India Is To Remain Within The British Commonwealth But Will Not Owe Allegiance To Crown

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 April 1949, Page 5

India Is To Remain Within The British Commonwealth But Will Not Owe Allegiance To Crown

Adjustments Made By Dominions To Admit A Republic As A Member

LONDON. April 28 (Rec. 6 pm).—According to a statement issued from No. 10 Downing Street, yesterday. India is to become a Republic, but will remain within Hie British Commonwealth of Nations. Under the new arrangement a Republican India will accept the King as a symbol of the free association of the nations of the Commonwealth.’ But while accepting the King, as a symbol of association and head of the Commonwealth, she will no longer owe allegiance to the Crown. It would appear, says “The Times'’ Parliamentary correspondent, that the King will no longer have any constitutional functions in India. He will not be King of India—as he is at present under the Dominion Constitution—and under the Constitution now being drafted for India the head of the State will be the President’who will replace the Governor-General. The present Governor-General of India. Mr. Rajagopalaehari, was appointed bv the King ip succession to Lord Mountbatten on the advice of his Indian Ministers.

India’s acknowledgment of the King as “head of the Commonwealth” is a new conception. At present the King is King of each separate nation of the Commonwealth, and this will continue to be the constitutional position in rll member nations, excepting India. There appears to be no intention of cbangir -’the King’s title to accord with this new development; and, according to present information, there would appear to be no need for any 'r.cw legislation in Commonwealth • Prliaments. It may be that the new declaration agreed to by all the Commonwealth Governments will be accepted of itself as a sufficient definition of such constitutional adaptions as are necessary to fit a sovereign independent republic into the framework of the Commonwealth. It is to be noted, “The Times" conasoundent points out, that the word “Dominion” does not occur anywhere in the declaration. This is a further indication of the way in which terminology is being gradually adapted to meet the changing circumstances, and not merely for the* benefit of India. Thwn'are other nations of the Commonwealth notably

Canada and New Zealand,—to whom the title “Dominion” is no longer completely acceptable. The first paragraph of the declaration refers to the “British Commonwealth of Nations,” but the succeeding paragraphs omit the word “British.” This suggests a further adaptation of the Commonwealth concept to permit assimiliation of the new Asian States of India, Pakistan and Ceylon, whose peoples far outnumber the rest. The declaration, “The Times” correspondent adds, is obviously framed to meet the special circumstances of India, but it seems inevitable that it may be drawn into precedent in the future of other member nations of the Commonwealth if any of them feels so inclined. The position of India’s neighbour Sta.?e of Pakistan is of special interest. So far, Pakistan has shown herself well content with the existing Commonwealth constitution, but she may now wish to review her own position in the light’, of the arrangement made to continue the Commonwealth membership of a Republican India. Pakistan's constitution is still in the making, but it is being assumed that if she chose to write into it a republican form of Government comparable to India’s she would be free to do sc.