A correspondent of the Daily News, for whose unusual means
of information that journal vouches, published on Tuesday an extraordinary story. He declares that in December, 1894, Count Munster, then Ambassador in Paris, complained to the President, M. Casimir-Perier, that his correspondence with the German Emperor on the Dreyfus affair had been stopped and copied, and threatened to demand his passports. The President was greatly shocked, the espionage having been ordered by the Ministry of War without his knowledge ; he gave his word of honour that the incident should not occur again, and Count Munster therefore retired pacified. In January of the following year, however, it did occur again, and Count Miinster's threats were this time so terrible that M. Casimir-Perier, to give the German Emperor proof of his bona-fides, gave in his resignation, ostensibly because he had insufficient support against vitriolic attacks. There is some confirmation of the story, which by itself looks true, for two stolen documents were talked of at the time, but it is denied both in Germany and France, though not by M. Casimir-Perier. One thing is perfectly clear, and that is that the French Etat-Major has been acting for years as an independent authority, not bound to render account even to the President, though he is tinder the Constitution the Commander-in-Chief. On one occasion General Ilarcier moved eighty thousand men to the frontier, and on being asked his motive by the President, replied that it was a military affair !
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