British Diplomacy and the Descent into Chaos: The Career of Jack Garnett, 1902-19 (Britain and the World)

Recreating the diplomatic career of Jack Garnett, from 1902-1919, John Fisher reveals a fascinating individual as well as contextualizing his story with regard to British policy in the countries to which he was posted in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, during a period of rapid change in international politics and in Britain's world role. In his diplomatic career, from 1902--19, Jack Garnett served widely overseas during a period of dramatic change in international politics and in Britain's role on the world stage. In this book, John Fisher reveals Garnett as a fascinating individual: head-strong, indiscreet, and accident-prone. Garnett's early career was promising, but he left the Diplomatic Service under a cloud. Tired of the 'old diplomacy', he desired a holistic approach to the management of Britain's overseas interests. Then, attracted by notions of constructive imperialism after the First World War, he undertook social work, before returning to the family seat in Lancashire. His correspondence provides the local, overseas, perspective on British foreign policy and is full of insights into life lived in embassies and legations. Fisher uses Garnett's story to illuminate key issues in British overseas interests, including consular representation and the promotion of British commerce, as well as previously neglected subjects such as diplomats' wives, travel, and expatriate communities In his diplomatic career, from 1902619, Jack Garnett served widely overseas during a period of dramatic change in international politics and in Britain's role on the world stage. In this book, John Fisher reveals Garnett as a fascinating individual: head-strong, indiscreet, and accident-prone. Garnett's early career was promising, but he left the Diplomatic Service under a cloud. Tired of the 'old diplomacy', he desired a holistic approach to the management of Britain's overseas interests. Then, attracted by notions of constructive imperialism after the First World War, he undertook social work, before returning to the family seat in Lancashire. His correspondence provides the local, overseas, perspective on British foreign policy and is full of insights into life lived in embassies and legations. Fisher uses Garnett's story to illuminate key issues in British overseas interests, including consular representation and the promotion of British commerce, as well as previously neglected subjects such as diplomats' wives, travel, and expatriate communities Front Matter....Pages i-xvii Introduction....Pages 1-15 Constantinople: ‘A Very Wonderful Place’....Pages 16-40 Like a Plant Uprooted: Life in Peking....Pages 41-60 ‘People Who Squeeze and People Who May Be Squeezed’: Across Mongolia, 1908....Pages 61-79 Bucharest and St Petersburg....Pages 80-99 Tehran 1911–14 — ‘Into the Vortex’....Pages 100-123 London, Sofia and Athens, and the ‘Episode of the “Floating Bag”’....Pages 124-142 Tangier — ‘A Confusion of the East and the West’....Pages 143-162 A ‘Hardly Used Genus’: First Secretary in Buenos Aires....Pages 163-185 A Climacteric....Pages 186-205 Epilogue....Pages 206-210 Back Matter....Pages 211-280