1 FEBRUARY 1992, Page 22

War of the rosés

KING Charles II Street runs between the Treasury and the Foreign Office like a chasm. The Treasury is roundheaded, the Foreign Office cavalier, the Treasury is par- simonious and the Foreign Office open- handed, the Treasury's corridors are floored with puce linoleum, the Foreign Office's courtyard is paved with white mar- ble. . . and yet the Foreign Office, I find, has troubles that the Treasury is spared. A notice in the cavalier spirit bears witness to them: PLEASE DO NOT BRING RED WINE INTO THE COURTYARD.