Brought to book
Sir: It saddened me to read (`Sins of commission', 21 October) that Quentin Crewe finds British ambassadorial staff an embarrassment, even though he signed the book. When I was consul in Chiang Mai, no visitor got so much as a glass of boiled
water until he had signed the book. After that it was different, which cost me a good deal more than my slender entertainment allowance. I expect allowances, staff and resources in Kampala are today greater than they were in Chiang Mai, even in relative terms. So I wonder why more was not done for Mr Crewe.
I suppose it is to do with numbers of travellers. In my day, I wanted visitors' names in my book as evidence to place before the diplomatic service inspectors, desperate for any excuse to close down the consulate and sell the house, that there was some call on my office. No doubt Kampala in 1989 enjoys the benefit of several jumbo-jet loads of travellers every day. This must colour their view of the benefit to be gained from travellers, as compared with their post objectives, which Mr Crewe identifies.
One final point: why does Mr Crewe expect to see the president of a foreign country? What chance would any Ugandan journalist stand of getting into Bucking- ham Palace, never mind 10 Downing Street?
Malcolm McBain 21 Binney Street, London W1
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