An Embassy in Belgrave Square

PREFACE

By former Ambassador Thomas Matussek

It is now over twelve years since the first edition of An Embassy in Belgrave Square appeared. It is a unique mirror of German -British diplomatic relations over 200 years, and especially since 1950, when the newly born Federal Republic was able to establish its first tentative (and very makeshift) diplomatic representation in the UK after the end of the war. Our book records the arrival of the then Consul General Dr. Hans Schlange-Schöningen, and how the Daily Mirror urged "Mr. Schöne Schlange" (Mr. "Handsome Snake" - they knew their German in those days!) to go straight back home.

Since then, relations between our two countries have been transformed in a way that perhaps no one could then have imagined. Today we are true partners, constantly engaged in dialogue and cooperation at every level - international, European and bilateral - to the benefit not only of our two countries, but also of the whole world (our joint peacekeeping efforts being just one obvious example). We are also true friends, with so many twinning and other links and an endless range of contacts between our citizens and throughout our societies.

So many people have played a part in this achievement - and as usual, it is the generals who are remembered by history, while the ordinary footsoldiers tend to disappear without trace! So when we look at the story of our Embassy in London, we may also think of many hundreds of people who have played their part, and imagine that they too are represented by my illustrious predecessors who feature in these pages.

Reading the chronicle of the last twelve years, I am struck by the pace of time and events, the ever-accelerating speed of change. It is clear that today - and not just thanks to the great march of communications and globalisation - our countries are closer than ever. And it is also clear to me, after over a year here, that there are some things which still obstinately refuse to "go away". My main challenge, just like my predecessors, remains to get beyond goosestepping hotel managers and Colditz-style monocled officers (amusing though they are!) and convey to the British people the Germany I know: an exciting, modern country of tolerant, creative people who can even understand a joke! And then, of course, there is Europe and the euro - a subject, still plagued by distortions and caricatures, which raises questions of the utmost importance for both our countries.

As I think readers will soon see, the role of our Embassy too is changing. Of course, I meet and work closely with the senior figures of the day, just as all my predecessors did. But as we have become ever closer partners, working together in institutions of international cooperation - the EU, NATO and many more - so too our decision-makers in Berlin and London and their staff today do business much more directly and personally with each other. In this process, the Embassy - rather like that essential interpreter we see in the background when our ministers meet - is facilitator and go-between, analysing, briefing, transmitting ideas, identifying and preparing common ground.

At the same time, having entered the 21^st century, our diplomacy has also become much more open and democratic. It is more and more our task to reach out to our host country's heart - into schools and homes all over Britain, engaging with all kinds of people, informing them about our country, encouraging them to learn our language, to visit and make friends with our people. In all this, our special attention goes to the younger generation, who, as a recent survey has told us, can often be rather uninformed and indifferent towards contemporary Germany.

In this new online version of our book, readers will find the long history of our relations in an easily accessible form which now also includes the memorable recent years and their dramatic events, including German reunification, the arrival of New Labour and the death of Princess Diana. As it continues to be updated, it too will become a piece of living history, which I hope will itself make a small contribution to better understanding between our two nations.

Thomas Matussek

London, January 2004

Enlarge image Former Ambassador Thomas Matussek