Canadian anger at UK knighthoods

Mr Chretien registered his strong personal objections

A diplomatic row has erupted between Canada and Britain over the knighting of two Canadian citizens in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

The Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien is furious that his government was not consulted about knighthoods awarded to the Welsh-born billionaire Terry Matthews and George Bain, the Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast.

Canada does not allow its citizens to receive titled honours from foreign governments under a 1919 Canadian parliamentary resolution.

In no circumstances would Canada consent to the granting of an honour which carries with it a title

Prime Minister Jean Chretien

Mr Chretien phoned the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair last Friday to personally express in "very forceful" terms his disapproval when he learned of Mr Bain's honour.

According to Mr Chretien's office, Mr Blair explained that he did not know Mr Bain was a dual Canadian-British citizen and, in any event, said it was too late to change the list.

But when the honours list was released Saturday, Mr Chretien was irate to discover that another Canadian was being granted a knighthood.

Knighthoods condemned

He immediately fired off a stinging letter to Mr Blair, and the Canadian government also issued a diplomatic note to the British government expressing its "displeasure with the lack of consultation".

Mr Chretien sent a strong protest to Tony Blair

In a strongly worded missive, the Canadian Prime Minister said he reminded Mr Blair only two years ago about difficulties they were having with the issue, and how this resulted in acrimonious legal action.

Although not specifically named, Mr Chretien was referring to the Canadian media magnate Conrad Black, and how his Liberal government blocked an apparent opportunity Mr Black had of becoming a member of the House of Lords.

Britain's High Commission in Canada has declined to comment on the issue.