IMPERIAL RELATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 83, 4 October 1930, Page 9

IMPERIAL RELATIONS

HIGH COMMISSIONERS

STATUS AND PRECEDENCE

(Received 4th October, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 3rd October. Mr "Malcolm MaeDonald, informing journalists of the latest Conference proceedings, read the following communique: 'Preliminary discussion or the various constitutional aspects or Imperial relations were continued. Arising out of the, discussion certain matters were referred to a Special Committee, under the chairmanship ■' of Lord Sanlcev. It was agreed to establish a Committee of Arbitration and Disarmament, under the chairmanship of Mr. Maurice Dupre, of Canada. A plenary meeting of the Conference to hear general statements from delegations on the problems of inter-Im-perial economic relations will be held on Wednesday. Heads of delegations are meeting again on Monday to conclude, a preliminary survey of constitutional matters. .

Mr. MaeDonald added that a question arose concerning the machinery of communication among Empire units in regard to foreign relations. The 1926 Conference 'established that Dominion Governments undertaking conversations and negotiations with foreign Powers on external matters should inform other of His Majesty's Governments affected, and must obtain their consent before concluding arrangements. Heads of delegations reviewed the operation of this policy in the light of four years' experience. It was goner■ally felt that it had worked satisfactorily. Some of the Dominions bad gained an advantage in the status of High Commissioners. The'question of their precedence was also discussed, but Mr. MaeDonald emphasised that precedence was a domestic matter of the Governments concerned and not one with which the Conference was competent to deal. This was also referred to the Sankey Committee. Mr. MaeDonald admitted that the question of High Commissioners' status compared with that of Ambassadors arose, but, replying to a questioner, he said that none of. the High Commissioners was dissatisfied with .his presont recognition.