PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 169, 17 July 1919, Page 11

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

o'i ■ (I'rom Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, May 20. Current go6sip has it that if Sir Douglas Haig has no wish to go to India as Commander-in-Chief, choice will lie, it is understood, 'between Sir "William Birdwood, "the Soul of Anzac," and Sir Henry Rawlinson. The appointment of Sir Win. Birdwood would naturally be very popular in colonial circles, but it is said that he will probably be offered a colonial Governor - Generalship, possibly that of New Zealand. Gossip has it, too, that Mr. Hughes, the Australian Prime Minister, invited Sir William Birdwood to accompany him on an extended tour of the Commonwealth, but that the "Soul of Anzac," fearing mafficking scenes, modestly declined. In the list published on Saturday of honours bestowed on Britishers by the King of the Belgians, our High Commissioner's (Sir Thomas Mackenzie) name appears along with that of the South African High Commissioner (Mr. Shreiner), known to fame as brother of Olivi Shreiner, the authoress. On the two High Commissioners the Belgian King has bestowed the highest rank, that of Grand Officer of the Crown, and on no others among the English Allies of the Belgian people. A long list of those on whom lesser rank has ■been bestowed is also published, some Australian Agents-General being given Commandership in the Order.