High Commissioner

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High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.

The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.

Contents

[edit] The Commonwealth

The Tanzanian High Commission in London. Tanzania and the United Kingdom are both members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
The Tanzanian High Commission in London. Tanzania and the United Kingdom are both members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Main article: High Commissioner (Commonwealth)

In the Commonwealth of Nations, a High Commissioner is the senior diplomat (ranking as an ambassador) in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another.

Formerly, in the British Empire, high commissioners were appointed by the British Government and to manage protectorates or groups of territories not fully under the sovereignty of the British Crown.

[edit] Other (mainly former, colonial) empires & protectorates

In the (post-)colonial sense, some other powers had High Commissioners, or rather the exact equivalent in their language

[edit] French

Originally the French word Haut Commissaire, or in full Haut Commissaire de la république 'High Commissioner of the Republic', was rarely used for governatorial functions, rather (Lieutenant-)gouverneur(-général) and various lower titles. Exceptions were:

  • since 22 March 1907, the colonial Gouverneur of New Caledonia was also appointed as High Commissioner in the Pacific Ocean, to coordinate with the governors of the French Settlements in Oceania and the Governors-general of French Indochina; the French resident commissioner of the Anglo-French condominium Nouvelles Hébrides and the Residents to the island protectorates of Wallis and Futuna were subordinated to him
    • once Charles de Gaulle named someone else as High Commissioner for the French Territory of the Pacific and the Far East, January 1941 - 1945: Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu (b. 1889 - d. 1964), while in December 1941 the Vichy (pro-German) government named Jean Decoux (b. 1884 - d. 1963) to the post (who in fact was only responsible for Wallis and Futuna, which was the only Pacific territory not to have rallied to the Free French at that time).
  • In Atlantic waters, from 14 September 1939 till September 1943, four French Possessions in the Americas (French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique, all in the Caribbean, as well as Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, off the Canadian coast) were temporarily grouped together (from June 1940 under Vichy France, so remaining on the Allied side). The two consecutive 'High Commissioners in the Antilles' (quite a misleading title: French Guyana is in continental South America, St-Pierre&Miquelon off the Canadian coast, so in North America) held both administrative authority over the local Governors and equivalent officers (rather like a gouverneur général did elsewhere on a permanent basis) and military command in the 'Theater Atlantic West':
    • 14 September 1939 - 14 July 1943 Georges Robert (b. 1875 - d. 1965)
    • 14 July 1943 - September 1943 Henri Hoppenot (b. 1891 - d. 1977)

In the later period of decolonisation, the office of High Commissioner in a colony to become an allied nation was intended to become remarkably analogous to the Commonwealth's 'close relationship diplomats' in President General De Gaulle's project for a French Union to match the Commonwealth, but it soon started to fall apart, so they actually just presided over most of the peaceful decolonisation.

