Press and information section

Consular section

A consular office in a capital city normally comes directly under the control of the head of the diplomatic mission, and often occupies part of the premises of the mission; it is, however, in some respects a separate entity governed by its own regulations.

The member of the staff in charge of the Press and Information section has to know what makes news in a particular country and who, locally, makes it, so that he may provide information concerning his country to the maximum effect. Apart from maintaining good relations with the producers of instant publicity – the press, radio and the television – a press officer often finds it advantageous to circulate a news-sheet to persons who are known to be interested in and sympathetic to his country. He will usually need the services of a translator (local staff), for an article will only be acceptable if it is written in the language of the country in which it has to be used. It has always to be borne in mind that in many countries the press has a significant influence on popular opinion, and this in turn influences a country’s foreign policy decisions to an ever increasing extent.

Service and specialist attachés

Until quite recently there was a clear distinction between a career diplomat, who concerned himself with political relations, and an attaché, whose interests were limited to a particular field. The former was a member of the diplomatic service and in practice a link between his own Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that of the state to which he was accredited or assigned; the latter was a member of a different government department, and while coming under the auspices and control of the head of mission was primarily serving the interests of his own department. With the growing number of specialist personnel now needed in large diplomatic missions, however, the distinction between the two categories has lessened, and specialists in, for example, legal or labour matters may be either attachés or secretaries of the diplomatic staff. It is of the greatest importance that their work should be closely coordinated with that of the mission as a whole.

Armed services attachés

Armed Services attachés are normally regular members of the Armed Forces who are attached to a diplomatic mission for a limited period of time. One of the major functions of a Military, Naval or Air Force attaché is to report on developments in his particular field of interest to his particular branch of the services either directly or, in important matters, through his head of mission. He can, in certain instances, help with the purchase or sale of war materials, and in most countries will be invited to take part in military exercises.

Cultural and Educational attachés

Cultural agreements were at one time the last resort of governments which could find nothing else to agree upon. Today the work of the cultural attaché can be of great value in fostering understanding and goodwill between states by arranging exchange visits of professional or occupational groups, or visits of world-class artists, by the award of scholarships, and in some instances by facilitating the study of his national language. 1t is sometimes the practice to appoint as attaché a person eminent in the field of a particular cultural activity; but in such instances it is also the practice to appoint a good administrator as his assistant. In some instances separate cultural and educational attachés are appointed.

Other attachés

The range of possible attachés is limited only by the interests of the states appointing them and the willingness of the states receiving them. Their titles are indicative of their function, and include: Labor, Agriculture, Fisheries, Scientific, Industrial, Civil Aviation, Public Relations, Recruitment, Tourism, Legal, Immigration, Shipping and Timber.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-27