Catalogue description Records of High Commissioners

Details of Division within DO
Reference: Division within DO
Title: Records of High Commissioners
Description:

Comprises records of High Commissioners and consulates for the following:

And also:

  • United Kingdom Representative to Eire, DO 130
  • British Trade Commission Colombo, Ceylon, DO 205
Date: 1843-1975
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Physical description: 20 series
Custodial history: Commonwealth Relations Office records in High Commissions passed to the Commonwealth Office in 1966, and were inherited by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office when it was created in October 1968.
Administrative / biographical background:

Following the Imperial Conference of 1926 a network of British high commissioners in dominion capitals was gradually established to provide a channel of communication between the British and dominion governments. They were able to deal separately with the different government departments of the dominions concerned, not being restricted, as was the case with ambassadors, to contacts with departments of external affairs. The dominion governments themselves already maintained high commissioners in London. Governors general remained in existence in the dominions to represent the monarch.

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