12 JUNE 1941, Page 5

Anthony Eden's House of Commons statement on the reform of

the diplomatic service is welcome, but terribly belated. The distinction between diplomats and consuls ceased to exist years ago in most other countries, with the result that the former became less snobbish, more interested and more inter- esting. For more than a score of years I have wandered from capital to capital, and, except in order to see personal friends, I have seldom called at a British Embassy or Legation. My job, after all, was to pick up information, and one diplomat had so nearly the same " dope " as all the others. Besides, it was sad to see very able and keen young third secretaries becoming year by year more prosy and more pontifical. And less courageous.