Referring to Mr. Kiernan's minute of 27th ult.¹ I am directed by the Minister to say that it is in accordance with the usual practice in the Civil Service that all communications intended for the Minister from our foreign establishments should be addressed only through the Secretary of the Department, who is responsible to the political head, not only for the work of the Headquarters staff, but also for the work of the officers abroad. The offices abroad are regarded for all purposes as an integral part of the Department of External Affairs, the High Commissioner and the Envoys ranking in the administration with the Assistant Secretary and the Legal Adviser at Headquarters, and the Secretaries to the High Commissioner and to the Legations ranking with the Assistant Principals at home.

The fact that the High Commissioner has to deal in his representative capacity in London with persons of Ministerial rank is not relevant at all when considering the internal relations existing between the various branches of the Department.

The Minister does not consider it at all necessary that he should give any explanation of his decision in this matter.