Union Buildings

Union Buildings

Tuesday, 1 March 2016

South African diplomatic uniforms ....in full colour

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the interesting article on diplomatic uniforms which I will use as a source when in retirement I finally get to work on it. Prof Deon Geldenhuys looked at it recently and was impressed. 

Who is the lady in uniform? The place is evidently London and there is a sideways view of Justus de Goede (must be him). The building does not look like Highveld as I recall it now. (I guess the residence has another more representative name?) I guess the lady is the Marshall of the Diplomatic Corps?

The bottom picture is of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent ending the 1812 War. The British delegation are impeccable but the US delegates are still very colonial. As I recall the State Department did eventually design a uniform but later in the 19th Century the Congress outlawed it as unbecoming of a republican (small "r") Foreign Service. 

Maybe President Donald Trump will re-institute a uniform, probably casino croupier style with dollar bills for epaulets. 

Finally, typical of Bob Jones to file an unwanted missive, at least he could not be accused of not having taken any action. Wonder what he thinks when looking down from his cloud?

Regards.

Francois              






See article that follows for the full story.

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