CONSULS ANNOYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22108, 14 May 1935, Page 13

CONSULS ANNOYED

CORPS IN MELBOURNE ABSENCE FROM LEVEE PRIVATE ENTREE DESIRED [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, Mny 10 Because they considered that they suffered a slight at the levee of the Duke of Gloucester in October, when they claimed they should have been given the right of private entree, tho Consular Corps in Melbourne did not attend tho King's jubilee levee of the Governor of Victoria as a body. The Minister of External Aflairs, Sir George 1 earce, however, said that Consuls were not entitled to tho privilege claimed. They were well aware of this, he added, because the question of the status of Consuls had been tho subject of representation for many years, and had recently been again raised with the Commonwealth Government. The dean of tho Consular Corps in Melbourne, Senor Bidone, said that the Consuls had decided not to attend the jubilee levee because of the refusal of the authorities to make any concessions to the position or importance of accredited representatives of foreign nations. " Wo were unable to receive from the Governor's personal suite tho right of private entree," ho said, " and were told that no arrangements could be made for us to pay our respects individually to the Governor. Surely if the State of Victoria finds it pleasant to receive the homage of great foreign nations it should be prepared to grant their representatives some special courtesy and concession. After all, it is only a matter of international courtesy." Serious View Taken Although the decision to stay away from the jubilee levee was endorsed by most members of tlife Consular Corps, the Corps decided that, as a special jubilee gesture, national flags should be flgwn from the Consulates. It was also decided to send a letter of congratulation for transmission to the King. Tho Consular Corps took a serious view of the treatment which they received at the levee held during tho visit to Melbourne of the Duke of Gloucester. Their complaint was that the various Consuls-General had made special journeys to Melbourne to be present on that occasion, and had brought their uniforms with them, but were denied the right of private entree. They also complained that they were left in a corner at the levee to pass the Duke of Gloucester, and that they had to follow public officials and suburban mayors. International Usage

Sir George Pearce, in his statement, said that there was no diplomatic representation in Australia. Foreign Government representatives were appointed in the capacity of Consuls and received recognition as such by the Commonwealth and State Governments. Their duties were defined by international practice, and there was no question of their having any diplomatic status in any part of Australia. Their appointments did not entitle them to be specially received, and they were not given precedence over local officials. " I fail to see," he said, " where any discourtesy arises in not granting a status not accorded to Consuls generally by international usage, nor by their own countries to British and foreign Consuls. If foreign Governments desire that their Consular representatives should receive any additional recognition, it would bo taken up by them with the Commonwealth Government through the proper channels."