THE SECRET SERVICE OF JAPAN
"Three years ago," Mr. Katahashi proceeded, "when we first recognized
that Japan would be obliged to fight Russia for her existence as a
free and independent country, his imperial majesty the Mikado
appointed me head of the intelligence department.
"I perceived that it would be necessary for me to establish centers
in the chief European capitals, and to have at my command a corps of
agents whose comings and goings would not attract the attention that
is usually given to the movements of persons connected with the staff
of an embassy.
"In our case precautions were necessary which would not have been
recognized in the case of another country.
"On the one hand, our Government has laid to heart the profound
advice of Herbert Spencer, that whatever is done for Japan should be
done by Japanese.
"On the other hand, our people have characteristic racial features
which make it practically impossible for a Japanese to disguise
himself as a Western European, so as to deceive European eyes.
"It was therefore necessary to provide an excuse for distributing
Japanese agents over the West without the true reason of their
presence being known.
"I solved this problem by founding the Imperial Bank of Japan."
"But, surely!" I exclaimed, "the Imperial Bank of Japan is a _bona
fide_ concern? Its shares are regularly quoted on the stock
exchanges. It negotiates loans, and carries on the ordinary business
of a bank?"
"Certainly. Why not? You forget that Japan is not a rich country.
What we lack in gold, we are obliged to make up in ingenuity and
devotion. Thanks to this idea of mine, the secret service of Japan
pays for itself, and even earns a small profit."
It gave me something like a cold shock to comprehend the character of
this people whom the Russians had so recklessly provoked to draw the
sword.
I thought of the intelligence departments of some Western Powers, of
the rank corruption that reigned on the Neva, where every secret had
its price; of the insane conceit of Berlin, which had forgotten
nothing and learned nothing since the days of Moltke; of the
luxurious laziness of Pall Mall, where superannuated soldiers dozed
in front of their dusty pigeon-holes after apoplectic lunches, and
exercised their wits chiefly in framing evasive answers suited to the
intelligence of the House of Commons.
And beside these pictures I placed this of the prosperous commercial
house, founded by the man before me, a man whose salary would
probably be sniffed at by a deputy-assistant controller in the
British War Office.
A bank, paying its way, and adding to the revenues of Japan, and yet
every member of its staff a tireless spy, ready to go anywhere and
risk everything on behalf of his native country!
Mr. Katahashi seemed to ignore the effect produced on my mind by his
modest explanation.
"I have told you this," he resumed, "because if I can succeed in
satisfying you that we are both working for the same ends, or at
least against the same enemy, I hope it will be agreeable to you to
co-operate with me."
I drew my brows together in anxious thought. In spite of the flattery
and deference of the Privy Councillor I could not but feel that I
should be the junior partner in any such combination as he proposed,
or, rather, I should find myself an instrument in the hands of one
whose methods were strange to me.
"Although his imperial majesty was not familiar with your name, you
must not suppose that your reputation is not known in the right
quarters. I have a very full report on your work in my office. I had
intended from the first to engage your services if we required any
Western aid; and, as a matter of fact, I was on the eve of sending
you a retainer, when I heard I had been anticipated by----"
"By Lord Bedale," I put in swiftly.
"By Lord Bedale, certainly," the Japanese acquiesced with a polite
bow and smile.
"After your interview with him, I lost sight of you," my
extraordinary companion went on. "Your wonderful transformation into
a Little Englander of the Peace-at-any-Price school threw my agents
off the scent. But I heard of your interview with Nicholas II."
"You did!"
Mr. Katahashi nodded.
"I recognized you in that transaction. I even guessed that you might
make an attempt to carry through a message from the Czar. But,
knowing the influences arrayed against you, I never expected you to
succeed. Your appearance in our Council-Room was a triumph on which I
congratulate you warmly.
"And now," the Mikado's Privy Councillor continued, "there remain two
questions:
"Supposing you are satisfied that the real author of this war is not
any one in Russia, but a certain monarch who smokes cigarettes made
by the house of Gregorides--
"And that the same ambitious ruler is now weaving his snares to
entangle Great Britain, in short your own employer, the----"
"Marquis of Bedale," I again slipped in.
Again the same polite but incredulous bow and smile from the Japanese
statesman.
"Would you be willing to accept a retainer from us?"
I sat upright, frowning.
The somewhat haughty attitude of the Emperor of Japan still rankled
within me.
"I will accept a retainer from his majesty the Mikado," I announced
stiffly. "From no one else."
Mr. Katahashi looked thoughtful.
"I will see what can be done," he murmured. "The second question----"
There was a momentary hesitation in his manner.
"I have just spoken to you of the precept of the great English
philosopher."
"It was, if I remember rightly, that you should employ only Japanese
in the service of Japan?"
