY
Old State Secrets Brought
to Light by Chemists
Labors
BY C. FREDERICK MULLEN
Urited Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staff Correspondent
NEW HAVEN, Conn, May 7.
| (UP). - Diplomatic messages of
the 18th century, knowledge OF
the contents of which has been
held secret by superimpOsed pen
markings and invisible light, at
last have been brought to light
by Dr.. /. Bendikson, of the Henry
f. Huntington Library at San Ma
rino, Cal.
The veil from such missives has
been lifted through the use OF
modern chemistry and photogra-
ply by Bendikson, who has re-
vealed his discoveries in the
Franco American Review.
Focusing his search for diplo-
matte secrets upon four letters,
three of which were written to
John Jay, first chief justice of the
United States, and one written by
| the Justice, Dr.. Bendikson has re-
stored pertinent passages winch
rcvea! how the American agents
worked i'm France to gain Euro
pCan aid during the critical early
DAYS of the Revolution.
More proudcnt and discreet than
his contemporaries, JAY censored
letters he received and copies Of
his own by scratching his pen
over discriminating or cmbarraSS-
ing passages. Silas Dcanc, his
agent. in Paris. would write a
| short. bland note on large piece
| OF paper, and with invisible INK
| write the real message on the re-
naming part of the sheet.
| TWO LETTERS IN ONE
Deciphering a message III one
letter marked out by pen, Bendik-
son first made an enlarged photo
| stat of the miSsivc and then eX-
amined between the strokes OF
the original writing and the heaV-
| Ter "staccato" strokes of the su-
pcrimposed marks was cmpha-
sized. He was thus able to elml-
| nate the letter on the photoStat,
leaving revealed the original mes
sage. -.
A sensitive spot in JAY - his
caution about what he put in ms
letters-was touched by three de-
| lctcd lines in letter written nm
by Robert II. Livingston. The let
ten reads in part: o..
II hardly know how to admit
\ YOUR excuse for the reserve ana
[ caution which, to your phrase
mark your letter, since safe con-
| yeyances are very frequently al
! fordcd and ] do not find that one
| of your letters have miscarried.
long for that free and open COM
mrlnication of sentiment that
makes the soul of friendship the
remaining lines which Jay marked
out continuing, land put more
value upon one letter that is writ
ten from the heart, than on TWEEN
ty that are designed for the
press 80,
While in Spain in 1871. Jay
received a letter from BENJAMIN
Franklin, who was IN PaSsy,
France, which would have been
harmless anywhere else. but since
Jaw was actively engaged IN OBJ
tanning assistance from Spain, 1t
was potential dynamite. He there
fore deletcd 10 lines from the
message. the dclction making 1t
| harmless.
MET SOCIAL TROUBLES
The lines scratched out were:
"This thought occurred to me on
bearing from the Princess MasSe-
rano that you and Mrs. Jay did
not pass your time agreeably
there and | think that you would
find these people of more socia-
bic turn. Besides ! could put you
Immediately into the society | en-
iov here of a set Of very amiable
friends. In this case Mr.. Carmi-
chael might succeed you III
SPAIN"
Since no fixative was used by
JAY after he had treated the IN
visible writings Of Deane, the let
ters again had become hidden:
! Through chemical treatments ana
| the use of ultraviolet rays and
infra-red rays, DR.. Bendiks0n with
the assistance of George ID. van
Arsdale. chemical engineer at Pas
adena. found the formula of the
| ink used in letters written by
Deanc. Deane wrote his letters
with fannie acid and Jay sponked
the letters with solution of cop
peras. or ferrous sulphate.
DISGUISED AS MERCHANT
Deane. as the colonies agent III
France. appeared there as mer-
chant. Fears that he might be
tracked down by the British were
disclosed by him in letter TO
Jay.
In invisible ink he wrote:
~ have appeared only as pfl-
waite merchant, but it has Deeh
reported, q | frequently near
that an agent from the congress
is in town & sometimes that ne Is
gone to Paris, etc. mention TINS
rs a mark of expectations OF the
people which in general Is on LII, Inc
same key with their wishes. Inc
English ambassador is apprehen-
sive of such a measure d. | eXpect
it will require great care to elude
his inquiry. ,.oJ
"The letters ! have obtained
| from hence to Court are given TO
me generally on the ground OF
mercantile views and not on my
grounds whatever was suspected
of any other business. | am Gen
tlemen Your most obedt Servt. .;
Deane. p. S. forgive blunder and
.nojI l. ont for I am much put to