Evening star., 1924-01-05
By FREDERICK CUNLIFFE-OWEN.
O. b. e.

1
JUST at present, members of
Great Britain's diplomatic serv-
~ Ice are devoting every minute
that they can spare from
their laborious duties to gazing
at their reflections in the look
ing glass, with degree of III con-
cealed anxiety speaking we'll for
that truly English modesty which
presents SO pleasing a contrast to
the self assurance and self suffl-
cheney Of the diplomats of most
! other lands. Their frequent glances
at their mirrors, while. twisting their
features into the expression which
they consider most pleasing to the
eye' and 'fn devoting unusual atten-
tion to their grooming and to their
attire, are not prompted by any con-
siderations OF vanity, but by fear.
For they know that future veal or
woe In their career may depend upon
the extent to which they measure up
ready proclaimed in print by the
former diplomat who, according to
the cable dispatches and to general
belief, is slated for the secretaryship
of state for foreign affairs in the
/ new labor administration when it
comes into power on the second week
In January. 1t is necessary to ex-
plain this to relieve British attaches,
secretaries. counsellors, charge DAFT
faires. ministers plenipotentiary, and
even ambassadors, OF the implication
OF having even a grain Of conceit.
They are the shyest men in the serv-
Ice OF King Georges crown.
The man whose advent at Downing
street, in the role Of foreign minister,
they SO dread, is Arthur Ponsonby,
who has frequently proclaimed the
necessity Of a number of radical re-
forms in the English diplomatic serv-
Ice, many of them elaborated and
discussed in a remarkable book which
he brought out few years ago in
London. entitled Diplomacy and
that as much attention should be
paid to the physical fitness" of the
! candidates as to their mental ability,
and urged that the mere fact Of their
having succeeded in passing a COM
| petitiye examination should not be
for appointment. He declared that
lots Of men now in the diplomatic
service of England are physically
unfit for their jobs-defective in
hearing, and in good sight, potential
| invalids. unable to ride or to make
| long sea Journeys without detriment
to their insides and, above all. un-
comely." This attack on the pulchri-
trude of the members of the Dip
| lomatic service by one of their for
dorsed by Sir Harry Johnston, ex-
| plorer and former minister pleni-
potentiary, in a review which he
printed Of Arthur Ponsonby's book,
based on the experience of many
years in service abroad as consul
1 Oh
| missioner and, as have said above,
| minister plenipotentiary.
| Comeliness has not. until now, been
| considered, either by the British for
| eign Office, nor yet by the State De-
| partment at Washington. as a neces-
| sary qualification on the part Of can
didates for appointment to the diplo-
matte and consular services. Yet its
| adoption as sine qua non, as strong
ly recommended by the future minis
l ter OF foreign Affairs In the labor cab
inet, deserves careful consideration
For q good looking man of well bred
appearance has obviously greater ad.
vantages, not only in society. but also
in political and official circles, than
one whose appearance excites un-
favorable comment, perhaps ridicule
A homely man, of vulgar aspect, OF
afflicted with some physical defect
| such as cross eyes, handy legs
nervous twiching or other dI sire essine
peculiarities, is handicapped from the
very outset Of his taking up resi-.
physical defects prove Of still greater
disadvantage to the nation of the for
eign diplomat concerned, II he hap
pens to. be accredited to a country
where there is q monarchical form OF
government. Court life, as such, 1,
anointed OF tho, Lord" have Away.
been, in the past; and remain still to-
day, chronic sufferers from ennui
That was the reason for tho existence
that. too. Is why anything there that
lends itself to ridicufe Is seized upon
for merriment, though It might pass
unnoticed elsewhere.
r .&k
Thus, I. recall the late Queen VIC
torias endeavored. when her deeply
every possible way, those who had
enjoyed his friendship and his In
timacy. One Of them was a very
learned scientist, little bit Of a
man, with red hair and side whiskers
more than q suspicion OF q squint in
his very earnest, protruding eyes
framed by unusually large spectacles
To an exceptionally long body were
appended two short legs. Of an ex-
ceptionally banded character. These
| defects had been, to great measure
! concealed from tho queen. by the
| frock coat which he had worn In the
audience which she had accorded to
MIN to- thank him for his services to
ner husband, and when her vision
was somewhat impaired by the tears
which she shed, during the inter-
view. in discussing her consort, Any
now, she. appointed him one OF the
gentlemen ushers in waiting, that Is
to say, to one Of those posts which
only called for his presence on state
occas sions. These did not take place
. ior a considerable time, by reason OF
tho depth and protractsd character
presence was needed at = great, court
ceremony, her grief had become
somewhat assuaged. Perhaps she had
FORGOTTEN all about tho scientist.
him. arrayed in his gold-embroidered
tai! coat, sword, white knee breeches
! ana white silk stockings, the uniform
mercy serving to emphasize his odd
rhysical disadvantages Indeed he
phresented pres 80 peculiar an appearance
tnat, possessed, as she was. of q very
Keen sense of ridicule, despite the
austerity Of her expression, she had
the utmost difficulty in repressing
So much trouble did she have in
preserving her seriousness and that
Of those Immediately around her
that she directed that tho little man
again before her in that ruise. Z But
not long afterward she caused him
to, be given much more important
and lucrative office in the govern
his invariable presence at CONT on
state occasions, and she continued
until his death to show him her ap-