The Washington herald., 1920-05-19
Warrington Herald Cross Atlantic
Service. Special Cable Dispatch.
By w. ORION TEwsoN.

Service. Special Cable Dispatch.
By w. oRTON TEwsoN.
London. May 1s.-Behind the ap-
pointment Of a Canadian minister
to Washington. though casually an
nounced in the House Of Commons,
lies a vastly important departure
from the annals of the British EN-
pire with untold possibilities Of de-
velopment.
Students OF British constitutional
history well know that the changes
are revolutionary in character,
though inaugursted in the same
casual manner. It may be recalled,
as was the pronouncement fore
shadowing the revolutionizing of
India's status in the empire, made
recently.
At that time much criticism was
aroused because so tremendous a
change was not announced in a
more weighty manner. such as by
a royal proclamation.
Development of War Time.
Appointment OF a Canadian min
lister Is a natural development of
a wartime empire. As Britain
found the dominions and India pow
erful helpers. instead Of dependents
needing protection, she admitted
them at most of her councils as
partners sharing with her the re-
sponsibility for arriving at deci-
sions affecting the empire.
Pre-war imperial conferences ex-
cluded India as a country consti-
.tutionally inferior, but after India
shed blood in defense of the empire,
she was given an equal status as
a partner.
For many reasons the constitu-
tional departure involved in the ap-
pointment of a Canadian minister
goes much farther than the mere
admission Of the dominions and
India into the empire cabinet.
Canada's Status Raised.
First. it raises Canada's status in
ternationally and follows closely ad-
mission of Canada and the other
and India into the league
of nations.
Second. it improves Canada's status
imperially, for 1t is distinctly un-
that the Canadian minister
will act for the British Ambassador
when the latter is absent from Wash
ington.
This interchangeabiIity constitutes
the basis Of an entirely new empire
and it may be con-
fidently predicted that in time
the normal practice will be that
will be appointed to the
Washington post to act not only for
but for the whole empire.
A Canadian. ii is felt. is likely to
possess a more intimate knowledge
of the United States. and. therefore,
make a better representative for the
whole commonwealth.
1t may be confidently predicted
that the Canadian precedent will be
extended to the other dominions and
India. Each of them is anxious not
to lag behind and the denial of
equal treatment is unthinkable.
Problems Of Pacific.
Australia and New Zealand. for
instance, have their own Pacific
Their standpoint on Ash
attic immigration and cognate mat
ters is different from that OF the
British. The same is
true of South Africa.
Moreover. the feeling in all the
dominions is growing that their
own representatives can adequately
protect their interests. Further
more, the dominions are keen upon
improving their International status
to the point that the world thinks
of them as free communities. allied
with Britain and one another, not
mere appendages of the mother
country. They want the status of
adults, not adolescents.
In the case of India the necessity
Of extension of similar privileges is
especially urgent. Only recently
India was bound by Italy to share
in loans to Persia. Because Of the
geographic position. cultural and
racial relations, as well as the
and perhaps policing obli-
cations arising out of the Anglo
Persian treaty. India will insist
on Improved representation.
ireland May Proft.
The new International status
given Canada. and likely to be
given the othar Ior,infnns and