Take France seriously
The importance of being serious about France
The new French ambassador is a figure of significance
So the ambassador of a great nation like France is more than the postman of Paris. He can play a vital role in building trust. He has to persuade an audience far beyond that of his fellow professional diplomats serving Britain’s prime minister and foreign secretary that if Britain and France can find a common purpose, a common voice and a common vision then the two countries can do important things with and for Europe.
France has been well served by its recent ambassadors in London. Britain, in turn, has sent only its finest diplomats to serve in Paris. The present British ambassador in Paris, Sir Peter Westmacott, arrived from Turkey, where more than anyone in Ankara he had built bridges between the democratic Islamist government in Turkey and Europe. Now his job is to convert the Turkophobe French towards the view that a Turkey working towards a European destination is better than an isolated Turkey seeing and hearing only cold words and looks from the EU.
The Prime Minister notoriously preferred not to stay with ambassadors in his international trips when Chancellor. After the disaster of the gossipy memoirs of the former ambassador in Washington, Sir Christopher Meyer, with his sneers at John Prescott and other Labour ministers who did not meet his snobby standards, Brown may feel he made a wise choice. But the desire to serve the state and see their country walk tall is in the DNA of every British ambassador I have met. Save in a handful of top embassies, it is a lonely job. Endless staff cuts are imposed as Britain’s overseas spending goes to development aid, the intelligence agencies and defence — anything other than political networking, making friends and influencing government by high-quality diplomacy.
A good ambassador can make a big difference. The new French one was at President Chirac’s side during all the ups and downs on Atlantic and European relations in recent years. That he has been sent to London shows that France takes us seriously. Can we repay the compliment? It is up to the diplomatic services of both nations to show that their talents and artistry remain relevant and needed in the modern age of relations between nations and their states.
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Peter Rodney
November 30th, 2007 10:38amThis is wonderful rubbish. I have no doubt that MGM is a charming, delightful and clever man (although his close association with President Chirac may cast some doubt on his judgement). But ambassadors do nothing nowadays except live in grand houses and throw grand parties. Yes, an invitation to the French Embassy is something to be treasured and will make me feel well-disposed towards France - and no doubt Mr Macshane has been there a few times and is expecting another invitation soon. But a few words in a few well-disposed ears does not actually change the foreign policy of a State; the best it can do is mitigate the damage. MGM will be brilliant at explaining French dirigisme to the Anglo-Saxons; our man In France will be equally good at explaining the advantages of trade liberalism to the French. But it won't make the slightest difference to the fundamentals. Like the Monarchy, ambassadors are a splendid anachronism in the present day. By all means keep them, but let us not pretend they make any difference. Unless calling in the Sudanese ambassador will result in the immediate release of Ms Gibbons ... .