Communist Threat Has Closed the Ranks Of British Commonwealth

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26906, 19 October 1948, Page 5

Communist Threat Has Closed the Ranks Of British Commonwealth

From E. G. Webber, New Zealand Press Association Special Correspondent Rec. 10 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 18. It may well be found when the history of the present Commonwealth Conference comes to be written that a substantial contribution to its success has been made by the Communists in their efforts to bring about the disintegration of the British Commonwealth. The reaction to the Communist threat has been to close the Commonwealth ranks. It has already become plain that South Africa, whose new Premier, Dr D. F. Malan, has in his day preached Republicanism and secession, has no intention whatever of leaving the Corpmonwealth, but on the x contrary is eager to join in any British or Western European association which will be the buttress of the South African Union’s defences against the Communists. South Africa has other good reasons for wanting to remain within the Commonwealth, but there is no doubt that her fear that Communism may incite a colour war is proving a strong argument against any secessionist tendencies. European South Africans feel they may well need -friends in the future and that the Commonwealth, in association with the United States and the Western Union, is the obvious place to find them.

It is also becoming plain that India’s attitude towards her future association with the Commonwealth is swayed by similar considerations. The Communist influence in India is considerable and reported N to be increasing with each Communist military success in China and the spread of Communist activity in Burma and Siam. Quite recently the new Government of India, much against its will, has been forced to revive the security ordinances used by the British to control the Congress Party and employ them to deal with Communist agitators and mobs. It is admitted that so far no formula has been found which will reconcile Indian aspirations for complete independence and Republican status with ties of Commonwealth association, but it is believed that progress has been made towards finding’ one. There appears to be no justification whatever for reports that Britain and other dominions have been offering India various concessions in order to induce her to remain in the Commonwealth. On the contrary, the Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru, has shown himself as anxious as any of the other delegates to find a solution which will enable India to do this without creating political reactions at home. Mr Nehru’s quandary, it is suggested, is the inevitable clash between politician and statesman. At home he has powerful forces advocating the complete .severance of all ties with Britain and the Commonwealth, and other powerful forces urging that India cannot cut herself adrift in this way. Somehow he must strive to satisfy them both and also follow his own ]U’ ment. ' , Pakistan’s position, it is understood, is already plain. Pakistan, as a predominantly Muslim State in which the Islamic faith has set its face _ firmly against Communism and in which the Muslim law rejects all Communist teaching, regards itself as the Indian bulwark against the spread of Russian doctrines, and looks to the Commonwealth as its most practical alliance in following this policy. ■lt has been noted with interest during the conference that the three Asiatic dominions, India, Pakistan and Ceylon, have all shown the keenest interest in Socialist planning, and to that extent have indicated that they find themselves on common ground with the present Administrations in Britain, Australia and New Zealand. This common ground, it is believed, provides another strong argument

which is likely to influence the Asiatic dominions in remaining within the Commonwealth association. Of the three, Pakistan and Ceylon appear already firmly decided in their attitude. and India awaits only a formula which will satisfy her political aspirations.

The meetings which have already taken place between the various Commonwealth leaders or their deputies' have enabled them to complete a thorough exchange of views and to reach a measure of agreement on some of the most difficult problems. For example, on Monday, when Australia will raise the question of the future status and designation of the dominion High Commissioners in London. Canada and South Africa will support the argument that the commissioners should oe given a status equivalent to that of foreign ambassadors. Agreement is still to be reached on the future title of the commissioners— Canada is believed to favour “ Minister of State” and South Africa the full title of ambassador—but there is understood to be general agreement upon the desirability of an increase in status. In the same way it is not believed that there will be any disagreement over the future titles of the dominion Governors-General if it is decided to alter them. A search is still being made for a suitable alternative title, but those countries which desire to retain the present designation for the King’s representative will do so. The guiding spirit of the conference, it is already apparent, is compromise, and in this the British talent for improvisation is likely to prove valuable. It now seems certain that as a result of the present discussions some important changes in the structure of the Commonwealth are likely to take place. So much is believed to have been implied by the King when, in his speech as host to the delegates at Buckingham Palace, he used the phrase “ whatever outward form our Commonwealth may assume in future.” It is emphasised, however, that the present conference is essentially exploratory and that before any definite changes can be made the conclusions reached must be examined by the appropriate legal authorities and approved by the various dominion legislatures. It will then be necessary to summon a formal Commonwealth conference to decide the final form in which the changes will be applied.

Conference Faces Delicate ■ Problem

The Commonwealth Prime Ministers will face their most delicate problem to-day when, in the second plenary session, they will discuss Commonwealth relations, says the Sunday Times. There is no disposition by the British Government to force the constitutional issue, and this probably applies also to the dominions, but it can hardly be avoided when the conference considers the future of collaboration. machinery.

