High commissioner (Commonwealth)
As diplomatic residents (as diplomatic ranks were codified, this became a lower class than ambassadors and high commissioners) were sometimes appointed to native rulers, high commissioners could likewise be appointed as British agents of indirect rule over native states.
[2] The first high commissioner of India to London was appointed in 1920; he had no political role, but mostly dealt with the business interests of the 'Indian Federation'.
The British governor of the Crown colony of the Straits Settlements, based in Singapore, doubled as high commissioner of the Federated Malay States, and had authority over the resident-general in Kuala Lumpur, who in turn was responsible for the various residents appointed to the native rulers of the Malay states under British protection.
Alexander Mackenzie, while he was prime minister, appointed Edward Jenkins a British Member of Parliament with links to Canada, to act as the government's representative in London as agent-general (1874–1876), followed by former Nova Scotia premier William Annand (1876–1878).
The Canadian government appointed Alexander Tilloch Galt as the first high commissioner of Canada to the United Kingdom in 1880.
[citation needed] This arrangement began to create problems after the First World War with Dominions expecting a greater degree of control over their external and foreign affairs and beginning to challenge the constitutional role of their governors-general.
In Canada, matters came to a head during the King–Byng affair of 1926, when the governor-general refused the advice of the Canadian prime minister to dissolve parliament and call elections, as would normally apply under the Westminster system.
The difference in accreditation is also reflected in the formal titles of envoys to Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth states: e.g., British high commissioners to the Commonwealth countries are formally titled "The High Commissioner for His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom", whereas British ambassadors to non-Commonwealth countries are known as "His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador".
Similarly, when Hong Kong was under British administration, Canada,[20] Australia[21] New Zealand[22] India,[23] Malaysia[24] and Singapore[25] were represented by commissions, but following the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997, these were replaced by consulates-general, as in other non-capital cities in non-Commonwealth countries, with the last commissioner becoming the first consul-general.
[26] Canada formerly had a commissioner to Bermuda, although this post was held by the consul-general to New York City,[27][28] but there is now an honorary Canadian consulate on the island.
[citation needed] High commissioners also attend important ceremonies of state, such as the annual Remembrance Sunday service at The Cenotaph in Whitehall (commemorating Commonwealth war dead) and royal weddings and funerals.
