FOREIGN ORDERS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1931, Page 6

FOREIGN ORDERS

INVESTITURE STOPPED. AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT’S ACTION. SYDNEY, May 2S. There was considerable surprise last week when the Governor-General prevented the carrying out of the ceremony by which the Victorian Consul for Czechoslovakia. (Mr Ernest R. Peacock) was to have been invested with tlie Ordcrr of the White Lion of Czechoslovakia, in honour of his services to that country. Ostensibly, the Jovernor-General acted because the King bad not approved of the granting >f the order. Actually, it would seem the Scullin Labour Government bad raised the objection. No official announcement lias been made; but it is generally conceded that tlie Federal Government was fully aware of the reason which prompted the GovernorGeneral to take tlie unusual action he did.

ft is recalled that when the Labour Government went in to office it decided that it would not recommend Australians for any titles. This policy has generally been regarded as applying to distinctions granted by tlie King, for no- titles have been granted by the King since the Scullin Government came into power. Tlie suggestion now is that the policy has been applied in all cases where overseas Governments may have desired to recognise the services of Australians, and it now a pears that the authorities have acted in accordance with the desires of the Federal Government. A case which occurred last year has been mentioned. The French Government desired to award the medal of the Legion d’Honneur to an officer in the Commonwealth Military Forces. The medal and the insignia attached to it actually arrived in Australia, hut the officer concerned was unable to receive the decoration, technically because the permission of the King had not been received, but actually it is understood, because of tlie Scullin Ministry’s aversion to decorations of any kind. It would appear, therefore, though the matter is still receiving consideration, that unlesss a departure from procedure is premitted, and a precedent created in the history of the Scullin Government, Mr Peacock will be unable to receive the Order which Czechoslovakia is so anxious to bestow upon him. Several fine points of international courtesy are. of course, involved, and every effort will be madjp to make it clear to those connected with the incident that so far as the Commonwealth is concerned it was strictly a matter of general policy. It is of interest to note that the only departure from the precedent was set by the Prime Minister himself, when he became a

Privy Councillor, shortly after lie attained office. It is held, however, that appointment to the Privy Council is not a title in'the sense of a knighthood or it barony, or even a foreign order.