The French diplomats' union, USMAE, ordered the strike actions because the budget cuts had, to quote Reuters "hit diplomats' allowances abroad and even led to paper shortages in some missions and Foreign Ministry offices." This shortage of paper brings to mind one of those Babar stories of the elephant bureaucrats rushing about forming committees and issuing reports when the rhinoceros army is at the gates of the city. Usually, workers strike so they can afford to put food on their kitchen table. The French diplomats cry of "We need more paper" would not seem to be calculated to stir the hearts of a nation.

More broadly, the diplomats complained that the budget cuts "make a mockery of President Jacque Chirac's bid to boost French influence abroad." (I would have thought that M. Chirac didn't need any help in making a mockery of that bid.) "The French approach is that you can solve world problems through diplomacy. If that is so, then give us the resources," said Yvan Sergeff, the French union boss. He went on to bemoan that "We do not understand how President Jacque Chirac and the government proclaim grand ambitions for France internationally even as human and financial means of this ministry are constantly shrinking." I share M. Serfeff's skepticism regarding French ambitions -- with or without a fully funded diplomatic corp. Certainly Germany has made it increasingly clear in the months since the Iraqi war that they do not plan to hitch their wagon to the French " star."

Nonetheless, as we enter the Christmas season, my heart does go out to the disconsolate French consuls, sitting paperless and with reduced expense accounts in some of the most beautiful capital cities of the world. I suppose they can take some comfort in the stirring response of their leader, Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin; "There is a will to maintain our diplomatic capacity." Aux armes, citoyens! Formez vos bataillons! More paper!