M. Adolphe Biisson has, according to the Vienna corre- spondent
of the Times, published in the Austrian journal, the Ness Freie Presse, an account of M. Delcasse's behaviour during the Fashoda negotiations. The French suspected us of desiring war, and as France was not ready M. Delcasse had many anxious momenta. His grand object was to yield with- out having received a threat, and at the supreme moment when he believed that Sir E. Monson was about to produce one he exclaimed: "Do not say anything that cannot be recalled. Take time for reflection." Time was taken, and the danger of war was averted. This account is, we believe, sub- stantially true, and is most creditable to M. Delcasse, who to avert a calamity was thus ready to risk his prestige among his countrymen. We imagine, however, that the sentence was uttered, not to anticipate a rough expression from Sir E. Monson, but the production of an ultimatum which, as the French Minister believed, rightly or wrongly, was in the Ambassador's pocket. The incident is the better worth recording because there is a disposition to underrate the value of tact in negotiation. People believe with Cobden that international affairs could be managed by post.
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