From the beginning of World War 2, only states exchanged ambassadors after they had reaffirmed their sovereignty. Until World War II, only great powers had their respective embassies in each other’s capitals. During the war, small-state Allies with legations in London and Washington elevated their status to embassy. All Legations became embassies — except diplomatic missions exchanged by members of the British Commonwealth, which used the term high commission. In

the end, these were the only diplomatic missions left, and then nothing changed. But eventually, they became embassies.