A PAGE OF SECRET HISTORY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1748, 6 September 1905, Page 69

A PAGE OF SECRET HISTORY.

(Erom Our Special Correspondent.; LONDON, July 8. In tbe current “Nineteenth Century there appears a fascinating article describing conversations with the late Lord .Rowton, the famous secretary to Lord Beaconsfield. Particularly interesting are the passages dealing with the celebrated Berlin Congress. It has often been said, and written that Disraeli played a bluffing game pure and simple at that Congress, but Lord Rowton says he was “serious all through/ 1 At a vital stage in the Congress the English representative put forward four points which were more or less in the nature of an ultimatum, for Russia 1 s acceptance. The Russians—as always—sought to gain time by pleading that they must refer the points at issue to their Emperor. Ihe Congress was adjourned for several days to enable them to communicate with the Czar by special messenger, and one of their diplomats actually left Berlin ostensibly to go to St. Petersburg. He. however, it transpired, never really Avent further afield than Konigsberg for reasons that will presently become apparent. On the morning after the adjournment Lord Beaconsfield went to his private secretary's room and said to Mr 00117 (as Lord Rowton tUen ivas) — “I have been thinking over this matter very seriously most of the night, and I have quite made up my mind what- to do. It seems to me impossible for Russia to concede these points, and if they refuse, I have sketched out my plan. Vv e will return to England at once. My desire is, if possible, to get to London upon Sunday night, and to have a good night's rest. On Monday morning I shall go doAvn to Osborne —or Windsor —and after lunch I propose to lay my report before her Majesty. A declaration pt war with Russia will follow. Kindly make the necessary arrangements tor our journey. 11 Mr Corry discovered that to get to -hoitdon on Sunday .night meant taking a special train from Cologne, and he. therefore, telegraphed to the in aster there, orderine: him to have a ‘ special

ready for Lord Beaconsfield at such and such a time on the specified da^. That telegram proved the turning point of the whole affair. Congress met again at the appointed time and Mr Corry waited without. After sitting there for a couple of hours he saw the door open, and the members of the Congress com* out, headed by the Russian representatives. Last of all came Lord Beaconsfield, who, grasping his secretary’s arm, said:— , , “My dear Corry, I have seen what Ji never expected to see. Russia has given way on all four points/’ ' Subsequently they discovered, of course, that the telegram to the station master! at Cologne had been promptly transmitted to Prince Bismarck, who then recognised that “Dizzy” was in real earnest. He also knew what the English representative only discovered much later, namely, that the Russian representatives had received orders from the Czar practically to submit to anything rather than precipitate a war with England. And doubtless Bismarck gave the Russians a. plain hint as to when and how the British cat was prepared to jump. Hence no doubt their sudden “climb down.