INDIA AND . . . . . . . . . COMMONWEALTH 371
“His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom have ascertained that His Majesty’s Government in Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa are also prepared so to treat the new Constitution.”
Having accepted Ireland as a member of the Commonwealth, the British Government is bound to do the same with regard to India especially when the terms in both cases are the same. Neither the British Government nor the Dominions can demand from us for associate membership which is all we need.
V-Nature and Advantages of the New proposal
- By this new proposal the Commonwealth will consist of two sorts of States—(1) Constituent States, and (2) Associated States. The former will be the old Dominions with the King at the head. The latter will include countries like India who do not acknowledge the King at the head. The proposal has two advantages. It enables India to remain as Republic which she has resolved to be. It enables India and the Commonwealth to obtain reciprocal advantages in fields which are of vital importance to both. And lastly, it enables India to avoid the danger of giving recognition to the proposal of a Commonwealth citizenship which may involve equality of treatment of Indians and Britishers in matters of trade and commerce against which India has fought.
Vl-Clarification
- While making India an Associate Member of the Commonwealth, we must not omit to make two things clear. One is that whether India is a member of the Commonwealth or not must not be made dependent upon the wishes of the Commonwealth. It must be determined entirely by any declaration made by India in this behalf. The other is that the dissociation of India from the Commonwealth must be left to be decided by any declaration made by India in this behalf. Anyone who has studied the case of Ireland will realize the importance of these clarifications. Ireland has been held to be a Dominion even when it was made clear by her in her Constitution that she did not want to be a Dominion. Ireland has not been allowed to go out of the Commonwealth on the ground that the other Dominions have not recognized her as a Foreign State.