During this period I was under the direct orders of Captain Robinson,
who, you will recall, had been the go-between for Downing Street in
closing the bargain for my release from Barlinney Prison. Robinson,
an ex-captain of the Hussars, was well up in subterranean affairs and
to him Sir Edward Grey was no stranger.
Along in January there came to the ear of Downing Street rumors of a
possible meeting between German and Japanese envoys. Moreover, the
meeting ground was to be the United States. It may surprise Americans
to learn that of late years their country has become a favorite
meeting place for European diplomats, secret and otherwise. These men
invariably sail from Europe, remarking something about taking a trip
to the Rockies or visiting some noted fishing streams. They may be
going into Canada or the Western States for the shooting; and when
these gentlemen leave Europe on these little "vacations" they are
generally shadowed, or attempts are made to shadow them. In the
course of a few days after the English foreign office learned of the
supposed meeting of German and Japanese agents to be held in America,
I received official instructions. They were sharp and very much to
the point. I was to find out what the meeting in the United States
was about, and, if possible, to learn the nature of the diplomatic
proposals likely to be considered by Japan and Germany.
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