DIPLOMACY QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 181, 27 April 1921, Page 5

DIPLOMACY QUESTION

CANADA’S RIGHT TO SEPARATE REPRESENTATION

INTERESTING DEBATE

By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright-

(Rec. April 26, 9.40 p.m.) New York, April 25.

The “Evening Post’s” Ottawa correspondent says that the Budget provision of 60,000 dollars for the expenses of a Canadian Minister at Washington has precipitated an interesting and important debate upon Canada's rig'ht to separate diplomatic representation. It wah Long known that Mr. Meighen (Premier) favoured tho appointment. Mr. Meighen’s opponents point out that until the British North America Act is changed, Canada is still a dependency and colony, and cannot take on the trappings of an independent nation. The plan is condemned also as bring likely to produce friction between tho British Ambassador and the Canadian Minister at Washing-ton.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Mr. Bonar Law, speaking in the House of Commons in May last, said the British and Canadian. Governments had airanged to provide for more complete representation of Canadian interests than hitherto. Accordingly it had been agreed, on His Majesty’s advioe, that the Canadian Ministers should appoint a Minister’plenipotentiary to the United States, who would have charge of Canadian affairs. The Minister would be instructed, to report direct to the Canadian Government, and, in tho absence of an Ambassador, the Canadian Minister would take charge of tho whole Embassy, looking after Imperial as well as Canadian interests. He would be accredited to the President by His Majesty, with necessary powers for that purpose. Mr. Bonar Law added that this arrangement would not denote any departure either by the British or tho Canadian Government from tho principle of diplomatic unity of the British Empire. The need for this important step had been realised by those Governments for some time. There had been direct communication between Washington and Ottawa for sojne years, but the constantlyincreasing importance of Canadian interest in the United States made it apparent that Canada should be represented there distinctively. In view of the peculiarly close relations that had always existed bctv?een the peoples of the United States and Canada, it was confidently expected that the new step would have the very desirable results of maintaining and strengthening the friendly -relations and co-operation between the Empire and the United States.] „