The British Consulate in a Small Turkish Town

In the far distance, he imagines himself becoming a full Consul, earning £800 a year, or even rising to the position of Consul-General with £1,000. But right now, he is Acting Vice-Consul in the British Levant Consular Service, earning £400 a year.

The Town and Its Lack of British Interests

It’s unlikely you’ve heard of the small, rundown Turkish town where he represents British interests. In fact, there are no British interests here. There are no British people living in the town, and any British trade has been replaced by active Austrians and Germans. Still, he writes long reports to the Foreign Office, some of which are quoted in Blue Books that no one reads or are stored away in the vaults of Whitehall to gather dust. Despite this, he remains a cheerful young man. His greeting might be formally English, but his handshake is firm. Later, he says a visitor is a rare and welcome event Socialist Museum.

The Vice-Consulate’s Poor Conditions

The British Vice-Consulate in this remote Turkish town is far from the grandeur of the British Empire. The British taxpayer often complains about rising costs, and the officials in Whitehall, who manage the funds, are hard-hearted when it comes to consular requests. A small amount called “office allowance” is given to cover the rent and the salary of the kavass (a messenger), but the main costs are covered by the Vice-Consul himself. So, after paying his rent, which could be anywhere from £40 to £90 a year, furnishing his house, buying two horses, hiring a cook and a servant, paying the kavass’s wages, and feeding everyone, there isn’t much left from his salary.