§ Mr. BOSSOMasked the First Commissioner of Works, whether, as relationships with the Empire have altered since the order of precedence was established, he will now arrange for the position of the Empire representatives at all ceremonial functions to be reconsidered?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIf my hon. Friend's question is to be understood as referring to the precedence accorded to the High Commissioners in London for the Dominions, the position is that this matter was considered at the Imperial Conference of 1930. The recommendations of that Conference which are set out on pages 30 and 31 of Cmd. 3717 were subsequently put into effect.
§ Mr. BOSSOMasked the First Commissioner of Works, whether, as the world importance of the two great republics of the United States of America and of 2395W France has altered since the order of precedence was established, he will now arrange for the position of their representatives at all ceremonial functions to be reconsidered?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe placing of the Heads of Foreign Missions at ceremonial functions depends not on considerations of the relative importance of the countries which they represent but on the rank of the individual (i.e. whether Ambassador or Minister) and on the date on which he officially notified his arrival. This is in accordance with the regulations annexed to the Vienna Congress Treaty of June 9th, 1815. At a ceremony at which a foreign country is represented not by its diplomatic representative in London but by a high personage attending specially for the purpose, the position to be assigned to him must necessarily take account of his personal status without reference to considerations of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend. In these circumstances, it is clear that no rule can be laid down which would assure to any representative of a particular state a permanently fixed place on ceremonial occasions.