Sunday 14 July 2019

How very British.



Following the unfortunate hacking of Sir Kim's mail, and the subsequent publishing of his thoughts, we were recently discussing how very quaint and old fashioned the British diplomatic service can be, and I remembered that somewhere I had the perfect example.

We've all heard the expression 'Diplomatic Bag', well, if you've never seen one, this is one above.

When a diplomat wishes to take top secret papers from his country of posting, back to the FO in Whitehall, he takes them in a simple canvas bag with a drawstring. No fancy lock and chain, no 'this package will self destruct, etc, no obligatory Aston Martin to avoid thieving enemy spies. Just an open canvas bag in which anything can be carried. A Diplomatic Bag is considered 'territory' of its Embassy, and cannot be violated.

The one above was used by my late Father-in-Law when in both Moscow and Washington. One can only imagine what dastardly secrets (or objects?) it contained! Hmmmm.



16 comments:

  1. Marmite and Melton Mowbray pork pies?

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    Replies
    1. More than likely, plus a few packets of Pork Scratchings!

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  2. Bet the Russians use a different sort of bag, locked to someone's wrist!

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  3. If they were going on a sea voyage, the bags had holes in them, reinforced with eyelets so they would sink if chucked overboard.

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    Replies
    1. To a waiting British Submarine, I imagine.

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  4. I never knew.....I love coming here it's like Blue Peter
    You are always learning something

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  5. And to think I've had my nail scissors confiscated at international airports TWICE. There's nothing more dangerous than a red haired Welshman. I must get Mrs G to run me up one of those useful bags. I could carry my NBs in it. Running shoes they are,

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  6. As John says - you learn something every day.

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  7. Replies
    1. The reality against fiction. They're not all James Bonds.

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  8. Interesting history regarding the canvas sack. A nice keepsake to have as well.

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    Replies
    1. I used it as a shoe bag for my very best black brogues!

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