On the orders of the day:
. Mr. GORDON GRAYDON (Peel): Has the Canadian government been officially or unofficially approached by the government of India with a view to an exchange of high commissioners between the two countries? If so, when was such approach first made, and why has Canada so far not completed her part of the suggested diplomatic exchange? Ie it anticipated that a move in this direction will be made by this government at an early date? I ask this question because on April 6 of this year I made a similar inquiry of the Prime Minister, based upon certain news dispatches, and at that time the Prime Minister replied that he intended very soon to have an exchange of diplomatic representation between India and Canada. Now that six months have elapsed I think we should have some indication as to the present position in the matter.
Hon. L. S. ST. LAURENT (Acting Secretary of State for External Affairs): I am not sure the summary the hon. gentleman gave of the reply on April 6 is quite complete. The note I have here is that the answer was:
May I say in reply to my hon. friend that the matter of exchange of high commissioners between Canada and India has been under consideration for some little time. It is wholly correct to say that Canada intends to send a high commissioner to India and that India intends to send a high commisisoner to Canada. The exchange of high commissioners will be reciprocal. The government up to the moment have not been able to decide on the particular person to be appointed as high commissioner from Canada but I hope that an appointment may soon be made.
This was the answer given at that time. There has been some further informal discussion of the matter since then, and I am informed that probably it will not be long now before an announcement can be made.
