DIPLOMATIC SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 230, 24 June 1943, Page 5

DIPLOMATIC SERVICE

Post-War Responsibilities

(British Official Wireless.) (Received June 23, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, June 22.

The quality of the British diplomatic representation in South America was discussed in the House of Commons, and the Foreign Secretary-, Mr. Eden, replied to Sir Granville Gibson, who. urged that men who were sent on British foreign missions should be interested not only in diplomacy and strategy, but also in trade and industry. Generally speaking, our business men abroad did not make much use of our foreign trade missions, said Sir Granville. In several South American countries our organization for assisting trade was very poor and inadequate and not very helpful to trading interests. Mr. Eden was the first Foreign Minister to realize the necessity of putting things on a new basis. In reply, Mr. Eden said that though 'there might have been relative inefficiency in the Foreign Service in South America in lhe past, it was not true today. There was no intention of sending to South American countries representatives not considered promising enough for the service in Europe. After the war, selection for posts in the Diplomatic and Foreign Service would be largely from those with good records in the war and national service. We should want the very best service to deal with the very great responsibilities that would be laid on it. The discussion arose on a Bill enabling the Foreign Secretary to retire on pension any member of the Diplomatic Service who was below standard.