The Press FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1975. Come alive — try diplomacy

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33874, 20 June 1975, Page 12

The Press FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1975. Come alive — try diplomacy

The Dutch community in New Zealand is being unduly sensitive about the remarks by the departing Netherlands Ambassador, Mr H. C. Jorissen. The Ambassador said that, after five years, he had found New Zealand to have too many drunks, too much foul language, too much violence, and a monotonous way of life. Such observations may hardly seem diplomatic, but they were not made lightly or on only brief acquaintance with the country. Furthermore, they were but a small part of his reflections on life in New Zealand. Dutch immigrants are among the hardest-working and best-behaved groups in New Zealand. They should not fear that they will be abused by fellow New Zealanders because of a comment from a representative of the country they chose to leave. Most New Zealanders probably would agree with at least some of the Ambassador’s remarks. That other New Zealanders have not felt the need to leap to their country’s defence is surely a mark of growing maturity here after many years of expecting visitors from abroad to like what they find, and to say so without reservations.

Mr Jorissen’s remarks brought interesting responses from other diplomats. The French Ambassador seemed pleased that a diplomat had spoken his mind, and almost gave the impression that he wished he had had the courage to do it first. Declining to comment, the French Ambassador deftly added that Mr Jorissen “ certainly knows the country ”... a response entirely worthy of the dean of the diplomatic corps. The Polish team met solemnly in their Embassy and expressed collective horror that “ a diplomat would say such rude words ”; and so struck a neat blow for the Eastern bloc. The High Commissioner for Singapore, before becoming inscrutable and refusing to “ enlarge ”, reminded us that Mr Jorissen’s nice remarks might outweigh his criticisms. The edge of uncertainty in the High Commissioner’s response may put him in trouble with colleagues in the corps from the East. Mr Jorissen, indeed, did say some nice things which deserve as much attention as his criticisms. The enjoyment he obviously derived from the richness and variety of Maori culture is a pleasure which pakeha New Zealanders are slowly beginning to share; his appreciation of the links between Maoris and the land — and between farmers and the same land — is too easily overlooked by townspeople who now comprise the great majority of New Zealanders. Surely a man who describes farmers as ” the true New Zealanders ” and commends them as “ hard-working, helpful, imaginative and hospitable ” can be allowed to mention a few home truths as well. According to Sir Henry Wotton (1568-1639), “ An ambassador is an honest man sent to lie abroad for the good of his country ” This does not have to hold true in the twentieth century, and an ambassador here certainly should not have to lie for the good of ours.