At an IMO cocktail reception, a coast guard admiral found himself in a small group that included personnel from the world’s merchant navies.
The French Delegate started complaining that whereas Europeans learned many languages, Americans learned only English.
He then asked, "Why is it that we have to speak English in these conferences rather than you speak French?"
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied: “Maybe it is because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies, and Americans arranged it so you would not have to speak German.”