Support for Deletion of Word “British” from Commonwealth Title

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26918, 2 November 1948, Page 5

Support for Deletion of Word “British” from Commonwealth Title

N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 1. Support for .the dropping of the word “ British ” from the title of “ British Commonwealth ” is given by the Economist. “It is right,” it says, “ that it should be dropped for the Commonwealth no longer contains more than one-sixth of British stock whatever may be its historical origin. Equally the word ‘ Dominion ’ has disappeared from official statements although its going leaves a void in the vocabulary, which is but clumsily filled by the words ‘ Commonwealth country.’ ” The Economist remarks that the final communique of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ conference was no more than a statement of the “highest common platitude.” It adds that it endorses the British Government’s policy in regard to both the Brussels Treaty and the forecast of its commitments to the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation.

The spread of Communism in China may lead to a new world war, said Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek to-day, according to the Peiping correspondent of the New York Herald-Tribune in a message from New Chiang voiced concern over the Communist advance in Manchuria, and said: “ Should the Communists rule the nine north-eastern provinces it would mean the virtual beginning of another world catastrophe. Obviously without an integral north-east there will be no independent Korea or North-east New York newspapers give prominence to the imminent fall of Manchuria. The Nanking correspondent of the New York Times says: “ Chiang Kai-shek’s position—militarily, economically, and psychologically—has deteriorated to a point-where diplomatic missions are informing their home capitals of the possibility of a Nationalist collapse within the next few months.”