THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DOMINIONS 391
safeguarding the commerce of the Empire and the Cliapter
integrity of all British territory, though New Zealand —'
has generously contributed to the share of the Do-
minions in the Singapore base project, which of course
is virtually devised for the Dominions. In reparations
at The Hague in 1930 and at Lausanne in 1932 the
leadership has been British, and the Union alone was
able to refuse the offer of British concessions as to
repayment of war debt in 1931-32.
(2) Direct diplomatic representation achieved by
the Irish Free State in Washington in 1924 has been
extended by the Free State to Paris, to Berlin, and to
the Vatican City, while in 1931-32 arrangements were
made for appointing a Minister to Belgium, the office
•to be combined with that of Minister to France. The
Dominion of Canada decided on a similar course in
1926, and proceeded to appoint Ministers to Paris and
Washington; this was followed by a like appointment
to Tokyo; the Union of South Africa has made appoint-
ments to The Hague, Rome, and Washington. In all
cases the points selected are deemed of special import-
ance on political and economic grounds, and the exten-
sion of representation in all cases is dependent on the
decision whether the cost involved is likely to be repaid
by the results achieved. The foreign governments con-
cerned have reciprocated: the United States in 1927
sent Ministers to Ottawa and Dublin; France in 1928
despatched an envoy to Ottawa; Tokyo followed suit
in 1929, and in that and the following year the Nether-
lands, the United States, and Italy sent Ministers to
the Union; a Papal Nuncio reached Dublin in 1930, to
be followed later in the year by Ministers from France
and Germany.