Cablegram. 333 CANBERRA, 23 December 1948, 2 p.m.

RESTRICTED
Reference conclusions reached at recent meeting of Commonwealth
Prime Ministers re status of High Commissioners [1], Australian
Government proposes make following recommendation to His Majesty
the King (a) that High Commissioners be placed in same order of
precedence as at present enjoyed by foreign Ambassadors (b) that
High Commissioners in Australia be granted the title of
'Excellence' (c) that Ambassadors and High Commissioners should
take precedence in strict order of date of appointment except that
Doyen of Diplomatic Corps will take precedence over High
Commissioners.

High Commissioners and Diplomatic Envoys in Australia will in
future rank in the table of precedence as follows-(1) Governor-
General, (2) Governors of States,
(3) The Prime Minister, (4)(a) Foreign Ambassadors and High
Commissioners, (b) Foreign Ministers and Envoys, (5) Cabinet
Ministers. [2]