![]() ![]() Up till now in this Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth of Nations, there was a binding link, which was allegiance to the King. Normally either you have a common nationality or you are foreign. Obviously the Commonwealth countries belong to different nations. Another point was that one of the objects of this kind of Commonwealth association is now to create a status which is something between being completely foreign and being of one nationality. This was cleared up in the course of our proceedings it has no doubt been recorded in the minutes of the Conference in London. One of these, as I have said, is that the King has no functions at all. One or two matters I may clear up, which are not mentioned in this Declaration. This Declaration therefore states that this new Republic of India, completely sovereign and owing no allegiance to the King, as the other Commonwealth countries do owe, willnevertheless be a full member of this Commonwealth and it agrees that as a symbol of this free partnership or association rather, the King will be recognised as such. That Republic may however agree to associate itself with certain other countries that happen to be monarchies or whatever they choose to be. But the point is this, that so far as the Republic of India is concerned, her constitution and her working are concerned, she has nothing to do with any external authority, with any King, and none of her subjects owe any allegiance to the King or any other external authority. It is a small matter but it has certain small significance. Observe that the reference is to the King and not to the Crown. There is reference, in connection with the Commonwealth, to the King as the symbol of that association. Further you will notice that while in the first paragraph there is the question of allegiance to the Crown which exists at present, later of course this question does not arise because India becoming a Republic goes outside the Crown area completely. You will notice that while in the first paragraph that is referred to as the British Commonwealth of Nations, in the subsequent paragraphs that is referred to only as the Commonwealth of Nations. The third paragraph says that the other Commonwealth countries accept this and the fourth paragraph ends by saying that all these countries remain united as free and equal members of the Commonwealth of Nations. “The Governments of other countries of the Commonwealth, the basis of whose membership of the Commonwealth is not hereby changed, accept and recognise India’s continuing membership in accordance with the terms of this Declaration.” “Accordingly the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan and Ceylon hereby declare that they remain united as free and equal members of the Commonwealth of Nations, freely co-operating in the pursuit of peace, liberty and progress.” The Government of India have however declared and affirmed India’s desire to continue her full membership of the Commonwealth of Nations and her acceptance of the King as the symbol of the free association of its independent member nations and as such as the Head of the Commonwealth. ![]() “The Government of India have informed the other Government of the Commonwealth of the intention of the Indian people that under the new constitution which is about to be adopted India shall become a sovereign independent Republic. * “The Government of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan and Ceylon, whose countries are united as Members of the British Commonwealth of Nations and owe a common allegiance to the Crown, which is also the symbol of their free association, have considered the impending constitutional changes in India. It refers to the British Commonwealth of Nations and to the fact that the people in the Commonwealth owe a common allegiance to the Crown. ![]() The first paragraph, it will be noticed, deals with the present position in law. I shall merely point out very briefly some salient features of this Declaration. it is a short and simple document in four paragraphs. All honourable Members have been supplied with copies of this Declaration* and so I shall not read it over again. ![]()
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