  • Algérie (Algeria), once similar to Tunis, but transformed into a French popular colony (most of the time under its own governor-general; then a messy period as native and immigrated European interests were irreconcilable), got its only High commissioner on 19 March 1962: Christian Fouchet (b. 1911 - d. 1974), until its 3 July 1962 independence from France (Algerian State; 25 September 1962 People's Democratic Algerian Republic ruled by the FLN, the former armed revolt)
  • in present Benin, since 13 October 1946 Dahomey overseas territory, on 4 December 1958 granted autonomy as Republic of Dahomey, the last (acting) governor, René Tirant (b. 1907), stayed on as only High commissioner till the 1 August 1960 independence
  • Chad, since 27 October 1946 an overseas territory of France (part of AEF colony) under its own Governor, shortly after it was on 28 November 1958 granted autonomy as Republic of Chad, had a single High Commissioner from 22 January 1959: Daniel Marius Doustin (b. 1920) until its 11 August 1960 independence from France.
  • Congo-Brazzaville (variously named, often Middle Congo) had a single High commissioner, a bit after it was granted on 28 November 1958 autonomy (as Republic of Congo), 7 January 1959 - 15 August 1960: Guy Noël Georgy (b. 1918 - d. 2003) after many Lieutenant governors since 11 December 1888 (under the governor-general of AEF, except the several cases when he governed the French Congo personally); afterwards it was an independent republic
  • Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) had two High Commissioners since it was granted autonomy as republic of Ivory Coast:
    • 4 December 1958 - 15 July 1960 Ernest de Nattes (b. 1908), the last of the long list of governors since 10 March 1893 (colony till 27 October 1946, then overseas territory)
    • 15 July 1960 - 7 August 1960 Yves René Henri Guéna (b. 1922); thereafter it was an independent republic
  • Gabon had two High Commissioners since on 28 November 1958 autonomy was granted (as Gabonese Republic) to the former overseas territory (since 1946)
    • November 1958 - July 1959 Louis Marius Pascal Sanmarco (b. 1912), also the last of the Governors since 1941 (after various otherwise styled chief executives before; it had since 15 January 1910 been part of French Equatorial Africa, AEF)
    • July 1959 - 17 August 1960 Jean Risterucci (b. 1911 - d. 1982); thereafter it was an independent republic
  • Mauritania had two High commissioners, after having been a protectorate since 12 May 1903 (under a single military Commandant), from 18 October 1904 the French civil territory of Mauritania under a Commissioner (part of French West Africa (AOF); under its Governor-general in Dakar, Senegal), and since 12 January 1920 a French colony under a Lieutenant governor (many incumbents, again under Dakar), on 28 November 1958 obtaining autonomy (as Islamic Republic of Mauritania):
    • 5 October 1958 - February 1959 Henri Joseph Marie Bernard (b. 1920)
    • February 1959 - 28 November 1960 Amédée Joseph Émile Jean Pierre Anthonioz (b. 1913 - d. 1996); since independence from France it had its own President (or a junta chief);
  • In Niger, since 13 October 1946 an overseas territory of France (part of French West Africa, see Senegal) under a lieutenant-governor, on 19 December 1958 granted autonomy as Republic of Niger, there was a single High commissioner 25 August 1958 - 10 November 1960: Jean Colombani (b. 1903), i.e. still several months after the formal 3 August 1960 independence whilst there was no President
  • In Senegal, since 27 October 1946 an overseas territory of France, which on 25 November 1958 had obtained autonomy (as Republic of Senegal), the last Governor stayed on as first (and only?) Haut commissaire 25 November 1958 - 20 June 1960: Pierre Auguste Michel Marie Lami (b. 1909); meanwhile on 4 April 1959 the Sudanese Republic (now Mali) and Senegal formed the Mali Federation and his term ended at the 20 June 1960 independence of that Mali Federation from France (on 20 August 1960 the Republic of Senegal withdrew from the thus dissolved Mali Federation).
  • in French Sudan, an overseas territory of France since 27 October 1946 (earlier a colony; stayed within French West Africa), which on 24 November 1958 obtained autonomy (as Sudanese Republic), there were two High commissioners:
    • 3 November 1956 - 24 November 1958 Henri Victor Gipoulon
    • 24 November 1958 - 20 June 1960 Jean Charles Sicurani (b. 1915 - d. 1977); during his term on 4 April 1959 this Sudanese Republic and Senegal (cfr. above) united to form the Mali Federation; his office ceased at the 20 June 1960 independence of the Mali Federation from France
  • In the Republic of Upper Volta (since 4 January 1947 a French territory; present Burkina Faso, renamed 4 August 1984), since the 11 December 1958 grant of Autonomy as a 'republic', République de Haute-Volta, there were two High commissioners:
    • 11 December 1958 - February 1959 Max Berthet, who stayed on, having been the last (acting) Governor
    • February 1959 - 5 August 1960 Paul Jean Marie Masson (b. 1920), till the Independence from France as the Republic of Upper Volta.

