IMPUTATIONS--NORWEGIAN CHARACTERISTICS--CASEMENT'S LETTER TO SIR EDWARD GREY--IRISH INTERESTS--SURREPTITIOUS VISITS TO THE EMBASSY--ENVOYÉ EXTRAORDINAIRE--£10,000 FOR CASEMENT'S SERVANT--CASEMENT'S EXPLANATIONS, COMMENTS, KIDNAPPING AND MURDER ALLEGATIONS--SIR F. E. SMITH ON CASEMENT'S LIFE AND ACTIONS--A BAD MISTAKE. In February, 1915, a veritable bombshell was burst in the diplomatic circles of Northern Europe. A letter had appeared in the German newspapers containing very grave allegations against a British Minister, extracts from which had apparently been sent round broadcast to the Press of neutral countries. On Wednesday, February 17th, the _Aftenposten_ of Christiania published the document in its entirety. Other papers may have copied it, but the demand for copies immediately became so great it was difficult to secure them. Those which were purchased were read aloud in public places and discussed and commented upon until excitement reached fever-heat. The general public in Scandinavian countries knew little or nothing concerning the writer of the letter--Sir Roger Casement. The _Norske Argus_ described him as "a man who had held positions; a British Consul in various places in the Colonies; Consul-General in Rio de Janeiro; the exposer of the Putumayo affair." In Norway British Consulships are most eagerly sought after, and considered enviable positions carrying high honour. The _Norske Argus_ stated that "Sir Roger Casement belonged to the faction in Ireland which had opposed the war and recruiting; that he had been to Berlin to intercede with the Germans for better treatment towards Ireland if it came to an invasion of the British Islands; and that he felt satisfied with the answer he had obtained from the highest quarters, that 'in such case Ireland should obtain her full freedom'; and because of this visit the English were very bitter against him and in many places he was stamped as a traitor." Now Norway is a country infused with a very strong Socialistic element. It holds deep sympathies with the Irish, and believes them to be much abused and a much ill-used race. It knows nothing of the wildly absurd, headstrong obstinacy of certain Irishmen who make it their business to stir up dissent and to oppose their best interests; or that they apparently do this out of sheer "cussedness." Rightly or wrongly, Norway believes that Ireland is a poor, downtrodden country which during the past hundred years has received nothing but harsh and unsympathetic treatment at the hands of the English. Hence Norwegians, not being fully advised of facts, looked upon this bogus hero, who had voluntarily taken upon himself such great risks as his action and journey involved, in the light of a modern Garibaldi, rather than as a traitor to his country, which he had and since has fully proved himself.[10]