Evening star., 1922-02-08

Believed Empire Will Profit if Co.
lonial Possessions Are Represent.
ed in Washington.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Great Britain will look with favor
upon the sending Of minister to the
United States to represent the Irish
Free State, and will offer no objec-
tion to the sending Of an American
minister to Dublin.
This information was obtained by
this correspondent today from official
| sources. Also, IL Canada. New Zea-
Land. Australia, South Africa, or any
British dominions hereafter shall
wish direct representation Of diplo-
! matte character at Washington to
| handle their own special problems,
the British government will be agree
able to it, and will ask only that the
dominion ministers be linked up with
the British embassy at Washington.
so that in matters affecting the Brit
ish empire as a whole the ambassa-
dor. as the senior representative of
the king. shall speak for the united
British nations.
AS matter of fact. the British gov
ernment would prefer to have each
dominion handle that part of external
policy which affects particular coun-
try but naturally is desirous of hav-
nns,c ing only one mouthpiece on foreign
tween the Irish Free State and Great
Britain the latter retains control of
military and naval policy. On ques-
tions SO broad as to affect the whole
empire, there will be but one point of
contact-the British ambassador-but
on the thousand and one questions
which Canada, for instance. has up
with the Washington government
every day. there will not be the slight
est objection to direct communication
between Canada and the United States
or between the Irish Free State and
the United States.
Canada's Commercial Issues.
Canada has many commercial mat
ters which affect her alone and which
have no relationship, to other parts Of
the British empire. Some of her peo-
pie have thought a minister ought to
be maintained in Washington for that
purpose. The British government has
thorities that Canada could send her
own representatives to the United
States any time. The impression pre-
vailing here Is that when the Cana
dian government Investigated the
matter and found that 1t would cost
| matte representative it was felt that
the same objects might be achieved by
sending commissioner from time to
time. who would work in cooperation
with the British embassy.
Recognizes Growing Demand.
Although the problem has seemed
to grow acute because Of the grant Of
dominion status to Ireland: British
policy has for some time been in proc
ess Of evolution to meet the growing
demand of Canada and Australia for
direct diplomatic representation. The
British foreign office always has main
tanned in Paris a British minister
| wholly separate in his duties from the
are accredited to the French govern
ment. but the minister concerns him
self with tariff matters and questions
which do not have political aspect.
So there is precedent for the harmoni-
! Gus relationship of a minister and am
bassador working side by side with
varying functions.
Proposes L. s. Minister to Ireland.
Representative Rainey of Illinois
has lately introduced a bill providing
for the sending Of an American min
thought this would involve the deli
cate question Of recognising Ireland
as an Independent sovereignty and
have imagined that the British gov
ernment would offer objections.
The truth is that Great Britain
ties. but will welcome as many points
of contact between her dominions
and the United States as 1t is pos
sible to have. For instance, the
United States maintains in Dublin a
consul, who has for many months
been dealing directly, with the Sim
Fein group. Similarly, the United
States has a consul general at Ot-
tawa to deal directly with the Ca
madam government.
For many months Australia has
had a commissioner in New York
handling questions of finance and
other matters directly affecting Aus
tralia. Whenever the British ambas-
sador here has had matter brought
to his attention of interest to Aus
tralia he has called the Australian
commissioner into consultation.
The tact is, commercial representa-
tive operating in New York and in other
business centers is really what. some Of
the British dpminions want instead Of
q minister to sit in Washington, with all
the expense Of diplomatic life, and few
Of the contacts that are needed to i'm
pSove commercial relations.
New Zealand, for instance, is inter-
ested just now In the question Of meat
packing monopolies. Newfoundland is
interested in fisheries disputes that have
arisen with the United States. Canada
is concerned over tariff duties Aus
tralia has multitude Of financial and
commercial problems in which the
United States Is involved.
Britain Quite Willing,
The British view is that the closer
the dominions get to the United States
the better it will be for the British en-.
pire as whole. There is some doubt
whether Canada or the Irish Free StsfA
or any other dominion will want to So
to the expense and trouble Of a separate
diplomatic and c cossuIlsr. as.Is1. system.
the United States government will
want to create q minister to 20 to
Ireland, with sthe salary and other ex-
penses of a legation, when the same
work can be- done by a consul Renerai.
II the courtesy were extended to Ire
land the United, States would have to
send & minister to each OF the other
| that If such items are proposed they
will be swept aside by the broom Of
Charles GrosvenoE Dawes, who filings
as many items out of the budget as he
can, Irrespective Of the diploma tic
amenities and courtesies involved
minions from maintaining! commits
sioners or. ministers here, because
they will all be linked up with the
BRITISH embassy, while the American
Royernment can, without ofIense, to
Great Britain, take the position that