While the colonies above were generally artificially carved creations, Haut commissaires also were appointed by Paris to prepare the (de facto) independence of pre-existing monarchies that had formally been French protectorates, such as:

  • Tunisia, known as the Régence (since 3 June 1955 autonomous), where France had a Resident-general (posted with the Basha bey of Tunis, who once the French protectorate was terminated on 20 March 1956 restyled his realm al-Mamlaka at-Tunisiyya 'Tunisian Kingdom'), in stead got a High commissioner from 13 September 1955 to 20 March 1956: Roger Seydoux Fornier de Clausonne (b. 1908 - d. 1985); in continued shortly as independent monarchy, but on 25 July 1957 became the Tunisian Republic.

Yet a colony could achieve independence without a High Commissioner, e.g. Guinée (French Guinea).

In one case a French Haut Commissaire was the exact match and colleague of a British High Commissioner: they represented both powers in the south sea condominium (i.e. territory under joint sovereignty) of the New Hebrides, which became the present republic of Vanuatu.

A very special category was the Haut Commissaire as 'liquidator' of a gouvernement-général (the colonial echelon grouping several neighbouring colonies under a Governor-general), notably:

  • in Afrique Equatoriale Française (French Equatorial Africa, AEF), three High commissioners:
    • 4 April 1957 - 29 January 1958 Paul Louis Gabriel Chauvet (b. 1904), also the last of the long list of Governors-general since 28 June 1908 (before it had five Commissioners-general since 27 April 1886)
    • 29 January 1958 - 15 July 1958 Pierre Messmer (b. 1916)
    • 15 July 1958 - 15 August 1960 Yvon Bourges (b. 1921)
  • in Afrique Occidentale Française (AOF), i.e. French West Africa, the last of a long list of Governors-general since 1895 stayed on as first of only two High Commissioners:
    • 4 April 1957 - July 1958 Gaston Custin (b. 1903 - d. 1993)
    • July 1958 - 22 December 1958 Pierre Messmer (b. 1916)

Another use for the title was found in the rare remaining insulara (formerly no longer colonial) overseas possessions, in these cases still functioning:

  • In French Polynesia it is the title of the representative of the French republic in the overseas territory (restyled 'overseas collectivity' in 2003, 'overseas country' on 27 February 2004) since 13 July 1977 (until 14 September 1984 he also presided the local council of ministers, the that got its own president, as the legislature already had)
  • In New Caledonia (Nouvelle Calédonie in French, colonised in 1853; its Governors had been High Commissioners in the Pacific Ocean from 22 March 1907, see above) the title (commonly corrupted to Haussaire) was chosen for the chief executive on 19 December 1981, when it was an overseas territory (since 1946), even before autonomy was granted on 18 November 1984, and maintained after its status was changed on 20 July 1998 to the unique French collectivité sui generis; he represents the Paris government, while there are a native legislature and government.

[edit] Greek

On 30 July 1922, the Hellenic kingdom (Greece) declared Smyrna (the Anatolian Izmir district, occupied by Greece since 12 May 1919) a protectorate. Until on 9 September 1922 Greece restores Smyrna to Turkey after defeat of Greek forces, it had a Greek High Commissioner (21 May 1919 - 8 September 1922): Aristeidis Stergiadis (b. 1861 - d. 1950)

[edit] Italian

  • while only various military commanders and since 1916 a Secretary for Civil Affairs in Albania (Ugo Capialbi) had acted for Rome since Italy invaded on 27 December 1914 (occupying Valorë and parts of Southern Albania; on 3 June 1917 Albanian independence under an Italian protectorate was declared by Italy, opposed by most Albanians; adding in November 1918 the former Austro-Hungarian occupied areas to the Italian zone) only since in 1919 an Albanian provisional government recognized by Italy as the legal government of the protected zone, consecutive High Commissioners for the Crown were appointed until Italy effectively withdraw its troops on 3 September 1920 (as agreed on 22 August 1920 when formally recognizing the total independence of Albania):
    • 1919 - 1920 ....
    • 1920 Fortunato Castoldi
    • 1920 - 3 September 1920 Gaetano Conti Manzoni
  • two incumbents appointed by the kingdom in Fiume (a former Austrian province; now Rijeka, in Croatia), after an extraordinary commissionary, in the 31 December 1920 declared, short-lived "Independent State of Fiume", until the accession of its first President
    • 13 June 1921 - 1921 Antonio Foschini (b. 1872 - d. 19..)
    • 1921 - 5 October 1921 Luigi Amantea (b. 1869 - d. 19..)
  • in Slovenia, which after 6 - 17 April 1941 Italian-German occupation, was on 17 April 1941 partitioned between Italy, Hungary and Germany, the Italian portion was named province of Lubiana, from 3 May 1941 under a Civil Commissioner, from 3 May 1941 restyled the first of two High Commissioners:
    • 18 April 1941 - 1942 Francesco Saverio Grazioli (b. 1869 - d. 1951)
    • 1942 - 1943 Giuseppe Lombrassa (b. 1906 - d. 1966)

