Chicago                                                    

British subtlety meets Chicago politics By PAUL M. GREEN

Robert Chase, the new British consul general in Chicago, seems perfectly cast for his diplomatic role in the windy city. He has an M.A. in modern history from Oxford, and his previous posts have been in such exotic spots as Rangoon, Brasilia and Moscow. He also headed Britain's South American Department during the Falklands War. As I told him in a recent interview, "You might need to draw upon your past educational, diplomatic and wartime experiences to understand modern day Chicago politics."

Chase's American territorial responsibilities go way beyond Chicago and Illinois. They include 11 other states stretching over most of the Midwest.

Consuls general like Chase are assuming more important roles for their governments due to the growth of international business in an ever-expanding world economy. Though they are still required to "show the flag" by attending various receptions and holiday functions, members of the consul general corps now see themselves more as business conduits than social diplomats.

Working with investors and corporations has become a two-way street for the consular corps. According to Chase, "America is the largest foreign investor in the United Kingdom .... Large Chicago-based businesses like Amoco, Motorola and Sara Lee are very important to our economy." Part of Chase's mission is to ease problems and concerns that might arise involving these huge American corporations doing business in both countries.

Still, Chase's main responsibility remains, in his words, "selling the United Kingdom's products to the American Midwest," He works with British companies both back home and in the United States, encouraging and promoting the export and purchase of British goods. A more recent development has been joint linkups between businesses in both countries to expand market potential.

. . . Chase believes one of the most curious differences in business mentality is that 'in Britain lawyers are usually brought in at the end of negotiations... in America attorneys are there from the very beginning'

In typical British tongue-in-cheek humor Chase believes one of the most curious differences in business mentality is that "in Britain lawyers are usually brought in at the end of negotiations ... in America attorneys are there from the very beginning." The ongoing and controversial issue of Northern Ireland also takes up a great deal of Chase's time. Many American governments, including the city of Chicago, have passed resolutions supporting the implementation of the MacBride Principles which, among other things, advocate the end of all employment discrimination based on religion in Northern Ireland. To put muscle behind this demand to resolve Catholic v Protestant bigotry in the workplace, the MacBride Principles encourage American disinvestment in Northern Ireland unless companies contractually comply with all the principles. MacBride also urges U.S. state and local governments not to do business with American companies whose plants in Northern Ireland do not comply with the principles.

Needless to say, the emotional issue

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of Northern Ireland and MacBride has generated much discussion in American communities with large Irish populations. Segregation in Northern Ireland between the religions is incredible; for example, only 1 percent of Protestant and Catholic kids attend the same school. Moreover, the ongoing violence in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republican Army's recent wave of bombings in England add more fuel to a potentially explosive diplomatic situation.

Chase believes "people in Northern Ireland are fed up with the violence, and the 'hard men' [Irish Republican Army] are now mainly from the south." He points to recent British government actions as real reform: the 1989 New Fair Employment Act that requires companies with over 10 employees to have the religious composition of their work force monitored by a government agency. He admits, however, that the economy in Northern Ireland and the rest of Britain must grow to truly reduce tension. In short he suggests that "the overall pie of jobs must improve."

In less controversial areas Chase is very interested in the privatization movement of government services in America. He said that for several years British leaders have worked hard on "simplifying procedures and regulations, limiting red tape and contracting out in-house government functions." He also has kept a keen eye on reform efforts to decentralize public education in Chicago. The British, famous for centralizing and micro-managing educational services from London, have in recent years given their schools greater autonomy in spending their educational allotments. According to Chase, there is a general commitment in Britain to "make gray persons of administration more accountable."

Clearly, Bob Chase has a full plate facing him in his new post. For in closing our chat I mentioned that we did not even discuss the British issue most important to many Americans — Charles and Diana. As a consummate diplomatic, of course, he volunteered no comment, nor did he offer any opinion on the state of politics in Chicago. 

Paul M. Green is director of the Institute for Public Policy and Administration, Governors State University, University Park.

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