Ann Grant, head of the Africa department, which is at the heart of the row, is a graduate of Sussex (ie not Oxbridge) and spent a chunk of her career at Oxfam.Through the 1990s the Foreign Office has re-oriented itself away from narrow diplomacy towards the demands of business, stepping up collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry. Small European consulates were closed in favour of emerging areas in the east (although the diplomatic presence is small compared to other nations). Even the Paris embassy, under Sir Michael Jay, has tried to present a forward-looking image, decorating its walls with some modern art works which anticipated "Cool Britannia".But Mr Cook wants to up the pace of these changes. He has already held one open day at the Foreign Office, and plans another for recruitment in June Ethnic-minority groups at universities have been targeted. Already there are signs of success; of those applying for this year's mainstream, 25 per cent are from ethnic minorities, and Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East, has praised the efforts as an example to Whitehall.There are other threats to the old order. Earlier this year, Cook founded an independent institute to generate foreign-policy ideas, the Foreign Policy Centre, seen by some as a direct challenge to those traditionalists who believe in the Civil Service dominating advice to ministers Many Labour figures believe there is much more to be done.
George Lawson, a researcher at Demos, the New Labour think-tank, argues: "The Foreign Office is one of the bastions that thinks it has to keep information secret. They are still living yesterday's politics and do not understand that information is held too widely for most of it to be kept secret indefinitely."This agenda, allied to Mr Cook's occasionally brusque style, has put backs up The minister has also offered some hostages to fortune. His promise of a foreign policy with an ethical dimension has opened up the department's activities to particular scrutiny. His insistence on the need to concentrate on the big picture, rather than consuming briefing papers, has led to charges of arrogance.OVERWHELMED by the demands of the European presidency and a series of international conferences and commitments, Mr Cook has scaled down meetings with the mandarins. Diplomats are clever people who expect their advice to be taken, and this has not gone down well. One source admitted: "There may be people who feel that when the ambassador of Woggadoo is back in London he should see Cook. That doesn't happen - but it probably wouldn't with any foreign secretary during the presidency."This mixture of personal and ideological differences has explosive potential, as Mr Cook's political stock falls.
As one veteran civil servant put it: "If you give the impression you're not happy with your department, you're not doing all your paperwork or you think you can get by on your intelligence, you are asking to be taken to the cleaners."But the mandarins of the Foreign Office may be exposed, too. Mr Cook has promised an internal review of the Sierra Leone affair and his friends say it may be used to speed up the pace of change. Perhaps that is why Sir John's slip-up was being seen at King Charles Street as unqualified bad news - for everybody.Ten facts about the Foreign OfficeThe Foreign Office budget is pounds 1,008m.It employs 5,850 people.Britain has diplomatic relations with 186 countries.There are 145 high commissions and embassies.The Foreign Office owns 3,900 properties.Land and property overseas is worth pounds 937m.34 per cent of overseas staff promote British exports.There were no senior ethnic minority staff in 1997.The highest-paid mandarin earned around pounds 115,000 in 1997.The Foreign Office owns 850 cars and 280 vans and lorries.. TWO MEN are sitting at a bar Both are drinking bourbon, both are wearing suits. One looks hot and hassled in a creased shirt and crooked tie The other? He just looks cool. Some men are like that, they stand out in a crowded room. This one doesn't care about his liver, his lungs or his lover: as the ice melts in his drink and a curl of smoke rises to the ceiling, his eyes glitter with an arrogance that dares any female to approach. Men like him should only be photo- graphed in black and white.
