http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/712066--exposed-letters-show-what-uk-diplomats-really-think-of-us

Actually, the articles title should have read what they "thought" of us, since the type of documents referred to ended in 2006. Interesting read though.



Exposed letters show what UK diplomats really think of us

October 18, 2009

David Stringer


LONDONIt's not exactly diplomatic details of what British ambassadors really think about their foreign hosts were disclosed Sunday following the release of a series of frank, and sometimes outright rude, letters to London from embassies around the world.


Nigerians are maddening, Nicaraguans often dishonest, Canadians deeply unimpressive and Thai's commonly lewd, British diplomats claim in notes sent to Britain's Foreign Office over the last five decades.


The letters, disclosed to the BBC under Freedom of Information laws, also reveal how diplomats were bored by endless rounds of cocktail parties, and exasperated by the British government's failure to shake off its stuffy image overseas.


Until 2006, ambassadors retiring from their post or moving country traditionally sent a valedictory dispatch to London, offering their candid personal assessment of the country in which they had served.


In a 1967 memo, Roger Pinsent, Britain's outgoing ambassador to Nicaragua, was scathing in his criticism.


"There is, I fear, no question that the average Nicaraguan is one of the most dishonest, unreliable, violent and alcoholic of the Latin Americans," Pinsent wrote.


Two years later, David Hunt then high commissioner to Nigeria said the West African country's leaders had "a maddening habit of always choosing the course of action which will do the maximum damage to their own interests."


"Africans as a whole are not only not averse to cutting off their nose to spite their face; they regard such an operation as a triumph of cosmetic surgery," Hunt claimed in his letter.


Lord Moran, high commissioner in Ottawa, Canada, between 1981 and 1984, claimed Canadians had limited talents.


"Anyone who is even moderately good at what they do in literature, the theatre, skiing or whatever tends to become a national figure. And anyone who stands out at all from the crowd tends to be praised to the skies and given the Order of Canada at once," Moran wrote in his letter, according to files released to the BBC.


Anthony Rumbold, Britain's ambassador to Thailand from 1965 to 1967, mocked his hosts for an apparent lack of culture. "They have no literature, no painting and only a very odd kind of music; their sculpture, ceramics and dancing are borrowed from others, and their architecture is monotonous and interior decoration hideous," Rumbold wrote.


"Nobody can deny that gambling and golf are the chief pleasures of the rich, and that licentiousness is the main pleasure of them all," he said.


Other diplomats used their letters to criticize British bureaucracy, and the sometimes dull world of international relations.


"One of the great failures of the diplomatic service has been its inability to cast off its image as bowler-hatted, pinstriped and chinless with a fondness for champagne," David Gore-Booth wrote in 1999, as he prepared to leave a posting in Delhi.


"Indeed cocktail parties are death as, I am sure 99 per cent of diplomatic service colleagues would agree," Gore-Booth wrote, bemoaning the countless receptions ambassadors are expected to host, or attend.


The Foreign Office ended the tradition of valedictory letters in 2006, after a message from Ivor Roberts Britain's departing ambassador to Italy was leaked to the media.


Roberts criticized the ministry's management culture, and fondness for buzzwords. "Can it be that in wading through the plethora of business plans, capability reviews ... and other excrescences of the management age, we have indeed forgotten what diplomacy is all about," he wrote.


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Everyones entitled to their opinions, even past and present British diplomats.

I'm sure there are equally frank opinions about us from foreign diplomats based in the UK over the years.

LOL @ Thailand "Lack of Culture"

I think, just about every nation in East/Southeast Asia bar Australia has more culture than Europe.

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More culture than Europe? Are you insane? Think of the Cinema, Music, Art, Literature and Sport that comes from Europe and you'll soon kick yourself for making such a comment. Europe is the centre of culture, Asia can **** right off if it thinks it's more developed.

I think, just about every nation in East/Southeast Asia bar Australia has more culture than Europe.
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1) Australia isn't part of Asia.
2) No country comes even close, yes I did say close, to Europe* as a whole when it comes to culture. Since 2000 years or so, Europe has gone through countless "cultures" whereas any other non-European country, in all its existence, has maybe two "cultures". With culture I mean something akin to a civilization like for examples the Vikings, ancient Rome, Victorian Britain, the renaissance, the Yin dynasty etc.

*To simplify things, I consider the whole of the European continent as one nation.



When I was young I used to pray for a bike, then I realized that God doesn't work that way, so I stole a bike and prayed for forgiveness.

By culture i'm referring to this:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/culture

5. the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture.
6. Anthropology. the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.

politicalgain
More culture than Europe? Are you insane? Think of the Cinema, Music, Art, Literature and Sport that comes from Europe and you'll soon kick yourself for making such a comment. Europe is the centre of culture, Asia can **** right off if it thinks it's more developed.

One thing, European culture is pale in comparison to Asian cultures when looking numbers 5 and 6. Asians are more traditonal, have a greater sense of spirituality, as opposed to Europeans who are far from it. Not to mention Asians are also VERY rich in Literature, music, art and sport (Martial Arts anyone?). And a long and detailed history to back it up with. Also, how many Europeans use the same alphabet as compared to Asians using the same alphabet? How about food? Customs? Dress and appearance? Think about this.


Nighthawk00
1) Australia isn't part of Asia.

Geographically, the island continent is pretty close. Sometimes, it's often referred to as being part of Southeast Asia.

2) No country comes even close, yes I did say close, to Europe* as a whole when it comes to culture. Since 2000 years or so, Europe has gone through countless "cultures" whereas any other non-European country, in all its existence, has maybe two "cultures". With culture I mean something akin to a civilization like for examples the Vikings, ancient Rome, Victorian Britain, the renaissance, the Yin dynasty etc.

Gone through what "cultures"? You're talking about periodic events in history, not the traditions, food, language, alphabet, religions, customs etc. All of which Asia is much more diverse than Europe, by a long shot. Vikings can be compared to the Huns, Knights to the Samurai etc. Where are you trying to get at? Would you like to add in Cowboys and Indians as well? Ancient Rome was great no doubt about it, but at the same time there existed the Han Dynasty in China.

*To simplify things, I consider the whole of the European continent as one nation.,

Might as well consider Asia as one nation going by your logic.

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If we could go back in time we'd be able to witness a new civilization in Europe every century (after 1300AD). That's something only Europe can claim.



When I was young I used to pray for a bike, then I realized that God doesn't work that way, so I stole a bike and prayed for forgiveness.

^I think what you're referring to was the Age of Discovery eric (Columbus discovers America, Jacques Cartier discovers Canada etc.), there were no new civilizations discovered in Europe from this period onwards . Every European civilization at the time already occupied most of Europe and continued to expand it's territories through war or discovery in the New World.

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