HC Deb 14 July 1947 vol 440 cc7-8
7. Mr. William Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the British Ambassador, Sir Clifford Norton, wore evening dress at the presentation of his credentials to His Majesty the King of the Hellenes; whether it is now the custom for His Majesty's Ambassadors to dispense with diplomatic uniform on such occasions; and since when has this been the rule.

Mr. McNeil

His Majesty's Ambassador to Greece wore evening dress because he had been unable to replace his diplomatic uniform, lost through an accident of war.

Mr. Teeling

Does the right hon. Gentleman really feel that it is not possible to provide diplomatic uniforms fairly quickly for our ambassadors? The war has been over for some time, and is it not, after all, slightly insulting to courts abroad not to provide uniforms when other countries can do so?

Mr. McNeil

At the risk of seeming to be offensive to the hon. Gentleman, whom I usually find most reasonable, I feel inclined to say that I have to occupy myself with more important matters than this, and I hope and believe our Ambassador is similarly occupied.