[edit] Portuguese

The title Alto Comissário da República (High Comissioner of the Republic) or, simply Alto Comissário, was given to some portuguese colonial governors to who were given, excepcional, enlarged executive and legislative powers, superiors to those of common Governors. In the Monarchy, before 1910, they were known as Comissários Régios (Royal Comissioners). Had been nominated Altos Comissários or Comissários Régios for:

[edit] Spanish

Alto comisario was the Spanish title of the official exercing the functions of a governor in the following colonial possessions:

  • Equatorial Guinea had three consecutive High Commissioners:
    • 15 December 1963 - 1964 Francisco Núñez Rodríguez (b. 1902 - d. 1972), also the last of many Governors since 7 June 1494
    • 1964 - 1966 Pedro Latorre Alcubierre
    • 1966 - 12 October 1968 Víctor Suances Díaz del Río; his term ended when it became an independent republic

The title Alto Comisario was also used for the representative of Spain in its protectorate zone within the Sherifan sultanate of Morocco (most of the country was under French protectorate), known as el Jalifato after the khalifa (Jalifa in Spanish), the Sultan's fully mandated, princely Viceroy in this protectorate, to which the High Commissioner was formally accredited, but whose senior he was in reality. In 1934 - 1956 the Governors of the Western Sahara (which from 27 November 1912 were also Governors-general of Spanish West Africa) were subordinated to him. The office itself was however filled by the governors of Spanish West Africa from 1939 to 1956.

[edit] United States

[edit] High Commissioners as Extraordinary Government Agents

In many cases, a political vacuum created by war, occupation or other events discontinuing a country's constitutional government has been filled by those able to do so, one nation or often an alliance, installing a transitional (often minimal) governance administered by, or under supervision of, one or more High Commissioners representing it/them. For example:

  • 22 November 1918 - 1919 Alsace-Lorraine, till then part of the defeated German Empire as Elsaß-Lothringen but just occupied by and restored to France, was under haut commissaire Maringer (it would be only fully reintegrated in 1925, after three Commissioners General)

[edit] Domestic High Commissioners

In France, a high commissioner, in French haut-commissaire, is a civil servant appointed by the President of France to some high level position within France:

[edit] Multilaterally mandated

[edit] Representing an international alliance

  • After the naval blockade of Crete in 1898 by France, Italy, Russia and the United Kingdom, Crete became autonomous within the Ottoman Empire. These protecting powers appointed the following as High Commissioner (or "Armostis") until 1908 when the Cretan Assembly unilaterally declared union with Greece (with Crete subsequently formally becoming part of Greece in 1913):
  • Even shortly before on 8 December 1918 the Allied occupation of the Bosporus, the Dardanelles, the eastern coast of the Sea of Marmara, the islands of Imros, Lemnos, Samothrace and Tenedos and 15 km deep into eastern and the eastern shores; entire area demilitarized (Zone of the Straits; complemented 16 March - 10 August 1920 as the allies occupy the Ottoman capital Istanbul) was a military fact, in November 1918 a double post was created: until the termination of allied occupation on 22 October 1923, there were at all times one British Senior Allied High Commissioner and one (junior) Allied High Commissioner (incumbents from France, thrice, Italy and the US, each twice).

