ABSTRACT
The British lack of much concern, amused dismissal or near contempt for some international organisations have been constant for almost half a century. Too many of the ambassadors attached to UNESCO soft-footed about, following their telephoned orders, seeking more financial aid than was their country’s due, trying to bend the rules about the representation of their country’s nationals in the secretariat, or about fees and expenses. With some of the attached diplomatic staff one wondered whether there was any shifty order to which, with whatever regrets, they would demur. One might have expected Foreign Ministries to be a bit more moral – well, fair-minded – there. UNESCO was hardly a prime posting for civil servants or career diplomats so, with one or two admirable exceptions, those given the rank of ambassador there were not among their countries’ high-flyers.
