FORMULA DEVISED FOR INDIA TO STAY IN COMMONWEALTH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22931, 27 April 1949, Page 7

FORMULA DEVISED FOR INDIA TO STAY IN COMMONWEALTH

(N.Z.P.A.—'Reuter—Copyright.) (11 a.m.) LONDON. April 26. The position after the meetings of Commonwealth Prime Ministers appears to be that a solution which would enable a Republican India to remain a Commonwealth member, has been devised.

It is now a question of analysing this solution from the viewpoints of the other Dominions and seeking ways to meet any objections raised, says the Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent.

The Times Parliamentary correspondent says the notable feature of the conference is that there is no flat opposition to the idea of the Commonwealth assimilating a republic. On the contrary, the conference is marked by a generally sympathetic attitude towards India’s problem. The older Dominions, with their traditional loyalties undimmed, are naturally anxious that the fabric of the Commonwealth shall not be weakened and that the Crown shall continue to represent for them all that it has done in the past. South Africa’s Attitude

The Times correspondent adds that South Africa's attitude towards India’s aspirations appears to be very friendly and certainly rather different from the line recently taken by General Smuts when he said that there was “no middle course between the Crown and a Republic.” Pakistan is, of course, very intimately concerned with any arrangement which may be made for the inclusion in the Commonwealth of a Republican India and, as a matter of internal policy, she may wish to have freedom to adopt any special status devised for India. Ceylon will probably be moved by similar considerations. For this reason, Mr. Attlee’s meetings yesterday with Prime Ministers of Pakistan and Ceylon may have had special significance. Meanwhile, there appears to be continued optimism about achieving some agreement and completing the conference’s work by tomorrow night. Whether it will be necessary for the delegates to consult further with their own Cabinets before a full statement is issued is not yet known.