The Diplomatic Game

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1949, Page 3

The Diplomatic Game

LONDON, February 23

Hints on how British diplomats should behave fibroad at events 1 ranging from officials meals to funerals are given in a handbook on etiquette just issued by the British Foreign Office. The Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, Mr Marcus Cheke, wrote most of the ■ book. It has made its appearance in Washington, and its ‘'leakage" into non-diplomatic circles lias caused wide comment, according to newspaper reports. The book gives advice to "'John Bull,” a new diplomat, going abroad The first hint is that, for official meals, Mr and Mrs Bull must, arrive five minutes early. Mr Bull must speak to Mrs Bull at least once during the evening, and “must not, therefore spend an entire hour lost in the garden, with a girl.” The book says: “It is a good idea to learn bridge, for it is generally necessary to stay to the bitter end of even the most tedious dinners, and it is much more agreeable to play a hand of cards than to sit up'half the night making conversation with some boring important old lady. A hint for behaviour at funerals is: “Many an interesting political connection was conceived by a certain foreign handshake in a funeral cortege, and cemented by giving his acquaintance a car lift home from the cemetery.”