Failing an annual Imperial Conference of Prime Ministers, what machinery
can be provided in the periods intervening between one Conference and another, usually a term of three years ? It seems to be generally recog- nized that either the functions of the Dominion High Commissioners in London must be extended or that each Dominion should be permanently represented in London by a Resident Minister. The first-named solution is favoured by Sir James Allen, the High Commissioner for New Zealand, who points to the fact that when he visited London ten years ago as Minister for Defence in the New Zealand Cabinet he was invited to attend meetings of the Imperial Defence Committee, from which, as High Commissioner, he is barred. On the other hand, Sir George Perley, the former Canadian High Commissioner, who has had the unique experience of representing his Dominion as a Resident Minister and as a High Com- missioner, favours Dominion representation by Resident Ministers so as to keep the British and Dominion Govern- ments in close touch.
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