The U.S. secretary of state comes to the conference and is willing to deal with Cuba. Carl and Betty get their honeymoon. The conference resumes with the secretary's position bolstered by Henry's information on the needs of the Cuban people. An embassy marine saves the secretary from Cuban assassins. The United States withdraws from the conference.
Diplomatic relations are unchanged.
Diplomatic Relations depicts the life of Americans abroad, carrying out their duties for their country in unfamiliar if not hostile places. They are the foreign service officers in the United States embassy in the fictitious South American country of Colonia. The event of the year is the attendance of the U.S. secretary of state at a conference to consider reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba and the troubles that brings. Diplomatic Relations will appeal not just to people who have served overseas but also to a large segment of the general public curious about what diplomats do. Many readers will relate to real adventures of people like themselves who serve in embassies more than they will to spies, detectives, and lawyers.