13 JANUARY 1923, Page 4

Mr. James MacNeill has been appointed first High Commissioner of

the Irish Free State in London. The new High Commissioner is an Ulsterman and a retired Indian Civil Servant, and the experience that he gained while serving the British Commonwealth in the East should be very useful to him in. his new office. As Commissioner of Bombay Presidency, and as a Member of the Viceroy's Council, Mr. MacNeill did much useful work, especially during the plague visitations at Poona. His experience was not limited to India, for he was sent by the Indian Government to some of the British Colonies to report on the condition of the indentured Indians. Mr. MacNeill is the brother of Professor John MacNeill, a Member of the Irish Constitution Drafting Committee and the Free State Minister for Education.