HC Deb 31 March 1943 vol 388 c152
6. Commander Locker-Lampson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in any future curriculum for the Foreign Office, candidates will be encouraged to make French their first language, Russian their second, and not be encouraged to learn German?

Mr. Law

My right hon. Friend is not at this stage able to say which languages candidates for the Foreign Service should be required to offer at the regular examinations to be held after the war.

Commander Locker-Lampson

Can we be taught American first?

Colonel Sir A. Lambert Ward

As German is spoken or understood probably by more people on the Continent of Europe than is any other language, would not the policy suggested in the Question be rather short-sighted?

Mr. Hannah

Is not Spanish also important?

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