Chapter 15: Invitations

In late October the plans were well in hand for the Thanksgiving Party at the U.S. Embassy in Kobek city.

"With respect, it's very simple, Ambassador. We have a list of all the invitations you have received in the last twelve months and we simply invite all of the Ambassadors who sent them."

"But I haven't been here for twelve months yet," Sharon objected.

"Not you personally, the U.S. Ambassador receives invitations, even when there is nobody in post," the Head of Protocol replied, "I suggest that you simply follow precedent and allow your staff to deal with minor details such as the contents of the invitation list."

"It is officially the Ambassador who sends these invitations, is it not?" she persisted.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Then I will personally approve every name on the list, and every name left off the list," Sharon decreed triumphantly.

As they left the meeting the Deputy Head of Mission and the Head of Protocol looked at each other and wordlessly agreed on an immediate meeting. They took their juniors with them and gathered in the Head of Protocol's office. By the end of the meeting they had decided to draw up the invitations list as usual, and for the list of people "left off the list" they would supply the Ambassador with an alphabetic order list of every other person who had had any contact with the Embassy in the previous year, however trivial the matter had been. That would run to hundreds of names, and no indication would be given of who or what each person was, or why they visited the Embassy. By such actions senior people are made to keep their interference out of trivial matters.

In early November, the U.S. Embassy held the Thanksgiving Party for all the diplomats based in Kobek who had been on the Head of Protocol's original list. The Emir was not originally included on the guest list, but Ambassador Sharon Klein had insisted on his inclusion. The Deputy Head of Mission was not surprised when he refused. The Head of Protocol had reassured everyone that this was not an insult, he had never accepted an invitation to any Embassy event, so they had previously given up inviting him.

In late December, invitations were sent at deliberately short notice for an Informal Christmas Party to all the senior diplomats based in Kobek who were considered as "friendly" to the interests of the USA. The Emir would not normally have been included on the guest list, but Ambassador Sharon Klein had again insisted on his inclusion. The Deputy Head of Mission was pleasantly surprised when, on this occasion, he accepted. He would, of course, have to be the Guest of Honour, being the only head of state present. It would be an ideal occasion for a little canvassing of his favours, and would certainly put the U.S. Embassy at the top of the bragging rights league among the western diplomats.