bout de papier, Vol. 11, No. 3 (1994) — Fall 1994 // Automne 1994, p. 3
Editor:
We have much enjoyed the interesting set of articles in your recent edition on “Re-thinking the Foreign Service.” Normally, I would have overlooked an inaccuracy in the figures you gave for UK overseas missions. But since Glen Bailey’s piece has attracted the attention of national columnists who have quoted your figures, I should point out that the total of 422 missions overseas would, if true, cause fits of apoplexy in the Treasury of London.
Fortunately for them, the true figure is 215. This consists of 140 Embassies/High Commissions, 61 subordinate posts, 9 missions to international organizations, and 5 British Interest sections or trade offices. In addition, there are 18 posts staffed entirely by locally-engaged staff, and 209 Honorary Consulates. I do not know whether this calls into question M branch’s infallibility, or was perhaps a minor typographical error. Either way, perhaps the next time you print the chart, could you give the correct figures? Many thanks. P.G.H. Holdich British High Commission, Ottawa
Editor:
When I was stationed in Canberra a retired Australian Trade Commissioner to Canada named McGregor paid a courtesy call on me. He told me an anecdote about the final approval by the R.B. Bennett Cabinet of the first Trade Agreement between Canada and Australia in the summer of 1931. He had been permitted to sit in the ante-room to the Cabinet room in the East Block of the Parliament Buildings while the Cabinet was reviewing the Trade Agreement negotiated by officials. An Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet came out from the Cabinet room to state that Dr. Manion had raised the point that the Roman Catholic supporters of the Conservative Party would not understand the inclusion of passion fruit in the list of reciprocal tariff reductions. It would smack of Eve tempting Adam with an apple in the Garden of Eden. It would be easier for the Cabinet to approve the Trade Agreement if passion fruit could be dropped from the list.
McGregor had objected that, if the Canadian side was to eliminate an Australian item, he would have to cable Canberra and they would insist on some tariff reduction in the Canadian list being knocked off. And the negotiation would drag on for months.
In a stroke of genius he suggested substituting the Latin name for passion fruit. What was it? Passiflora edulis he replied. And so the good people of Canada were spared temptation.
My own research indicated that the Latin name Passiflora edulis was included in brackets after passion fruit in Schedule A of the Trade Agreement, rather than being substituted for it, as I had originally understood McGregor’s anecdote. But it still makes a good story.
Arthur Menzies Former High Commissioner to Australia 1965-72 Editor:
I hope you can find room in an upcoming bout de papier for this picture. After all, how often do three Trade Commissioners come upon APT when it’s not at the Pearson Building?
Sara Hradecky, Tel Aviv
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 11, No. 3 (1994) — Fall 1994 // Automne 1994, p. 3. Read the rest of this issue →
