, 1884-09-20

though the remarks were not addressed to
myself [ asked M. Ferry'S permission to
publish them. III have nothing to keep
secret" was the reply, "otherwise l should
not have talked before half-a-dOzen per-
sons, and l know you will not misrepre-
sent me. But | think there are passages
that you will not print" "You ailude
doubtless to what you have said on the
tone of The Times 2" "Just so" III shall
transmit it along with the rest, If you con
sent" III have no objection" reJolned M.
Ferry. "NOr [ either" added the host.
M. Ferry, in truth, had q reason for ask
ing whether | should not suppress some
passages of what l had heard. The con-
yersation as | entered had turned on the
tone of the English Press, and particular
ly on the leading article in The Times Of
Monday, which has produced so much lrrl-
tation among the Paris newspapers.
~ can quite understand" VI. Ferry was
saving, "that commercial nations are un-
easy at our action in China. Indeed, it
would be treating us disdainfully If they
were not, for it is evident that, once reSolv-
ed on redress, we must deal blows which
tell. [ can quite understand a Journal OF
such weight reminding France that there
are commercial interests OF outsiders to Co
respected in China but | cannot See-l
say this in justification of the warmth OF
the French PresS-that q newspaper like
The Times, bound by its very Importance
to weigh it's words, should forget that al
lowance must always he made for the SuS-
capabilities Of q friendly nation, ana that
it's reason and GOODNESS should be appealed
to, instead of giving way to an lrIltAted
tone which %Il-dispOsed minds may describe
rs threatening. Before speaking III tins
way The Times should have aScertalned
whether or not we were diSdainfnl OF the
interests of neutrals. Above all, it should
have considered the imperative duties lm-
posed on us by the prolonged obStinacy OF
the Chinese.
II do not understand either why a Spe-
cial correspondent, especially if the only
spectator of the combat, should not Scru-
pulously weigh his words instead OF aim
ing at a sensation at the risk OF OBTAINING
the humanity of our brave naval officers.
I can understand, on the other hand, that,
being the only correspondent who witness
"a the bOmbardment OF FOOchoW, ne hal
no interest. either personal or Journalistic,
i'm toning down the sight described by him.
But The Times, which does not require to
make q sensation by eXaggeration, ought
not to have spoken with still more vehe-
IlClICO UuolIL I NOllOHl'OlNtN hO5 "NA 'N'N
have taken into consideration the SuScep-
tibilities of our soldiers and of the nation
whose cause they are defending. | did
not. | must say, observe the same offensive
yehemence in the French newspapers when
England's policy led her to lombard the
forts at Alexandria and to jeOpardize the
trade of Europe there. | am aStOniShed
that the English Press generally does not
500 that. nv op0inr China on, it Is siding
against all Europe, and that the confidence
it is inspiring in the Chinese against
France may be turned next against Eng
land herself. Lastly, may remark that
the language of The Times and it's imita-
tors does not seem to me OH this occasion
to be a faithful reflection of English opin.
ion, and in any case it is not III accord
anCe with the courteous and friendly atti-
tude observed during recent events by
Her Majesty's Government"
HYet", remarked one Of those present,
Myour Excellency must be aware that
abroad, and especially in England, an
opinion exists that YOU want to generate
in France a spirit of colonial conquest and
ambition, aud that, being unable to asSo-
ciate your name with Continental under
takings, you wish to associate it with ter
~ritOrial ACKNOWLEDGMENT i'll distant parts"
"I am quite aware" NJ. Ferry replied, OF
what malice or imagination will impute to
q man at the head of his country'S affairs
but those who reflect, or rather who care
to reflect, will remember that | am neither
the originator nor the inStigatOr of any OF
the undertakings in remote parts now pend
ing. My sole mission, nay, sole duty, has
besn to complete enterprises, which, | ven
+uro to say we're ORIGINALLY il-cOnceived