Difficult issues, however, have not been shirked. . The atmosphere has been uniformly, one of frank and friendly understanding. Experienced Ministers and officials regard the conference in this respect as even surpassing the previous ones. Informal contacts between small groups of Commonwealth leaders oyer the dinner table, in club armchairs, or on golf courses are predicting even more valuable results than was anticipated, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent. This friendly mingling since the delegates to the Commonwealth Conference disappeared from public view after the plenary session last Wednesday has. been a highly successful experiment in social diplomacy. Some results of the behind-the-scenes talks will emerge at the next plenary session to-day. Mr Ernest Bevin will complete on Tuesday his survey of world affairs to delegates by dealing with the Berlin problem. The delegates are expected to be invited to a Cabinet meeting on Friday. A Reuter message says the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Liaquat All Khan, said he saw great possibilities for peace and progress in the world through the Commonwealth group of

nations. “All the countries in the Commonwealth have the same way of life and a similar structure of democracy. Representing more than 500,000,000 people, they should play a very important part in maintaining peace and helping the world to progress on the right democratic lines. He said the free and- frank discussions' of the Prime Ministers’ debate had impressed him. He favoured a regular Commonwealth conference each year or every two years. He refused to comment on any suggested change in the title or present constitutional structure of the British Commonwealth, and on the part Pakistan was likely to play in the Commonwealth defence strategy. A New York message says: If Mr Dewey becomes President, and continues to attach the same importance to a Western European federation as he professes now, a clash with Britain is inevitable, says Herbert Matthews, London correspondent of the New York Times. “To federate Britain and Western Europe into ‘one strong economic and political unit,’ as Mr Dewey suggested in a recent speech, would destroy the Commonwealth, as . neither Britain nor the dominions would accept such destruction. Mr Matthews says the British Commonwealth is in a transition stage, in which great strains and stresses threaten a structure that is unique in history. “Yet even when all the weakneses are granted, there is much that remains—so much, in fact, that the Empire statesmen now conferring in London are elated and confident, not downcast. The British Commonwealth may be loose, clumsy, and even vague, but it works surprisingly well, as the present conference proves.”

Ministers Discuss Future of Eire

The British Commonwealth and Eire Ministers met at Chequers, according to an official announcement, to discuss “matters of common interest arising from the Eire Government s declared intention to repeal the External Relations Act.” The announcement said the Commonwealth countries represented had a large number of people of Irish origin among their populations. Those participating in the conference were Mr Attlee, Mr L. S. St. Laurent (Canada), Dr H. V. Evatt, Mr Fraser, Mr Noel Baker, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Jowitt, and two Eire representatives—the Minister of External Affairs, Mr Sean Macßride, and the Minister of Finance, Mr P. McGilligan.

Reuter’s political corespondent says it is understood the meeting was arranged on the initiative of New Zealand. Australia and Canada, acting through Britain. They, no more than Britain, can view with equanimity a* possible change in the status of Irish minorities in their populations. The conference was primarily concerned with an examination of ways to mitigate the consequences of the Eire Government’s legislation, which, if enacted, would make Eire a foreign country. All efforts are believed to be concentrated on finding a way to enable the preservation of Britain’s relations with Eire, without affecting Britain’s relations with other members of the Commonwealth. Eire, if she repeals the External Relations Act, breaks her link with the Crown. _. Loose talk has circulated m Eire about remaining in association with the Commonwealth after the repeal of the Act. but if Eire became a foreign country to Britain, she would also become a foreign country to every country in the Commonwealth. After the conference Mr McGilligan said: “I have no statement, except to say the meeting was conducted in complete amity. There is no doubt whatever that the External Relations Act will be repealed.” The Daily Mail says that behind talks there is a problem of vaster range, which has been occupying the Commonwealth

countries for many months. They have been searching for a means of widening and making more flexible the present framework, of the British Commonwealth. . Apart from Eire, there is a situation in India which has to be faced. If a scheme can be fashioned to cope with the Eire situation it might serve as a pilot plan for a new conception of EmTo the rest of the Commonwealth there is the problem of the reactions of foreign countries. These countries, if Eire is given Commonwealth advantages without being in the Commonwealth, would probably demand similar treatment in trade and other matters. The newspaper. Belfast Newsletter, commenting on the meeting of the Commonwealth and Eire Ministers at Chequers, said it could be taken for granted that whatever propositions were put to the Eire Ministers they on their side brought up the question of Irish “ unity ” and would seek to drive a bargain on the basis of the absorption of Northern Ireland into Southern Ireland. . . ~ “If the assumption is correct the Commonwealth Prime Ministers would do well to beware of stepping upon this political minefield.” * The newspaper added that Northern Ireland had no faith in the Eire politicians’ promises. “Australia, New Zealand and Canada have large percentages of those of Irish origin in their populations, but not all of them are sympathisers with or supporters of the Southern Irish Republicans or separation.” The former Prime Minister, Mr Eamon de Valera, speaking at Glasgow in a series of speeches against partition, said Britain was guilty of continuing aggression against Ireland by maintaining the partition. “The Belfast Government is trying to govern the area against its will,” Mr de Valera declared. He said Ireland favoured joining the Western European security bloc but “ not so long as our country is divided by one of the countries that professes to support unity'.”