SIR HUGH DENISON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 78, 12 January 1928, Page 5

SIR HUGH DENISON.

COMMISSIONER TO U.S. : REASONS FOR RESIGNATION. (Per Press Association—Copyright.) NEW YORK, January 11. On the eve of Sir Hugh Denison's departure for England, en route to Australia, something was* learned, on good authority, of important aspects of the situation leading to his resignation ias Commissioner for Australia to the United States. It is understood that Sir Hugh on arrival found that his position as Commissioner was inadequate to carry out the work on such broad lines as was embraced in his commission. When Mr Bruce was in America in December, 1926, Sir Hugh outlined the situation and suggested the elevation of the Commissioner's office to the status of a legation, but Mr Bruce indicated that that was not immediately contemplated. Matters* rested thus till Sir Hugh forwarded his resignation. Lack of status made it difficult to bring important matters in a properly official way before the attention of American officials. Besides this, the tariff policy of the United States appeared to preclude the possibility of profitably augmenting trade between the two countries, rendering the Commissioner's duties of little need. _ Sir Hugh stressed his anomalous position and recommended the elevation of the commissionership to the rank of a small legation at Washington, similar to Canada and the Irish Free State. A subsequent exchange of communications indicates' that the Australian Government is now more inclined toward the advisability of having a Minister at Washinstori with broad diplomatic powers. There is a feeling here that the question of the creation of an Australian Legation at'Washington is somewhat complicated by the position of the Hicr' 1 Commissioner in London, and that the Government's decision, affectinc; both positions, will probably occur in the nest few months.