Mr, Bonar Law, in answer to a question in the House of Commons put by Sir Donald Maclean, announced that the King, on the advice of his Canadian Ministers, had decided to appoint a Minister Plenipotentiary at Washington, who would have charge of purely Canadian affairs, and would act on instructions from the Canadian Government, while in the absence of the British Ambassador at Washington he would assume complete control of the Embassy, and deal with all Imperial matters as well as those of Canada.
The statement was as follows As a result of recent discussions an arrangement has been concluded between the British and Canadian Governments to provide more complete representation at Washington of Canadian interests than has hitherto existed. Accordingly it has been agreed that his Majesty, on advice of his Canadian Ministers, shall appoint a Minister Plenipo-tertiary, who will"have charge of Canadian affairs, and will at all times be the ordinary channel of communication with the United States Government in matters of purely Canadian concern, acting upon instructions from and representing direct to the Canadian Government, Ju the absence of the Ambassador the Canadian Minister will take charge of the whole Embassy and of the representation of Imperial as well as Canadian interests. He will be accredited by his Majesty to the President with the necessary powers for the purpose.
This new arrangement will not denote uny departure either on the part of the British Government or of the Canadian Government from the principle of the diplomatic unity of the British Empire. The need of this important step has been fully realized by both Governments for some time, and for a good many years there has been direct. communication between Washington and Ottawa, but the constantly increasing importance of Canadian interests in the United States had made it apparent that Canada should be represented there in some distinctive manner, for this would doubtless tend to expedite negotiations, and naturally firsthand acquaintance with Canadian conditions would promote good understanding.
In view of the peculiarly chose relations that have always existed between the people of Canada and those of the United States it is confidently expected as well that this new step will have the very desirable result of maintaining and strengthening friendly relations and ce-operation between the British Empire and the United tates. produced by the sight of the grinning heads of her executed friends on the ramparts of the Tower.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.