BRITISH DIPLOMATS TODAY
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR]
am very glad you are taking so active a part in pressing for reform of our diplomatic service. Few things are more important in the present world war of ideas than the strength- ening of British propaganda abroad. The British Council is doing its best with the pitiable sum at its disposal; surely it is clear that a Ministry of Information and Propaganda ought at once to be founded with power to spend at least ten million pounds per annum. Even that would, I Imagine, be much less than is being spent by Germany, with terrifying success, on internal and external propaganda.
I have no doubt whatever that your correspondents are right in suggesting the reform of our diplomatic service; many of our diplomats almost confine their contacts to the " right " people, who often have little or no influence in public affairs.
One direction in which most of our diplomats might help more effectively is in connexion with British trade abroad. A recently appointed Minister was invited to meet some business men who were interested in the territory to which he was going. He said he would be glad to come and lunch with them, but "I must tell you fellows frankly that I know nothing about business and I am too old to learn."—Yours, &c.,
E. D. SIMON.
Broomcroft, Ford Lane, Didsbury, Manchester 20.
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