'Foreign and defe.n ce policy essentially has to be about the obtaining and manageme&t ~ of influence.~ Lord Carringtou, R.jkct on Thing• P~~Bt, 1988
'My aims for Britain in the community can be simply stated. I want us ·to be wher~ we belong. A~ the very heart of Etirope. Working with our partners in buildin the future. That 1s a challenge we take up with enthusiasm.' g Jolm Major, 1991
'Diplomacy is unfashionable in the world of knee-jerk reaction and the dogmatic sound bite on television.' ~ DougiU Hard, 1992
'Preventive diplomacy is quicker, more helpful to peoples about to be embroiled · conflict than-the most successful peace-keeping or peace-making operation whi: follows the outbreak of violence.' · ditto
'The function of the personal representative abroad is ·virtually obsolete in today's world; faxes, telexes and now face-to-face conference . telephone facilities could eaSily be installed in place of our smug, expensive diplomats. Similarly, with foreign ministers constantly jetting around and summits taking place almost monthly, the day of the grand embassy is over. The 18th century .concept of a large legation in every foreign capital has been made progressively redundant by technological advance; and if prestigious ambassadorial jobs were not expected and demanded by diplomats as the climaxes of their careers, half' of :the legations could be dosed down tomorrow.' Andrew Roberts, Daily Mail, 1993
'British foreign policy exists to protect and promote British interests. Despite all the changes in the world that underlying truth has not changed.' Douglas Hurd, 1993
'The·. Foreign Office is a splendid Rolls Royce, \Yhose owner keeps telling it to go faster, while cutting down on the fuel. Pride ensures that appearances are kept up: the chrome is as highly polished as ever and the exterior is kept perfect. But from time to time, although the owner needs the Rolls for prqfessional purposes, he gets embarrassed at owning such a status symbol, admiriisters an almighty kick to the . bodywork and tells them in the pub that he is thinking of scrapping it or. swapping it for a Ford Cortina.' Ruth Duclley Edwards, Tnur Brits, 1994
'In the world beyond parliaments, the press and think tanks, parochialism is being jettisoned; to survive, the fittest have to be international and manage change, not seek to defy.' Maleohn RifkiDcl, 1M Sunday
18
T~s,
1995