SECRETS OF DOWNING STREET

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 130, 23 May 1908, Page 3

SECRETS OF DOWNING STREET

A POLITICAL SPY'S STORY. Downing Street, to the Continental mind, means the entire British Government. When the Frenchman talks of the India Office he refer ri to Downing Street as much as he does to the Colonial Office or the Foreign Oiliee. llence the title of a book which has been widely circulated in Germany during the last few week*, though its imprint bears a Paris address. "* In the Service of Downing Street " a collection of reports made by a political spy, whose activities i.i South Africa some years ago were apparently devoted to the task of keeping a watchful eye On the subjects of the Kaiser who live in South Africa. The writer is undoubtedly a (lerman.

other country. sav„ this foreign s PJ"i possesses a political secret service with such wide influence ami sucii thorough organisation. might compete with England, but Russia's secret police deals mostly with revolutionaries in other countries and the protection of grand dukes travelling away from home, and there is little room for international politics go far as Rusferent with England, where the institution of the political secret agent dates back several hundred yeai*. The history of British conquests can never lie written so long as Downing Street decline, to open its secret archive. which will nevi r happen. The few document- which, through accident, are now allowed to flutter out of these archives, can only give an idea of the methods through which British -secret politics operate." The political secret -crvice is attached to Scotland Yard. By this name, a* is

well-known, says the writer, is imlicntoil the detective department, which is under the Attorneylieneral (sic), but the political secret service agent.* are not to be confounded with the detectives of Scot-

laml Yard. They work independently of them, and never co-operate under any cireumsatnees. The policemen of Scotland Yard do not know the political agents, and cannot make themselves known to tliem either by signs or signals. A political agent only knows his chief, whereas the chief* of Scotland Yard know the political agents, with whom they arc often called into consultation.

The selection of inea for this work is naturally undertaken with the greatest care. A high standard of education, intelligence. worldly experience, tact, diplomatic- deportment, and knowledge of languages are necesary qualification* for the p<vt. They are not necessarily always Englishmen, and particularly in foreign parts men of alien birth and education are appointed. Many of these men abroad arc physicians. chemists, mid lawver?, but it is not often that

they arc newspaper correnpondents. because the latter are always watched I>>* foreign governments. The British I>iplomatic Service abroad is not notilied of the presence of political secret service agents. The headquarters at Downing Street control* the reports of liotli its accredited representatives and its secret agents.

The sum which ill the Budget is ascribed to ".Secret Service'' is larger than that Of any other country for analogous purposes, but slill it does not sullice to meet the (iionunu-> co-Is of the British secret service. The Covermneiit. therefore. devote, to this purpose other amount, for which no public return m made.

As an instance of the widespread olganisation the writer stales that Downing Street is constantly informed of evcrv negotiation made by the Krupp gun 'works with regard to the delivery of cannon. It is of particular importance to Downing Street to know what countries are negotiating with Krupp s, and what materials and guns are being delivered. On the other hand, Downing Street is always kept informed by its spies whenever a Krupp representative ,i-its "a foreign State, and he is followed from daw n to Miii-et and every act ot l„- ,rded.

1,1 ill.' colonic i-wrv r.liU-ll CoMWr i- -||<>|>U>-.1 with iund- for ihc p.u|>"-c of in.iiutainiiiu'a -ecrct -crvice.l>\ s\hich lie enables to follow the current of opinion throughout the colony ami to keep liini-i-lf informed of all political machinations -o that the "policy ot (ireat Britain may lie maintained. AH tl<i* ~v wa >" of introduction more or after wiiieli follow-* ivliat pm* |.ort s to be a series of report to Lord Sfllwrnc's political secretory at lu '- toruu-Uiring the year 1»05. Horn an Vn»li-U standpoint there is nothing particularlv interesting in these letters and telegram*. The spy states that he was paid' t-VI a month and expenses; that li,. travelled between Johannesburg ami Kimberlev. Capetown. and t.erman Snuth-\Ve4 Africa; lived in the (.erman lubs, making friends with (..■iman uilicials and shadowing other-. tine report -tatcs that the writer bad Ic.irned in a Capetown Cer.nan elnb that iKvid.-s the treaty of pence madi. t Verceniging a -civet treat) «.<■■> ' with t?Te r«ier.: that a copy of t n--.iTi-t treaty i, i« »"• " £ ; (Jerman (iovernnieiit. but that po-i ma ,n. Mia ring ~ „ W( ,, )lim Crßriiain.an.liU. -In- pn>|»'r ,[ r _,rtinmy win pnbii-h it ;• j 1 "; i M iiput to -o« T.,'*ri'.- , .r I'orlh'cr !"'t tie; )!"-T , i,. r - v'-'-ii'- 1, " /,r initiative Iroiii b. u.r.'-n'nably I" v.l-t. wl.o in-lniru Iheiii Jjirope. and that. 1,. i- ■'j ~ | ■ „i,|, l he loTllian 1 • i. more or lc- t,ll le-l ati le. | I|;IV I interest to C. riiian:-. a-'.o.-in- h'-'v thtir ..!li«-ial» ■■■ere followed il.i- intw.-tiug personage; and 11. n com- a f-»tnole '.o the last , hauler. win. li pi'omi.-c- a lu )-t fotinu' politieal ?'->i'el ill a YO;UMc vet to be published.