Commonwealth Day message

Press, 8 March 1982, Page 2

Commonwealth Day message

The Queen has urged a greater understanding and a greater awareness of what she called “our unique Commonwealth partnership,” reports the Press Association. In her annual message celebrating Commonwealth Day today, she said she was a profound believer in the 44nation Commonwealth’s influence for good and in the ways in which it works. However, Commonwealth Day sees the 46 member nations buffeted by a period of turbulence in the field where they are ‘most often locked in combat: sport. African, Caribbean, and Asian nations have threatened a boycott of this year’s Commonwealth Games unless the invitation to New Zealand, host last year to the South African rugby team, is withdrawn.

Untold repercussions are expected from the rebel cricket tour of South Africa by the “dirty dozen” English cricketers. Heads of various Commonwealth organisations are keeping a low profile, but working covertly to try to prevent a major split. “The Commonwealth’s first concern,” the Queen’s message said, “is to further in practical ways the desire which all our different peoples share for full and satisfying lives, free from poverty. ‘

“I believe that all of us who share in our unique Commonwealth partnership, particularly those who are still young and those who influence the young, ought to make sure that we understand what it means to belong — who and where our 1000 million fellow members are, what are their problems and what are their hopes. Every one of us should do our best to help make those hopes a reality.” The Queen ; has no formal status in several of the Commonwealth countries but all recognise her as head of the Commonwealth. The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Sir Shridath Ramphal, last week deplored the cricket tour which he said angered member countries and gave “a major diplomatic boost” to apartheid. A spokeswoman at the Commonwealth Secretariat said that Mr Ramphal would play “a quiet diplomatic role” in trying to ensure that the Commonwealth- Games take place with all countries participating that wished to do so. “He will talk to Foreign Ministers and to governments,” the spokeswoman said. “He will do as much as he can to convince governments that the Games must go forward.”