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British Consular Methods.

5th August 1909, Page 1
5th August 1909
Page 1
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Page 1, 5th August 1909 — British Consular Methods.
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When will the journalistic " nose " for news and the highly-developed commercial instinct of the Jew permeate the sleepy atmosphere of the British Consular Service? Far be it from us to include every British Consul at home and abroad in a general denunciation : our object is to draw attention to certain features which are not much removed from the deplorable, and which call for criticism by reason of the contrast which a few bright examples of activity furnish. The Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade has, during recent years, done something towards the provision of machinery for the lesstardy circulation of interim Consular reports, and Mr. Henry Sturmey, a fortnight ago, paid a deserved tribute in this journal to the intrinsic worth of certain information now rendered available, and most of all to the brilliant service of H.B.M. Consul at Warsaw. We are particularly concerned to emphasize the doubtful utility of the " Annual Report," and to ask whether quarterly—or • oven monthly -reports might not advantageously be substituted. Individuals are, of course, often the victims of Departmental practice, and we have nothing to say against any one report more than any other, hut no penalty is incurred for more evidences of life! It is beet, probably, that we should not quote the glaring examples which are before us as we write: an injustice might be

unwittingly done to a hampered and hide-bound consul or vice-consul, who would do better were he encouraged. Many consular reports, as records of ancient history, may possess a value of sorts, but they are of no use to the man who wants something which can be turned to account in his own business, or which is sufficiently detailed to be comprehensible. The practice of this country admittedly differs from that of Germany, whose consular agents are practically trade commissioners and canvassers, but there is a happy mean between the two courses, and one which should not in any degree be derogatory to the position and standing of the well-bred, well-educated, and otherwise-competent officers of the consular service. At the present stage of development in the world's requirements for motor vehicles, and at a time when most British manufacturers are averse to the laying-out of the money required for exhaustive all-world tours by expensive representatives, we think that a timely hint from the responsible Cabinet Minister would be universally beneficial—and that not to the motor trade alone.

Tags

Organisations: British Consular Service
People: Henry Sturmey
Locations: Warsaw

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