Credentials

Through the Blue Room and into the Red Room of the White House stepped briskly last week the British Ambassador Sir Esme W. Howard, escorting into the presence of President Coolidge the Hon. Vincent Massey, first Canadian Minister ever accredited to the U. S. (TIME, Nov. 15).

Dialogue:

Minister Massey: "Allow me, Mr. President, on behalf of His Majesty's Canadian Government and the people of Canada, to convey to you, sir, assurances of their high and sincere regard.

"I consider myself highly fortunate, sir, to have the privilege of being the first envoy from my country to be accredited to the Government of your great republic. I have the great honor of placing in your hands the letters of credence by which his Britannic Majesty accredits me as his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to represent the Dominion of Canada in the United States."

President Coolidge: "The people of this country have a deep and lasting regard for the people of your country. . . .

"It gives me pleasure to receive from you the letters by which His Majesty King George accredits you as his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to represent the interests of the Dominion of Canada in the United States, and to accord you formal recognition in that capacity."

Epilogue:

It having been established that Canada is a "country"--whatever that may mean--President Coolidge was at liberty to read the King Emperor's letter: George, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, etc., to the President of the United States of America sendeth greeting:

Our good friend: We have judged it expedient to confer the rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary upon our trusty and well-beloved the Hon. Charles Vincent Massey, member of our Privy Council in Canada, with the especial object of representing in the United States of America the interests of our Dominion of Canada.

We request that you will give credence to all that Mr. Massey may represent to you in our name, especially when he shall assure you of our esteem and regard, and of our hearty wishes for the welfare and prosperity of the United States of America. And so we commend you to the protection of the Almighty.

Given at our Court of St. James's, Dec. 7, 1926, in the seventeenth year of our reign.

Your good friend,

GEORGE REX IMPERATOR