STATUS OF HIGH COMMISSIONERS IN THE COMMONWEALTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 October 1948, Page 7

STATUS OF HIGH COMMISSIONERS IN THE COMMONWEALTH

(PA.) ’ WELLINGTON. This Day. The possibility of the present status of the Commonwealth High Commissioners being discussed at the forthcoming meeting of-the Prime Minister.; in London was referred today to the resident High Commissioners in Wellington. One suggestion is that tin High Commissioners should be given the rank of ambassadors, so that in future they should not give precedence to the ambassadors and ministers of other countries.

“Commonwealth representatives in Commonwealth countries should not occupy a position inferior to that of the representatives of foreign countries,” said the Canadian High Commissioner, Mr Alfred Rive. “and. that is Che situation at present.’’ While Canada was deeply interested in any proposed change of status, said Mr Rive, lie had net been instructed to take up the matter with the New Zealand Government. He fell, however, that the majority of the Commonwealth countries shared Canada’s viewpoint. The matter was one for the Prime Minister of Australia, said the Australian High Commissioner, Mr Cutler. He added that he assumed Mr Uhiiley bad already made his view known 'for the meeting of the Prime Ministers in London.

The United Kingdom High Commissioner, Sir Patrick Dull, declined to comment.