HUME'S FRENCH

Sir, - Lara Marlowe (March 13th) stated: "Mrs Robinson, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, are the only Irish…

Sir, - Lara Marlowe (March 13th) stated: "Mrs Robinson, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, are the only Irish politicians who give interviews in French". Not so.

Mr John Hume is an Irish politician. He speaks French fluently and has given many interviews in the language. I can recall the favourable comments made by The Irish Times when he addressed the European Parliament in French.

I only respond to the article because, as I see it, there is an irony in the fact that the most fluent French speaking Irish politician was ignored by your Paris correspondent. - Yours, etc.,

Clarence Avenue,

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Derry BT48 7NH.

PS: I am very confident that Mr Hume would give an interview to Ms Marlowe - in French!