The role of the British embassy in Washington

Abstract

This witness seminar, organised by Dr Michael F. Hopkins, Liverpool Hope University College, and by Dr M.D. Kandiah, Institute of Contemporary British History, London, was held on 18 June 1997 in the Map Room at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Whitehall. It was supported by the North America Department of the FCO. The discussion was introduced by a paper by Dr Hopkins and was chaired by Lord Wright of Richmond (Private Secretary to Ambassador and later First Secretary, British Embassy, Washington 1960–5, and Permanent Under‐Secretary and Head of Diplomatic Service, FCO 1986–91). The principal participants were Sir Antony Acland (British Ambassador, Washington 1986–91), Professor Kathleen Burk (University College London), Sir Bernard Burrows (Counsellor, British Embassy, Washington 1950–3), Lord Greenhill of Harrow (served in British Embassy, Washington, 1949–52, and as Minister, 1962–4; Permanent Under‐Secretary, FCO 1969–73) and Sir Nicholas Henderson (served in British Embassy, Washington 1947–9 and as British Ambassador, Washington 1979–82). Further contributions came from the Rt. Hon. Edmund Dell (former Labour MP, Paymaster General 1974–76 and Trade Secretary 1976–8), Sir Jeremy Greenstock (private secretary to Peter Jay when HM Ambassador in Washington 1977–9), Professor Sean Greenwood (Canterbury Christ Church College), Dr Saul Kelly (University of Westminster), Professor Keith Kyle (Royal Institute of International Affairs), Mariot Leslie (FCO), Michael Makovsky (Harvard University), Mark Pellew (FCO), and Philip Priestley (FCO).