"Foreign Office,
"April 25, 1911."The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to Mr. P. F. Martin, and, by direction of the Secretary of State, acknowledges the receipt of his letter of the 23rd inst., which is receiving attention."
"Foreign Office,
"May 8, 1911."Sir,—With reference to your letter of the 23rd ultimo, I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit to you herewith, a copy of the Consular Trade Report for Salvador for the year 1892, which is the last received.
"I am, sir,
"Your most obedient humble servant,
"(Signed) W. Langley."
"Pondtail Lodge, "Fleet, North Hants,
"May 9, 1911."To the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Office, London, W.
"Mr. Percy F. Martin presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and begs to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the Consular Report concerning trade in Salvador for the year 1892, which he notes is the last which has been issued."
It may be asked why the Foreign Office grants an office allowance of £200 to the Consul at San Salvador if the services of that gentleman do not include the supply of at least an occasional report upon the trade conditions of that important country? In view of the fact that the share of the Republic's trade with Great Britain is still of some moment, even if it has shrunk considerably in magnitude from what it formerly was, it seems astonishing that not a word concerning the conditions prevailing, nor of the opportunities which exist for promoting trade in that country, should have emanated from a Department of State which presumably exists to protect the interests of the nation's trade and commerce abroad.
Assuredly, never at any time were the stinging sarcasms uttered by Burke, concerning Government services of this kind, in 1780, more deserved than to-day. In his memorable speech on "Economical Reform," Burke observed that the Board of Trade was "a sort of gently ripening hothouse where members received salaries of £1,000 a year in order to mature at a proper season a claim for £2,000." If our Consuls are expected to do nothing more than sit in their offices in order to qualify eventually for a pension, the sooner they are abolished altogether the better for the country's pocket.
It is to be observed that certain among the Latin-American States have a much clearer idea of the proper qualifications for, and the functions of, a Consul and a Vice-Consul than our own Foreign Office, which has challenged criticism and earned condemnation on account of the ridiculous appointments which it has made, and continues to make, to such offices. Quite recently the Government of Salvador published a very important Regulation relative to Consular appointments, and this contains so much good sense, and offers so many points which might be adopted with advantage by our own "Circumlocution Office," that I make no apology for reproducing the gist of it here.
According to Article I., Clause (b), of this Regulation, the Consular career "has for its aim above all to promote and increase the commerce of the country, and also to insure for it social and political representation." Then this official Regulation gives a general review of the obligations imposed upon members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, and adds: "Certainly, in order to fulfil these, special knowledge is needed, which can only be acquired by patient and careful study. Diplomats and Consuls, who go to represent Salvador in foreign lands, must especially be presentable and must possess individuality. If any unfortunate circumstance makes them appear ridiculous, discredit will fall, not only on themselves, but on their fellow-countrymen." The Regulation continues:
"Travellers have been heard to say that they have sometimes found the Salvador coat of arms lying in a dark, dirty hovel, or in close proximity to a pawnshop; whilst some diplomatists have been rendered conspicuous by their ignorance of the language and customs of the country to which they have been sent, and, above all, by their absolute lack of patriotism. A Professor of International Law has related of an Envoy Extraordinary of the Republic of Salvador, that he once had to be arrested by the police in the centre of the City of Mexico for drunkenness."
I have heard of at least one British diplomatic representative in South America who ought to have been arrested for a similar offence, but who escaped the indignity by reason of the wholesome respect which the Government had for the country which he represented, even if it had none for the representative.
"Consuls and diplomatists," goes on this document, "must not only possess special knowledge, but must be cultured persons, honourable, tactful, and sympathetic." In a word, they must possess the difficult gift of knowing "how to please."