49. _An Attache's Chauffeur._
In November, 1908, the driver to the Military Attache at the United
States Embassy was summoned at Huntingdon for driving a motor-car at
Little Stukeley at a speed dangerous to the public, and which was
stated to be 36 miles an hour. The solicitor for the defendant, who did
not appear, claimed that he was exempt from proceedings such as these,
but admitted that he was not in a position to prove it. A letter of
explanation was read, which stated that it was very embarrassing to
have a servant charged with an offence against English law, and asking
that the charge be withdrawn. The bench decided to go on with the case,
and imposed a fine of L12 and costs.
50. _In Quest of Balata._
The following notices appeared in the papers in the latter part of
August, 1907, concerning a frontier incident between British Guiana and
Venezuela:
"GEORGETOWN, _Aug._ 18.
"Captain Calder, with a small armed force, went down the Barima river
and, crossing the boundary, invaded Venezuelan territory. He then
demanded at the point of the revolver that 4,000 pounds of balata, said
to have been won in a British forest, should be given up. The incident
has been reported to President Castro. Excitement prevails at
Morawhanna, the British frontier head-quarters, the people fearing
measures of retaliation. Trouble has been experienced for the past few
months in connexion with the balata trade, and British officers have
been keenly alert to prevent illicit trading. The Governor is now at
Lama, two days' journey from the capital. He is expected to arrive here
on Tuesday."
"GEORGETOWN, BRITISH GUIANA, _Aug._ 28.
"The Governor has informed the Legislature that Captain Calder, who
recently crossed the Venezuelan frontier and seized a quantity of
balata which was alleged to have been collected in British Guiana,
violated the frontier to the extent of 200 yards. The balata has been
returned to its owner and regret has been expressed to President
Castro."
"NEW YORK, _Aug._ 31.
"A message from Caracas states that the Venezuelan Government considers
that the incident which arose out of the invasion of Venezuelan
territory by Captain Calder, District Inspector of Police in British
Guiana, and the seizure of a quantity of balata said to have been
collected on British soil has been satisfactorily closed. President
Castro has received a note of apology from the Governor of British
Guiana with the announcement that Inspector Calder has been relieved of
his post."
51. _A "Sujet Mixte."_
Felix Brown was born in London of German parents in 1875. He was
brought up in English schools and considered himself an Englishman,
although he knew that he was of German parentage and frequently went to
Germany to see his grandparents. In 1900 he was a passenger on an
English vessel destined for Riga. This vessel called on her way at
Stettin. While in that harbour the German police boarded the vessel and
arrested Brown for having evaded military service in Germany. Brown
telegraphed to the English ambassador in Berlin and asked for his
intervention.
52. _Koreans at the Hague Peace Conference._
During the second Hague Peace Conference the Emperor of Korea, although
he had signed in 1904 a treaty according to which Japan exercised a
protectorate over his country, dispatched an envoy and two secretaries
to the Hague for the purpose of bringing some complaints before the
Congress. One of the secretaries had been in Holland two years
previously, and had left the country without paying his debts. When his
creditors heard of his return, they asked an advocate whether they
could sue him, or whether he was exempted from Dutch jurisdiction,
since he now appeared as the secretary of the Korean envoy.