Often the main/locally concerned members of an alliance would not set up a joint occupation authority (as in Italy after the Nazi defeat) but simply each appoint one for each of the zones into which they physically divided amongst themselves an occupied state or territory, e.g. after World War II:

  • in Austria, until 27 July 1955 when Allied occupation ends, restoring Austrian sovereignty, it was administered as a British Zone (6 consecutive High Commissioners, July 1945), a US Zone (4 incumbents from 5 July 1945), a Soviet Zone (4 from July 1945; only this had first been under a Military Governor from 8 April 1945) and a French Zone (2, from 8 July 1945);
  • in Germany there were also four major occupation zones: the British Zone (after three consecutive Military governors from 22 May 1945, the last stayed on as first of three consecutive High Commissioners 21 September 1949 - 5 May 1955), the US Zone (after five Military governors from 8 May 1945, four High Commissioners 2 September 1949 - 5 May 1955), the Soviet Zone (after a military commander April 1945 - 9 June 1945 who stayed as first of three Military governors 9 June 1945 - 10 October 1949, the last of whom stayed on as only Chairman of the Soviet Control Commission 10 October 1949 - 28 May 1953, two High commissioners 28 May 1953 - 20 September 1955) and the French Zone (after a Military commander from May 1945 and a Military governor from July 1945, a single High commissioner 21 September 1949 - 5 May 1955); the Nazi capital, Berlin, enclaved in the Soviet zone, is separately quartered under four military City Commanders; only the small Dutch zone by the border is destined for annexation in 1949, so it is divided up in two districts, each under a landdrost (Tudderenen, attached to the province of (Dutch) Limburg and Elten, attached to Gelderland province), but returned to Germany after compensation payments and minor border corrections on 11 August 1963

[edit] Emancipatory administrators under International law

  • As the 'world community' became a widely accepted ideal in diplomacy and was embodied first in the League of Nations and later the UNO, these often came to play a key role in extraordinary situations that would earlier probably have been dealt with by states as above, sometimes reflected in the appointment of High Commissioners under their auspices, sometimes just from the same leading powers, sometimes rather from 'neutral' member states.
  • The title of High Commissioner was specifically used for the administrators during the 'emancipation from colonial rule' of League of Nations mandates and United Nations Trust Territories, i.e. non-sovereign states under a 'transitional' regime established under the authority of the League of Nations or the UN, respectively, to prepare them for full independence.

These 'guardianships' most often were simply awarded to the former colonial power or if that was a loser in the preceding World War, to the 'liberating' Allied victor(s).

[edit] League of Nations - Mandate territories

  • Iraq, conquered on the Ottoman Walis by British forces, had four incumbents, after a single civilian Administrator (10 January 1919 - 1 October 1920 Sir Arnold Talbot Wilson), continuing ten years after the accession to the throne and most of the rule of the country's first Malik (King, reigned 23 August 1921 - 8 September 1933) Faysal I (b. 1885 - d. 1933) :
    • 1 October 1920 - 4 May 1923 Sir Percy Zachariah Cox (b. 1864 - d. 1937)
    • 4 May 1923 - October 1928 Sir Henry Robert Conway Dobbs (acting to 15 September 1923) (b. 1871 - d. 1934)
    • October 1928 - 11 September 1929 Sir Gilbert Falkingham Clayton (b. 1875 - d. 1929)
    • 3 October 1929 - 3 October 1932 Sir Francis Henry Humphrys (b. 1879 - d. 1971)

[edit] United Nations

[edit] UN Trust Territories

[edit] Other UN administration
  • After the former Italian colony of Eritrea had been under victor Britain's administration since 5 May 1941, a specific United Nations administration, under Britain, was installed on 19 February 1951, under a UN High Commissioner, Edoardo Anze Matienzo (Bolivian, b. 1902), whose office ceased on 15 September 1952 when it was Federated with Ethiopia under the sovereignty of the Ethiopian emperor.

[edit] Representing the world universally

At the United Nations and affiliated global organisations, a High Commissioner serves as the permanent chief executive of a commission composed of representatives of various member nations.

[edit] See also

[edit] References