17 DECEMBER 1898, Page 3

Sir E. Monson has evidently been told that his speech

to he British Chamber of Commerce in Paris was ill-advised, or on Monday he delivered another at the Young Men's 3hristian Association, in which he carefully disclaimed all un- cind feeling towards France. He believed both peoples were etuated by a sincere regard for each other, although there is "racial" difference between them not easily got over. For oimself, he had never received the smallest discourtesy from soy individual in France. The Press has accepted this ;peech as an amende, and there has evidently been a hint riven from headquarters to let the matter drop. The lesson of the incident is, we think, that unless Ambassadors are very much used to public speaking, it is better not to order them, or suffer them, to deliver their message in public. The words of a foreigner seldom make the same impression as the words of a native, and a Frenchman will challenge a foreigner for criticisms which he will utter himself without a thought of offence.