The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1915. THE OVERSEA DOMINIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 53, 2 July 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1915. THE OVERSEA DOMINIONS.

J I' there is chip thing more certain than another it is that the whole question of the relationship existing between the Dominions and the Mother Country will he reviewed at the next Imperial Conference, which will fol-, low the termination of the war, is the conclusion arrived at by "Imperialist" in the London Financier. Meanwhile, lie goes on to say, according to a. statement made by a Canadian paper, the Dominion Governments are asking the Imperial Government to convert the office of High Commissioners into an Ambassadorship, so that the High Commissioners may negotiate directly between the Imperial and Dominion Governments, and enjoy the social recognition and distinction attaching to tho rank ol ambassador. Enquiry does not support the statement, though the suggestion is not a new one. The Hon. Thomas .Mackenzie, sounded on the subject, has expressed the view that tho time has quite arrived when the position and status of High Commissioners should be raised and better defined. The overseas Possessions are, Mi- Mackenzie points out, increasing yearly in importance, and those who represent these great interests should be placed upon a footing at any rate equal to that occupied by foreign .Ministers at the Court of St. .lames. The Financier considers, in reviewing this and other similarly-expressed views, that as High Coinmissionerships are more or less political appointments, the difficulty of making the appointment of High Commissioner a Cabinet one will he recognised, yet in reality .[,.,,, should be no difficulty if the „fijee were oiaccd outside the pale of party politics. The writer also makes very special reference to Mi- Mackenzie in the following terms: "What High Commissioners have to do is to i voice the feeling of their Dominions as a whole, and there can be no question that Sir George Ueid has done .this admirably under four different Governments. It seems a thousand pities to remove High Commissioners and

Agents-General just, when they are beginning to be most useful. It takes :i newcomer considerable time before <i< can get ;i thorough g'avp wf the multifarious dut'es oi' the office, and the Dominions ;ir bound to suffer by continuous change*. The term of office oi the High Commissioner for New Zcahr.nl expires in August next, and 1 make bold to say that there is not a Now Zealander in London, or anyone commercially connected with the Dominion on this side, who would not regret Mr Mackenzie's departure from the office in which ho has been such a co'.'ppiciious success."