DANGEROUS SECRETS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 29, 27 February 1909, Page 3

DANGEROUS SECRETS.

kxowixv; too much is xot ALWAYS ADVISABLE. <»ne of the theories put forward in connection with the Steinheil murder is based on the proverb that it is dangeroils to know too much (says -i Homi paper). It is said that the murders were really effected- iu order to get hold ol some compromising | t . U( . rs wriU(!ll u tHe Hem beds by President Fame. But the murderers did not find the letter* they sought. These had been entrusted by AI. htcuihcil to the care of a friend an American gentleman of •■■real wealth and in whom he could plaeA-.on-iulence to the death." ' This gentleman, the story .roes earned the precious letters oil' t<f Swat/erand, where they are now h a safe hiding-place, and "we shall hear of more strange doings, perhaps in Switzerland.'' A similar explanation was given of the death or'Jiniile Zola. It is said that he knew too much about some of the most highly-placed French politicians, and little surprise was felt in certain circles when Zola and his wife were found dead one morning, asphyxiated by the 'fumes of a slow combustion stove. BISMARCK'S MEMO IPS. It may not be very widely known that the manuscript* of Piiince Bismarck's memoirs are carefully locked away in the safe of a Loudon bank. Bismarck feared that the Kaiser would attempt to confiscate the memoirs, and he left directions in his will that they were to be taken out of Cci-many at once and brought to London to ensure their securit'y.-

It is certain that if they 'were published they would create an even greater sensation than did the memoirs of Prince Hohenlohe, the publication of which caused flutters in a number of official dovecotes, and made the Kaiser lose his temper. He -wrote, Prince Philip Hohenlohe a furious letter, in which he characterised his proceedings "as in the highest degree tactless, and indiscreet, and wholly inopportune."

The Kaiser got another shock on the death of Herr Hdntzpeter, his tutor and life-long friend. PANI« AT THE KAISER'S PAIaACE. There was something like a panic in the Palace at Bwlin when it « : as discovered that a number of the dead man's confidential papers and memoirs had "been stolen. Hintzpeter left instructions in his will that these papers, containing some astonishing revelations of European secret history, should remain unpublished for at least fifty years. When, his executors came to go into the dead man's affairs, they were horrified to discover that those dangerous documents had mysteriously vanished. Tliere was an immense sensation, and the authorities proceeded to move heaven and earth to recover the stolen papers. One clue led the police to the village of Eesse, hut, though certain buildings were searched there, the search was unsuccessful.

The dead man's valet was urrcsted on suspicion of being concerned in the theft, die was closely cross-examined, but no evidence could be discovered against him, and he had to be released. There is no doubt that the theft was perpetrated by some enterprising adventurers, who arc, holding the documents to blackmail certain exalted personages, and there are some very uneasy heads in Germany. DUXOOXAIjD WAR PDA'S. American newspapers have a trick of getting hold of these dangerous secrets. ",Tirefe_Avas_the "second" Kaiser interview, which the-Century Magazine were about to publish, when - tremendous, ut, fhience was brought to bear on the pro'-" prietors to prevent publication. The amazing statements in the '"faked" interview of the New York World were said to be mild and tame compared to the suppressed interview, and a European war wmihf have, been almost unavoidable. The most dangerous document in this country is probably the Dundnnald War Plan, devised by the tenth Earl of Dundouald. l!y carrying out this plan Lord Dundoniilit de'elared he would be able to deistroy any fleet or fortress in the world." Professor biughton states that the plan, as often as it was submitted to the Government, was put on one side as too terrible and inhuman, •'though always with the. clear admission that it was capable of producing the. result- that Dundnnald claimed for it." What is quite certain is that the influential committee of experts who first examined the plan declared it "infallible, irresistible, but inhuman," and for that reason put it aside. Where the .documents now are is uncertain, but there is a general belief that the plan lies to this day buried away in the archives of the War Office.

What a lot of people would like to get .hold of it!