The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-09-25
sion, ana had lnstlgated this interior.

"On my arrival at the Quai D'Orsay.
six days later, M. Buffard explained
the situation to me.
"'What has happened he said, is
this. Lord Derby, who holds the port
folio of foreign affairs, has verbally in.
formed M. Gavard, our representative,
that the queens government under
stand that the khedive has been asked
to transfer his shares to a syndicate
acting on behalf of the French gov
eminent, and it is to this that they
object. All that is necessary Is to
convince them that the negotiation
proceeds from privae syndicate, en-
tirely independent of US, in which case
we may hope that their prohibition
will be withdraw. You must proceed
to London at once. Do not trouble
yourself with Lord Derby, who is .
mere instrument. Go straight to M.
Disraeli, the premier; it is to him that
we must address ourselves. Explain
to him on whose behalf you are act
ing, and the affair may yet be ter.
minated satisfactorily
Il could do nothing but obey. On
the evening of the following day, the
25th Of November, l reached London,
and as soon as I had changed my
dress, drove straight to Downing
street.
1.-The English premier received me
with an urbanity worthy of the Eau.
bourg st. German, and insisted on my
lighting cigar and refreshing myself
with brandy and settler, before he
would permit me to say q word.
"'You must not think you are
stranger to me- he was good enough
to say. I am not ignorant of the dis
tinguished reputation you have earned
among the European chancelleries.'
"'Your sentiments do me too much
honor, M. lie Premier responded. I
only regret that l am not in a posi-
ton to repeat them to the French
government
but l authorize you to repeat
them, even request it, he exclaimed,
failing to understand me.
Alas! that is impossible l ex-
planned. I am not here in any official
capacity, and therefore l could not
take it on myself to repeat expressions
addressed to me as private individ.
ual.'
AN expression Of apparent Devil.
derment passed over M. Disraelis face,
to be succeeded by one of cordial
friendliness.
"'Then you are not here on behalf
of your government he cried out.
This is visit which I owe to your
personal regard for me! insist that
you shall allow me to refill your glass;
"'You distinguish me too much in
consenting to place me on such a foot
ing answered. slightly confused. In
effect, have ventured to come here
to ask of you favor on behalf of q
certain financial syndicate with which
l am associated, and which feel sure
that you will not refuse
"'You would do wrong to doubt it,
my dear baron,' he returned with undi-
minished cordially. Rest assured that
If this favor is in my power it is al
ready yours. But explain yourself
IA thousand thanks, M. le Premier.
The affair Is one of the simplest. The
syndicate refer to is composed of
certain well-known capitalists, whose
operations have received q check in
consequence of a Misrepresentation Gre
ated in the mind Of Lord Derby
"'You astonish met M. Disraeli
spoke in tone of surprise. The next
moment he lay back in his chair and
smiled good-naturedly, as he added:
"'But after all it is not only you
who have had to face the disagreeable
task of combating misapprehensions
in Lord Derby's mind. You will doubt
less tell me the particulars?
"'But that Is what I desire. Tho
syndicate of which have spoken, and
which has prevailed ON me to act as
its agent, has conceived the idea of
operating in the shares of the Suez
Canal company. You know these gen.
try Of the Bourse-when they perceive
the chance for favorable stroke, pol.
itics is the last consideration which
enters into their heads. Well, 1t ap.
pears that Lord Derby objects to their
proceedings, for a reason which it is
not easy to understand. and he has
even forbidden the poor khedive to en-
terrain an offer which was empow-
cred to make to him on behalf OF the
associates
"The countenance of the English
premier assumed an expression of the
most profound annoyance.
'Ridiculous!' he muttered. 1t is
incredible! What reason could he pos.
sibly have had for this absurd prohi
bition?'
"'It seems that they have persuaded
him that there was a political signifi-
nance in this transaction. that these
shares were to be acquired for the
French government, in a word
M Disraeli turned on me look of
the most perfect surprise.
"'But surely that 1t not so? he in
quired. 1 have Just understood you
(, to tell me that there is q question
here simply Of private speculation
Without doubt. The government
of France holds itself entirely aloot
from the affair, on the contrary
81 understand. Then what you ask
Of me is, to inform Lord Derby that
he Is mistaken in supposing that the
French government interests itself in
your negotiations?'
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