The Privy Councillor bowed.
"Therefore, you will see, we are obliged to make a proposal which may
seem to you unusual--perhaps unreasonable."
"And this proposal is?" I asked, with undisguised curiosity.
"That you should become a Japanese."
I threw myself back in my chair, amazed.
"Your Excellency, I am an American citizen."
"So I have understood."
"An American citizen is on a level with royalty."
"That is admitted."
"Even the Dowager Empress of China, when engaging me in her service,
though she raised my ancestors to the rank of marquises, did not ask
me to forego my citizenship of the United States."
"That is not necessary," the Privy Councillor protested.
"Explain yourself, if you will be so good."
"A man may be an American citizen, although by birth he is a
Frenchman, a German, or even a negro. You yourself are a Pole, I
believe."
I could only bow.
"Now I do not propose that you should relinquish your political
allegiance, but only that you should exchange your Polish nationality
for a Japanese one."
"But how, sir?"
"It is very simple. By being adopted into a Japanese family."
I sat and stared at the Japanese statesman, with his mask-like face
and impenetrable eyes. I seemed to be in some strange dream.
Who shall judge the ways of the Asiatic! This daring organizer, a
match for the most astute minds of the West, believed that he could
only make sure of fidelity by persuading me to go through what
seemed the comedy of a mock adoption, a ceremony like the blood
brotherhood of an African tribe.
"And suppose I consent, into what family do you purpose to introduce
me?"
The Privy Councillor's look became positively affectionate as he
responded:
"If you would honor me by becoming my kinsman?"
I rose to my feet, shaking my head slowly.
"I appreciate the compliment your Excellency pays me. But, as we have
just now agreed, an American citizen has no equals except royalty.
Let us return to the German Emperor and his designs. If I cannot
serve you directly I may be able to do so indirectly."
The Japanese made no attempt to press his proposal.
Instead he plunged into a discussion of the intrigues which radiated
from Berlin.
"In nearly all the international difficulties and disagreements of
the last twenty years," he said, "it is possible to trace the evil
influence of Germany.
"To German sympathy, a secret encouragement, was due the wanton
invasion of Cape Colony by the Boers. To the Kaiser, and his promises
of support, was due the hopeless defiance of the United States by
Spain. The same Power tried to drag Great Britain into collision
with your Republic over the miserable concerns of Venezuela. For
years, Germany has been secretly egging on the French to raise
troubles against the English in Egypt. In the same spirit, the Sultan
has been abetted, first against England and next against Russia.
"All these schemes have been spoiled by the action of King Edward
VII. in establishing cordial relations with France, and even to a
certain extent with Russia.
"Now Wilhelm II. has taken advantage of the attraction of France to
England, to draw nearer to Russia. He has secured in his interest
some of the most influential personages at the Russian Court. The
Anglophobe grand dukes, the fire-eaters of the Admiralty, are all his
sworn allies.
"But that is not the worst.
"By some means which I have not yet been able to trace, the Kaiser
seems to have acquired a peculiar hold over Nicholas II.
"The whole policy of Russia seems to be tinged by this influence.
Even where the instigation of Germany is not directly apparent, yet
in a hundred ways it is clear that the Russian Government is playing
the German game. The cause of all this is a riddle, a riddle which it
is for you to solve."
"For me?"
The words escaped me involuntarily. I had listened with growing
uneasiness to the Privy Councillor's revelations.
"Undoubtedly. You have facilities which no one else possesses. You
enjoy the confidence of the Czar. You cannot be suspected of any
selfish designs, still less of any hostile feeling against Wilhelm
II., who is understood to be almost your personal friend."
"I never allow personal friendships to influence me in the discharge
of my duty."
"It is because I believe that, that I am talking to you like this,"
Mr. Katahashi responded quickly.
"Well!" he added after a short silence, "what do you say?"
"I must have the night to decide."
The Japanese Privy Councillor rose to say good-by.
After he had gone I sat up late into the night considering how far I
could serve my employer in England by entering into the projects of
the secret service of Japan.
In the morning, I was still undecided, but on the whole it seemed to
me that it would be better to act independently.
I was considering how to convey this decision to the Mikado's
minister, when he again presented himself before me.
His manner was deeply agitated. It was evident that he came to make a
communication of the highest importance.
Instead of taking the chair I offered him, he stood regarding me with
an expression that seemed one of awe.
"Monsieur V----," he said at length, "your conditions are accepted by
his imperial majesty."
"What conditions?" I asked, bewildered for the moment.
"Last night you informed me that an American citizen occupied the
same rank as royalty."
"Well?"
"The Mikado offers to make you a member of the imperial family by
adoption, and one of his majesty's cousins has consented to make you
his son!"