REPRESENTATION IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 99, 21 January 1926, Page 7

REPRESENTATION IN LONDON

PROPOSED DUAL BASIS-POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL "

OPPOSED BY HIGH COMMISSIONERS

i The High Commissioners are almost unanimously adverse to proposals from Australia to reconstitute the London representation on a dual basis, political and commercial. Sir James Allen and Sir Joseph Cook concur in the conviction that it is practically impossible to subdivide the High Commissionership into two separate sections.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright.

London, January 19.

The High Commissioners, including Sir Joseph Cook and Sir Janies Allen, are almost unanimously adverse to proposals from Australia to reconstitute the London representation on a dual 'basis, political and commercial. _ In reference to the political aspect it is pointed out that Canada and Queensland both tried and abandoned that policy. Canada’s experiment of Sir George Perley’s membership of the Ministry conjointly with the High ‘ Commissionership, was abandoned, after three years' experience. Sir ,George Perley utlimately resigned from the Cabinet, but remained High Commissioner. Similarly, Mr. Garrick was AgentGeneral and member of the Queensland Ministry for four years, but the experiment was not repeated. Tn reference to the suggested subdivision of the High Commissionership into two sepaarte sections, diplomatic and commercial, Sir Joseph Cook and Sir James Allen concur in the conviction that it is practically impossible. Both High Commissioners, speaking from several vears’ experience, declared that financial and commercial activities were so closely interwoven with the High Commissioner’s other duties that it was impossible to separate them without detriment to the office. They welcomed a Trade Commissioner of the highest capacity, but only ns an official of the High Commissioner’s Department. Any attempt to endow the Trade Commissioner with something approaching co-equal powers was not only unprecedented but fraught with the danger of conflicting authority ■'—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

NEW ZEALAND’S NEW DEPARTMENT WELCOMED BY LONDON “TIMES" DOCTRINE of equality OF STATUS London, January 19. In a leader welcoming the new Department created by Mr. Coates, “The Times” says that the existence of such

Department is a natural corollary to the doctrine of equality of status. “Without continuous consultation the doctrine becomes unreal and almost meaningless. Without proper machinery, not only in Britain, but also in the Dominion, continuous consultation is impossible. “The dispatches sent to the Dominions from Downing Street, in . these davs do not err in the direction of under-statement. The information is so full and formidable that, when affairs nearer home are pressing, it is fatallv easy for what may be an apparently routine document from London to be pigeon-holed, and then overlooked. “There is no reason why. all the Dominions should adopt precisely the same methods as New Zealand.. They are perfectly free to make their own arrangements. Indeed, the very variety of their experiments will probably lead to the best svstem. The significance of New Zealand’s action lies onlv in the fact that it is another sign of'the growing recognition overseas that the Dominion status is meaningless without a first-hand knowledge of external affairs and a capacity to play a responsible part in them.’’—“The Times.” IMPERIAL CONFERENCE NOT LIKELY TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER UNFAVOURABLE REPLY FROM CANADA

London, January 19. It is learned that an unfavourable Canadian reply makes the holding of the Imperial Conference in October unlikely, despite Whitehall’s anxiety to hold it as early as. possible, with a view to the determination of -the Dominions’ attitude on the Locarno Treaty. The reasons contained in Canada’s communication are not disclosed. A slight postponement may be necessary to ensure Canada’s participation The Govenrinent is still hopeful that the conference will be held before the end of 19'26.—Sydney “Sun” Cable.