GROWING UP

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 21 January 1928, Page 3

GROWING UP

DOMINIONS NAME ENVOYS. RIGHT CONCEDED. LONDON, Jan. 14. It is authoritatively stated that four interesting Dominion appointments will shortly be made. Although it is merely a coincidence that they are being made almost simultaneously, it is also true that they are closely related politically, says the political correspondent of the Sydney Sun. The appointments are those of Canadian Ministers to Paris and Tokio, and of South African Cousuls-General in Europe and the United States. Spokesmen for Downing Street will neither confirm nor deny the reports. They merely comment, in effect that Canada and South Africa would be entirely within their rights, according to the declarations of the last Imperial Conference, if they appointed their own Ministers abroad, and also that the Dominions are perfectly entitled to utilise the British Embassies, legations and consulates. “Wo would not make any suggestion,” they add, “but would wait until a formal request was made to us, and any announcements in that direction would be made first by the Dominion concerned, though, naturally, we would be informed.” WHAT OF AUSTRALIA?

It is understood that Mr Phillippe Roy, the French-Canadian, who has been Canada’s Trade Commissioner in Paris since 1911, is likely to become the first Minister there, but it is not known who is likely to be appointed to Tokio. Canada, it is believed, proposes to establish her own legations. Her action, however, does not establish a precedent, and Australia is not compelled to follow suit. Indeed, the Sun’s political correspondent understands, Australia at present does not intend to follow suit, but to continue its existing associations with British diplomacy. It is expected that Canada will explain that the Paris appointment is needed owing to the largeness of the French-Canadian population, and that the Tokio post will be attributed to the Japanese influx into Canada. While these facts are not contested, it would be more enlightening if we were told whence these appointments were originally inspired. It is known that Canada’s appointment of Mr Vincent Massey as Minister at Washington originated in the United States, which had pressed for years for such a .move. Many wellinformed people are now asking if America has interested herself in these latest appointments. The Sun’s political authority understands that France has long hankered after a Canadian Minister in Paris. Many malcontent, even anti-Empire elements are sheltered in Paris, including Egyptian, Indian, Kuomintang, and Irish extremists. All have thriven vigorously on France’s efforts to safeguard her own nationals, and their greatly-increased power as separationlsts is no secret.

South Africa’s appointments are not considered so far-reaching as Canada’s. The Consuls-General would be that Dominion’s leading representatives abroad, but their statue does not carry the prestige or powers of ministers. _ It is believed that South Africa desires representatives to deal chiefly with visitors abroad and other domestic, rather than political, affairs.