The Mysteries of Modern LondonSims, George R. (George Robert)
History
The Mysteries of Modern London
Sims, George R. (George Robert)
Criminals -- England -- London; London (England) -- History
But the Russian spy is in Soho and in Whitechapel, as well as in
Mayfair and Belgravia, and some of the most active are members of the
revolutionary societies which have their West End meetings in a club
near Fitzroy Square, W.C., and their East End meetings in a club near
Brick Lane, Spitalfields.
Germany and France have their spies and secret service agents in London,
and some of them are British subjects who are taking foreign pay to
assist in the betrayal of their country's secrets.
The days are gone when foreign Governments subsidized London newspapers;
but every foreign Government of importance has in London its secret
representatives, and men and women who are practically members of its
secret police.
Some of these people are suspected, some of them are known, but the
majority go about their business so skilfully that no one, not even
their most intimate friend, has any idea of the nature of their real
occupation or the real source of their income.
The stories that might be written of the foreign spies of London are
many. The stories that will be written are few. There are certain
diplomatic considerations which make official silence imperative, even
when suspicion has developed into absolute certainty.
We do not suffer from the spy mania here as they do in France. We do not
suspect the foreign tourist who arrives with a camera of designs
upon our fortifications; and in our easy-going way we credit foreign
Governments, especially Germany, with knowing already quite as much
about our national defences as we do ourselves. With the spies who are
over here looking after foreign political offenders who have sought
"asylum" in the capital we have no concern. In this free land they are
as free as the men whose actions they are watching, whose footsteps they
are dogging, and whose fate they are seeking to encompass.
We know that London is the centre of the revolutionary movements of
Europe. We know that here most of the assassinations which have shocked
the world have been plotted and planned. The name and place of abode
of every foreign anarchist who comes to this country are registered at
Scotland Yard. The system of observation is as perfect as can be, and
valuable information is constantly given to the foreign Governments as
to the movements of suspected individuals. But the anarchists live
in safety and plot in security. It is not our custom to take violent
measures against them. To this policy we owe the immunity from
outrage that we enjoy. The anarchists of Europe have no desire to make
themselves objectionable in England. "Leave us alone and we will leave
you alone" is the unwritten understanding in "Red" London between the
foreign revolutionaries and the authorities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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