IS THE FOREIGN OFFICE NECESSARY?
SIR,—Despite the Warden of New College's uncer- tainty as to what I want in the way of Foreign Office reform, I should have thought it emerged pretty clearly from my article that I was asking for a modernisation of its administration. I am quite willing to accept his assurance that there is machinery for considering long-term problems of .foreign policy —all I maintain is that there is no visible sign of, its existence—and that the Foreign Office has more control over cultural and other activities affecting foreign affairs than any similar Ministry outside a totalitarian country; but I continue to describe the degree of such control as inadequate, given the fact that it is precisely with totalitarian countries that we have to compete in this matter. As for his rhetorical question, With what else [other than bureaucrats] can one staff a government depart- ment?'—this may appear a conclusive stroke of wit to some people, but to others it will seem very like leading with the chin.
With the last paragraph of Sir William Hayter's letter I am very much in agreement. Of course the position of this country has changed. Of course we can no longer 'boss foreigners around.' And it is precisely because of this that I should advocate the reform of a Foreign Office whose machinery was largely created under conditions which have now gone for ever.—Yours faithfully, ANTHONY HARTLEY The Travellers' Club
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