COMMON WEALTH OF NATIONS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26120, 24 May 1950, Page 6

COMMON WEALTH OF NATIONS

“AN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ” ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR N. C. PHILLIPS “We should rethink our position as members of the Commonwealth and realise that we belong to an association that is really international." said Professor N. C. Phillips, professor of history at Canterbury University College, in an address at an “Empire Day Tattoo,” held by the Christchurch Tin Hat Club last evening. Professor Phillips spoke of the changes in meaning of the words empire, dominion, snd commonwealth in British history. Professor Phillips discussed the changes in the concept of the British Commonwealth resulting from the admission of India, Pakistan, and Ceylon to membership. In 1949. after it had become apparent that India wanted to renounce direct allegiance to the Crown and yet remain in the British Commonwealth of Nations, it had been decided at a conference of British foreign ministers that India could remain a member as a republic, he said. I The decision was illogical, but in their [ past history the British had laughed at : logic and got away with it. 1 The admission of India was of vast importance. Professor Phillips said. In : 1833. H. C. Macaulay had said that the j British subjects in India, having been instructed in European knowledge. [ might at some future age demand European institutions and that if such a day came it would be the proudest moment in British history. "That day has come. What would Macaulay have thought if he had heard Mr Doidge say at the conference in Sydney that the wise men of the East were putting right the not so wise men of the .. t? „ The change from British Commonwealth of Nations to Commonwealth of 1 Nations signified the equality of i European and non-European members i of the Commonwealth. India. Pakistan. : and Ceylon had only led the wcy. | There wore others knocking at the ; door. The West Indies. East Africa. 1 Central Africa, and West Africa were all thinking of federation. Duties as Members “We have peculiarly intimate and friendly ties with Britain, and long may they flourish, but we must detach our feelings of peculiar relationship with Britain from our feelings as members of the British Commoni wealth. We cannot expect the Eastern I countries to think the same of Britain !as we do. The now’ situation also requires us to broaden our sympathies and enlarge our patriotism; to do nothing lhat would give offence to the non-British countries of the Commonwealth. and to give our sympathy and j encouragement to the needy in ’he I long and difficult road ahead of them. ! “We must also actively participate 'in the duties of membership. Mr Doidge said that we could not afford Ito grant aid to south-east Asia. The I question arises, are we prepared 10 give assistance if it means getting a little less hot water 0 We must en- ' deavour to think of these problems in a practical way.” i Professor Phillips concluded bv quot- | ing an extract from a sixteenth cen- • tury writer. Diomas Starkey, which, he said, set out the spirit in which I these obligations should be met: j ". . . And so thus, when every nart , after this manner docth his office duly with perfect love and amity, one to another, one glad to succour and aid I another as members of one body. . . . i Then shall there be established and I set in such a multitude of people «o i governed, so ruled, with such policy : <ha 4 thing which we have so long j sought that is to sty, a very and true commonweal ”