BRAINS BEFORE BIRTH.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 290, 6 July 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

BRAINS BEFORE BIRTH.

According j a London correspondent, consternation has b i caused among the ranks tf English society by the aniiounuuiient that the system of selecting candidates lor employment m tinForeign Office and the diplomatic service is to undergo considerable change. For generations past appointments to the Foreign Office and its sub-depart-ment, the diplomatic service, has been confined to persons of birth and influence. It is not difficult to understand that the social standing of British diplomatic: representatives of foreign courts was a thing that must be taken into account, that good manners on the jxirt of ycung attaches were necessary to secure their admittance into high society; but the war has shown that the system of giving so much preference *o birth over brains in the selection of persons to represent Great Britain at foreign courts has its disadvantages in times cf international crisis. For this reason the system is to be altered so as t- extend the area of selection. Under the old system it was necessary first of all to secure nomination from the Minister for Foreign Affairs before a candidate could go before the board of selection. And as a r :le nomination was irmted as a fvaour fo some society lady who interested herself in the welfare of the young aspirant for a diplomatic career. An attache of a British embassy gets na pay at all for the f.rst two years, and after that he draws only £loo a year for four or fivj years. The board of selection recognises that it is impossible for a young man to move in the society of foreign courts and maintain the prestige of the British diplomatic service on nothinj; a year, or even on £3 a week; and it therefore insists that a candidate must have private means amounting lo at least £4OO a year. As further proof that the diplomatic service has been a very clo.se preserve for young men cf birth and means, it may be mentioned that during the six years bofore the war every applicant . ap:n;ierwi -,.{{), ),,,£ onP pxception, fame from one rf the two most expensive universities—Oxford and Cambridge. And before going to these universities tho candidates attended one of the expensive public school*, such as Eton and Harrow.