"Buncha pointyheads...I just don't trust 'em" - Martian Diplomat

One of the consequences of the MDF's somewhat eccentric society and political structures is that they have, over the years, engendered considerable fear, paranoia and distrust in the rest of humanity - particularly among those of humanity's political elites who are closely immersed in conventional power structures and have a vested personal interest in traditional conflictual politics.

The Mald Academic Council often finds it nearly impossible to recruit ambassadors who can successfully transmit their political overtures to the rest of humanity. What is worse, from the Council's point of view, is that after many years on other worlds their ambassadors sometimes 'go native' and start behaving like the politicians they have been sent to talk to. This always results in a recall of the sifu concerned. Recruitment of ambassadors with the ability to transmit MDF policy without engendering suspicion or feeding paranoia that the Foundation is 'up to something' is a problem the Council admits it has not yet resolved fully.

At a grass roots level, the MDF is very successful at getting it's messages across. Many people in poorer systems owe the fact that they have an education at all to grants made by the various Maldenite institutions to educational establishments right across human space, and it is probably true to say that there is not a major academic institution in human space that is not benefiting significantly from MRF grants.

Noninterference Principle
It has long been the MDF's policy - for centuries in fact - only to help where help is sought or needed, and this principle is the nearest thing to a sacrosanct principle to the people of the MDF. It has also been a feature of MDF support that it usually also comes with the caveat that it will only offer significant support to pan-humanity initiatives.

MDF and Treaty of Old London
The MDFs relationship to the Treaty is determined by the decisions of its people - and repeated referenda have confirmed that the MDF should not sign, but instead should offer such help as is needed, in accordance with its principle of noninterference.

Sifu Hatshepsut, Special Representative to the Supreme Council of Humanity