Evening star., 1917-10-28

t\V regarding the appointment Of
NJ trade commissioners to Wash
q " inGton has unusual significance.
IN the case of Canada the ap-
poiptment of the trade commissioner ac-
f,;.lly has Leen made. With Australia
II is prospe ctive.
That these great self-SoverrlTG Brlt-
ish colonies mean to have a representa-
tive in the United States signifies
eomethin. mere than trade relations.
The announce ment comes IN the midst
Of the world war. in which both Of
xhem are contributing their best blood
io save the British empire. and are
making sacrifices that 90 FAR beyond
sharing the financial burdens. II can
not. therefore. he given any i:1putatIou
Of indifference to the interests of the
empire Rather Il means that the in
terests are Knit more tightly than ever.
That may be why the present is con
sidered the opportune time to show
the complete independence which these
great colonies occupy as integral parts
of the British empire.
The trade commissions from Canada
and Australia will have no special dip
lcmatic status Diplomatic affairs re-
lating to Canada and Australia nomi-
nally will continue to he conducted
through the British embassy as the or
gan of the British foreign Office. Yet
trade relations cannot lie divorced from
diplomatic relations. and the commits
eioners.uilI in some respects be diplo-
of =
send them TO Washington
They will have functions somewhat
similar TO the commercial attaches OF
the United States abroad. but their field
will be wider These commercial at
taches are selected by the Department
of Commerce and are accredited TO our
embassies and legations through the
State Department Their activities,
however are limited liz scope.
Tne British colonial trade commits
sioners will have very definite fuuc-
t.ors They will not be the represent
atives of one department Of their gov
ernment but will represent the gov
eYnment itself Undoubtedly it viii be
90 arranged that they can deal direct
ly with the different departments at
Washington, although back OF them
will he the shadoWE authority Of the
British embassy
The need Of q Canadian representa- :
tive in Washington has long been felt.
Frequently. Canadian cabinet ministers
and other officials have come To confer
With the different departments here
and to advise the British embassy in
regard To Canadian questions. The en-
bassy. representing the whole British
empire. has rot been expected :, know
much more Of Canadian affairs than of
the affairs OF any other part OF the
empire. In consequence. questions
have arisen when the lack of perma
nent Canadian representative in Wash
ington has been embarra ssing both to
the embassy and to this government.
The United States in its relations
with Canada is not subject to this in
convenience. The American consul
general at ottawa is virtually a resi-
Cent minister. Consul General John &
Foster. who has ably represented the
United States there for many yaars
during his term has had many import :
ant questions 10 present to the pomIn-
ion government. and the ability to pre-
sent them directly has greatly faciIi-
fated their settlement. Canada has had
NO such advantage in Washington.
The project Of naming a commissions
er 20 the capital of the United States
is not new one. When the I.aurier
| government. in 1911. negotiated the
reciprocity agreement with President
| Taft.s administration the intention
was-to follow this action by the ap-
pointment Of trade commissioner
That agreement was not in the forF,
of a treaty. " was a simple arrange
| rtent by which the Congress Of the
nited States and the parliament of the
In legislation. a treaty would have