Diplomacy

SINCE this book was first published in 1939 many serious events have occurred. It appears more necessary than ever to affirm that the art of diplomacy (which is the art of negotiating agreements between Sovereign States) is not concerned with dialectics, propaganda, or invective: its purpose is to create international confidence, not to sow international distrust. I am glad indeed that this book has been translated into the Russian language and circulated by the Soviet Government to their missions and consulates abroad.

In this new and revised edition I have not altered a word that I wrote ten years ago regarding the principles and ideals of correct diplomacy. These principles appear to me necessary and immutable. Since this book was first published, however, the British Foreign Service has been completely re modelled under the reforms initiated by Mr. Anthony Eden and put into practice by Mr. Ernest Bevin. This has entailed a revision of the greater part of Chapter IX in order to bring up to date the conditions of entry into the new Foreign Service.