THE POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF GOVERNMENT 95

there are also distressed areas elsewhere and the cause of their
difficulties is fundamentally the same—the strain put on Great
Britain by economic changes since the War. Many Englishmen
are no more—and no less—ignorant of Scotland than of South
Wales or the Tyneside. There is no "Scottish question** com-
parable to the long-standing "Irish question"; there is not, in
Scotland, a nation determined to end a connection which she hates.
There is, rather, an outstanding example of the difficulty of making
the Central Government pay sufficient attention to the peculiar
problems of certain districts*

THE FOREIGN OFFICE.

The purpose of this Office is to represent the State in its
relations with foreign Powers. From this feet two results follow.
First, that its officials enjoy a special prestige, and exceptional
ceremonial is attached to its actions; therefore it has been slower
than most Departments to change its organisation and method
of recruitment. Second, that its organisation must be nearly
that of a State—it must concern itself with military, commercial,
legal and industrial matters, since, from all these, questions of
international policy arise. These two results are likely to conflict
with one another; rapidly changing methods of diplomacy require
the Foreign Office to, be up-to-date and adaptable; its own
traditions strive to make it rigid.

It is divided into twelve Departments—some of which, such
as the American, are concerned with a particular region, and
others, such as the Passport Office, with a particular subject.
The work may be classified as follows:—

I. Keeping in touch with Foreign Countries. At home, the
Foreign Secretary regularly receives the foreign Ambassadors and
Ministers; abroad, a Diplomatic Service is maintained. In the
latter, there is for each State an Ambassador—or for States of
lesser importance, a Minister—assisted by Attaches—i.e., officials
with special knowledge, as, for instance, on military aflairs.
The task of the Diplomatic Service is to inform the Foreign