PRINCESS RADZIWILL AND MR CECIL RHODES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7923, 30 January 1904, Page 4

PRINCESS RADZIWILL AND MR CECIL RHODES.

A REMARKABLE STORY.

The "Petit Parisien" and tbe " Matin," Paris, came out on Friday, November 27, with portraits of Princess Radziwill, and with her version of ber adventures, written specially for them. Dated London, November 19, , the narrative begins by saying that the Princess met Mr Cecil Rhodes a little more than six years ago^ for the first time, in London. They happened to Reseated by each other, and this was the commencement of relations which had "such tragio consequences* for both of us." The Princess will not describe these relations here. She says : — < " He loved) me and I loved bim, and this wbrd excuses manjy, things, and explains others. So I will not avenge myst lf by trying to give the public details of this ro-? mance, which is rather a drama than anything else," She goes on to state that after she had pub in an application for at divorce she decided starting for the Transvaal to await the solution of a sad family quarrel. She was aware that in thus burning her boats she was setting public opinion against ber. "But I loved Cecil Rhodes, and I was ambitious. The idea of becoming a sorb of Queen of South Africa dazzled me, and the thought of seeing before me a vast field of activity and means of doing good on a large scale tempted and caused me to shut my eyes to many things which, under other circumstances, would have kept me back. So we left together on a fine July morning, and it was during the voyage that I learnt to know better the character of the man to whom I had just given my life with such insouciance and such trust." AN ELABORATE SPY SYSTEM. Here comes an analysis of Cecil Rhodes's character, aa now. viewed) by the lady. In ber bitterness she cannot at least deny that be bad "the most generous instincts." The trouble, according to her, began when she endeavoured to use ber influence over ber friend to bring about a reconciliation with the Dutch party at the Cape. The story proceeds: — No good would come out of a fight, she argued, but her efforts brought on ber the hatred of Cecil Rhodes's entourage. Rhodes was persuaded that she was betraying him for the benefit of the Boers, and a violent quarrel, and then a rupture, followed. Rhodes even threatened ber with bis vengeance. Now she knew a good deal about politics, and had a number of important papers in her possession. Suoh an elaborate spy sysfeht bad indeed prevailedthat, while Rhodes was in England during tho Bloemfontein Conference, he was kept informed 'hour by hour of all that Sir Alfredl (now Lord) Milner was saying and doting, and knew all about his correspondence. Rhodes had at least a dozen agents at BloEmfontein,' and she sometimes wondered ; whether Sir ~ AKred Milner ever suspected thaib bis- documents were methodically looked ■ through, and some even abstracted. Rhodes andl bis friends knew that she had certain papers of -this sorb in ber. hands, and it was not easy for her to get them out of the colony. Many letters, especially hers, were submitted to regular supervision, nor was any exception made for one which she addressed to tbe Emperor, of Russia. Princess Radziwill goes oh to relate bow she contrived to baffle the officials. The rest of this article, which terminates with Princess Radziwill's signature, is devoted to denunciation; of her treatment in prison, and to a story of how she was sent off to England after a "modus vivendi " had been arranged' between ber and the Government.