Jaw-jaw is better than war-war — if it’s well-mannered

International affairs would go more smoothly if leading politicians had better manners. It must be said that Tony Blair sets a good example in this respect. He is one of the most courteous men I have come across in public life and shows up his European colleagues, on the whole an ill-bred lot. During the recent acrimonious summit in Brussels he never once lost his temper or showed signs of irritation, though much provoked, and at his press briefing declined to engage in personal jibes, indeed kept his remarks deliberately impersonal in true diplomatic fashion. This was in notable contrast to the petulant performance of Jacques Chirac, a rude and peevish person even by current low Gallic standards (perhaps his sidekick de Villepin who, though frivolous, has a touch of ton, should give him a few lessons in public deportment). The German, Schröder, is even more oafish — a pity since Germany’s post-war leaders, until recently, have been notably polite. Konrad Adenauer had the graciousness of a distant age, Willy Brandt was a delightful charmer, and even Helmut Kohl, though nature made him a bear, took enormous trouble to make himself pleasant. The standards of behaviour in Brussels, always an indecorous place notorious for swear-words and persiflage, have tumbled steadily under EU rule and the nastiness is infectious. Even Berlusconi, an amiable and light-hearted fellow with an admirable sense of humour, has been corrupted by the prevailing atmosphere of mephitic malice. The East Europeans, who came to Brussels innocent and willing to learn, have been shocked by the verbal skulduggery and slippery praxis, and have — I fear — quickly adopted some of the more odious tricks of the EU trade.

Yet it is one of the lessons of history that good manners pay. The Duke of Wellington was a man of outstanding courtesy in speech and habit — he always, for instance, tried to answer all letters in his own hand and usually by return of messenger (sometimes Tony Blair does too: I have a formidable collection of his hand-written missives).