WHEN BRITISH DIPLOMACY FAILS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 177, 26 May 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

WHEN BRITISH DIPLOMACY FAILS.

THE LESSON OF THE BALKANS, j The failure of diplomacy in the Balkans has made tLoughful people wonder whether our diplomatists there ' have been lacking in those qualities , that make for success in advantageous negotiation and tiie forging of international friendship. In the opinion of many, Bulgaria and Turkey would never have ranged themselves on the side of the Central Powers had not the Entente diplomatists failed lamentably ; in their duties. We would be the last to believe all the varies one hears about the diplomatists of the Allies taking their ease in their Embassy gardens and having a good time while ihe German diplomatists were alert and active; but, while the British diplomatic service has a number of exceptionally able men, with a wide knowledge of the social, political, and economic conditions of the countries in which they serve, it is to be feared that these men are the exception, and not the rule. The majority of the men are not brilliant, and this fact is due largely to the method of recruiting the service. Indeed, one of the reforms to be taken up when the cannon have ceased to roar is the reform of the diplomatic service. ** It is somewhat of an anomaly that, although Parliament in recent years has become more and more democratic, its influence over foreign affairs has gradually dec leased. Urgent domestic affairs have occupied the minds and energies of memlvers of Parliament, and only a s rerficial attention lias sk*« n g.ven to foreign policies. Titus diplomacy has been kept in the hands of an exclusive and narrow class. HOW THE SERVICE IS RECRUITED. That the diplomatic service i? n close? corporation is obvious when we examine the method of recruitment. First of all,every candidate for admission to the diplomatic service must have r> private income of at lea-.it L'KM) a vei" .And, secondly, only those known personally to the Secretary of State for Foreign

Affairs, or recommended by persons in whom he has the fullest confidence, are alloewd to appear before the Board of Selection, which decides what persons are to be suggested for final nomination by the Secretary of State. This linal nomination only means that the candidate- chosen compete among themselves in an examination held eacli year. The subjects of examination are the same as those for the Home and Indian Civil Service, with a higher standard for French and German. Tn fact the standard for these two subjects is so high that only those who have completed their education in France and Germany have much chance of passing in them. It should be stated that the income test applies only to the Diplomatic Corps, and not to the Diplomatic Establishment of the Foreign Office. THE TWO TESTS. Even a cursory glance at the method of recruiting the diplomatic service shows that the two chief tests are (1) a plutocratic test and (2) an aristocratic test. The reasons for tlie plutocratic test are easily understood; under present conditions it is absolutely necessary. For two years after his appointment as an attache the diplomatist receives no pay at all. On king promoted to third secretary lie receives the munificent salary of £l5O for about five years, hi most of the European capitals the expenses of living are very heavy. Rents are high in the neighbourhood of many Embassies, and there the diplomatists must have their residences. Expensive clubs have to be joined. Society functions have to be attended, and a certain amount of entertaining has to be indulged in. These all cost money, and it is said that even in many of the more highly-paid posts the expenses are so great that a private income is indispensable. Diplomatists are so frequently moving from one Embassy or legation to another that this item of expendituie alone in some cases has run into L'lo'J to t'2oo a year.

The reasons for the aristocratic test have al'-o something to lie said for them. Social aptitudes, a good address, a plea-ant manner, and a gentlemanlike demeanour are essentials for a diplomatist, and these are often—nay, usually found in the aristocrat. The diplomatist in list be able to move freely and jn equal terms among the leaders of society and everybody who counts in the country to which lie is accredited. He must be a man .vitoni the Ambassador or Min.st r can a-k to bis table as a friend and an equal.

I'lIK ])!•.ST .MKN" WANTED. Now, jililinujili it may bo argued that on the \\ hole our diplomatists are of a fairly jj,o(id f| ii;i Ii t tinii -is every n- - t'.ii to suppose that a more ;epre-ont.a-tiami more capable set of men would lie MviiiV-i by a I'ifiVrom method of recruitment. The limn at present are largely mi. 11 of one- tyjK\ speaking the same diplomatic language, and having the ,-ame habits of thotiglit. Eton lias >iipp!'ed a Jargo majority of them, and Oxford. Hut m evidence it has been stated tiiat'tlie best Oxford men do not enter the diplomat it- service, pr ncipallv lieian=e of the plutocratic test. Surely t'n.' he-t brains .should ho enlisted ill such a service. Darius and moral btfckhone, common sense. judgment, and tact are its valuable assets for diplomatists as social aptitudes and drawingroom manners. There is an aristocracy of talent which should not be overlooked. The stupidity of the plutocratic test could easily !>,> demonstrated by taking tho cases of well-knon men who wore excluded from thinking for a moment of seeking diplomatic service because, when at Oxford, they could not fulli! the private income qualification. Tho pre-enf Prime .Minister was one of Ox-

ford's most brilliant men, a man with diplomatic qualities, a loader of men, who lias been able with this force of character to attain to such political eminence, but under the stupid plutocratic test the young Yorkshireman had no chance of entering the diplomatic service. So with such capable men as Sir F. E. Smith and Sir John Simon. Their brains and diplomatic qualities counted as nothing, because they could not pass the income tost. .Vow, the best men are worth paying for, and any tests which keep the best men out of the diplomatic service should be removed. If sufficient salaries for the standard of living in the countries to which they were appointed were paid to the attaches and third, second, and first secretaries, the finest types ol .Britishers would seek entrance to a service so honourable and so important. The attractions of a diplomatist s life are many. There is the glamour of foreign travel, with the insight- into the lives and customs of foreign peoples. There is interesting, and agreeable, and most useful work. And there is a good chance of securing "honours'' from His Majesty the King. Allow the diplomatic service to l>e entered by the gateway of merit, and not by the gateway of favouritism, and a stronger, more efficient service would he the result. NEEDED REFORMS. To make the diplomatic service more representative and more successful in the performance of the delicate duties which it is called upon to perform, these three things are essential : (1) Abolish the private income qualification, and substitute a salary sufficient to the post to which a diplomatist is appointed. The cost of this change has been etstimnted at £30,000 to .£40,000 a year. (2) Have open competition for vacant posts, using the present Class I. Homo Service Examination, with the higher standards for French and German. From the top men in the examination a Hoard of Selection should, after personal interviews, choose the men for the posts. Brainy men, otherwise unsuitable for diplomatic service, would thus be ruled out, but they would secure posts in the Home Service. (3) Amalgamate the Diplomatic Establishment of the Foreign Office (about

50 men) with the Diplomatic Corps (about 12-3 men), a;.d make one "Foreign Service.'' Diplomatists should start with two years' service in the Foreign Office, study poor law, local government, social and industrial questions, in their own country—an ignorance which militates against their ability to understand the conditions of tho countrv they are sent to.

These changed conditions should secure for the Foreign Office men who would l>c a credit to their country wherever they were sent, and the cream of them would be encouraged by the prospect of obtaining the plums of the diplomatic service. It may he interesting to h statement of the posits available for those who choose a diplomatic career:—

There are nine Embassies, with annual salaries of £11.500 (Paris), £IO.OOO (Washington), four at £BOOO, one each at £7OOO, £5500, and £SOOO. There are 13 Missions of the First Class, with stlaries ranging from £ISOO to £2400. There are 17 Missions of the Second Class, with salaries of £2500 to £I3OO and two Ministers Resident with £ISOO and £llsO. Thirteen Counsellors get £SOO to £IOOO, according to the expensiveness of the place they are serving at. Twentv-one Second and First Secretaries get from £3OO by £2O to £SOO. Twenty-four Third Secretaries are paid £l5O for about five years. The Attaches for two years get no salary.