Written by Sir Peter Marshall
This article was first published on Briefings for Britain and we republish here with kind permission.
~~oo~~
The centenary on Wednesday of the burial in Westminster Abbey of the Unknown Warrior has a particular Commonwealth resonance. The tomb lies in the nave of the abbey, aptly described as ‘one of the world’s great institutions’, with its unnumbered Commonwealth links and associations. It is the symbol of the 1.7 million – yes, 1.7 million – men and women of the Commonwealth who gave their lives in the Great War and World War II, and whose graves and memorials are lovingly tended by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in 23,000 – yes 23,000 – locations all over the world. It is the record of courage, comradeship, steadiness, sacrifice and slaughter on a scale unimaginable today.
Close co-operation in the making of war, as in the seeking and keeping of peace, has nurtured within Commonwealth countries individually an enhanced sense of national identity and nationhood. At the same time, it testifies to an enduring awareness within and between those same countries of their multiple affinities, and of all that they hold in common. That is no paradox: it is the fruit of constructive diversity and mutual respect, opening out to them collectively a vista of possibilities of serving not only themselves, but also the international community as a whole.
The more it impinges on our consciousness, the more we realise that the Commonwealth defies easy definition. “Is it,” incisive-minded academics ask, “a church or a club or a beehive?” Diplomats, never knowingly caught choosing between alternatives, immediately reply “all three, simultaneously and inter-actively”. Lord Howell, an eminent authority on the matter describes the Commonwealth exponentially as ‘the Mother of all Networks’.
At the 1926 the Imperial Conference of 1926 (the last such to be held), a sustained attempt was made to define the status of the Dominions within the Empire. Former Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary A J Balfour produced an elegant formula, embedded in the principle of allegiance to the Crown, which was later incorporated in the Statute of Westminster (1931).
On the same occasion, the supposed arch-imperialist Leopold Amery, as he proudly recalls in his voluminous and highly informative memoirs, convinced General Herzog, the South African Prime Minister, that etymologically the word ’empire’ indicated no more than ‘any complex political structure’. Yes, indeed, and the corresponding adjective should be “empirical”, not “imperial”.
The point was exquisitely illustrated when, in 1948, Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, explained to his fellow Commonwealth Prime Ministers that India wished to retain its membership, although it was about to become a republic, thus not owing allegiance to the Crown. The London Declaration by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers collectively of April, 1949, contains the ingenious formula by which this was achieved.
Nehru made the highly relevant observation that the Commonwealth could “bring a touch of healing to a troubled world”. It is easy to cite cases in point, even as we celebrate this year the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Charter. The UK played a large part in the creation of the UN Charter. How regrettably little-known is it that the inaugural session of the United Nations General Assembly was held in London – at Methodist Central Hall, facing Westminster Abbey across Broad Sanctuary Green. It began on January 10, 1946.
But that is only the half of it. In explaining the Indian position, the four-paragraph Declaration, itself an object lesson in flexibility of outlook and conciseness of drafting, was at pains to emphasise that nothing else had changed. Human nature being what it is, the mere suggestion that something is not to be taken as a precedent suffices to ensure that it immediately becomes standard practice. That is what happened. The ‘modern’ Commonwealth emerged overnight. Nehru had put a de facto end to Britannia Imperatrix at a stroke. It was the position of India which remained unchanged.
We shall doubtless continue mainly to recognise the Commonwealth by what it does and by how it works, rather than for what it is. Well then, what does it do, and what is special about it? The answer is it is not concerned with a particular range of affairs, but with a positive and expert approach to almost every aspect, and at every level, of our interdependent existence. It betokens ‘organically’ joined-up thinking, and a sustained concern for making life better for those among us who, for one reason or another, are being, or risk being, left behind. Like many others, we are simple enough to want to help our fellow creatures.
At the ‘macro’ level, those who are approximately a generation behind the times espied in the UK decision leave the EU a resurgence of unreconstructed imperialism: ‘Empire 2.0’ was the catch phrase. Nothing could be further from the truth. What is true, however, is that with the departure of President Trump, there is a marvellous opportunity to breathe new life into the Trans-Pacific Partnership which already includes six Commonwealth countries among its 11 members. Seizing the opportunity could well lead on to much-needed reform of the WTO, and much-needed improvement in the performance of the G20.
How ironic, but also natural, would it be for the UK to consolidate its trade arrangements in the CCTPP, an organisation that would at a stroke not only bring back free trade with much of the Commonwealth but also tie the UK into a large and fast growing trade association as a replacement for the EU’s single market. If the USA were to join under Biden, as originally intended by Obama, this trade bloc could account for 25% of UK exports.
At the micro-level, the proposal to close the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at London University, and the only postgraduate institution throughout the Commonwealth devoted to Commonwealth affairs, has evoked a gratifying tsunami of protest.
Truth to tell, the Institute has become something of an anomaly. In normal times there is a good deal to be said for ‘letting sleeping anomalies lie’. But in this case acute financial stringency occasioned by the pandemic has decreed otherwise. I am confident that the whole question will be examined at the necessary depth of analysis, and with the necessary breadth of perspective.
Leadership and setting an example come from the top. The Commonwealth has been incredibly fortunate in this regard. The observations made by King George VI, a veteran of both the Great War and the Second World War, when the Commonwealth Prime Ministers collectively presented to him the results of their deliberations in 1949 on India retaining membership of the Commonwealth while becoming a republic, were as generous and open-minded as they were far-sighted. They bear the badge of true greatness.
London taxi drivers are supposed to be the ultimate founts of wisdom. I rally to that proposition. As one of their number was driving me past Buckingham Palace not long ago, he said simply: “She puts herself out.” That says it all.
+ 1
Agreed!
Unfortunately, with Prince Charles at its head I fear for the future of the Commonwealth, since he’s openly aligned himself with the WEF. I believe he’s being used by them to add a little ‘respectability’ to the enterprise, and he’s been too naive in perhaps allowing himself to be a ‘useful idiot’.
I have always been a great admirer of his and I hate feeling this way. I only hope that Camilla exerts a little down-to-earth influence – perhaps taking a leaf out of the books of Meghan and Carrie.
I mean as far as manipulation is concerned rather than Carrie and Meghan’s loony leftie stuff!
I have no wish to take issue with Sir Peter Marshall’s eloquent and informative article on the Commonwealth, which as those who know me on here may recall I have penned a couple of articles strongly in its favour..
However, and right now I should apologise to Sir Peter for even voicing thoughts coming from one so well below Sir Peter’s pay grade and long intimate experience of Commonwealth affairs, but he mentions the following:-
“With the departure of President Trump, there is a marvellous opportunity to breathe new life into the Trans -Pacific Partnership which already includes 6 Commonwealth countries among its 11 members, seizing the opportunity could well lead on to much needed reform of the WTO and much needed performance of the G20……………….if the USA were to join under Biden as originally intended by Obama, this trade block could account for 25per cent of Uk exports”
Is this man mad, doesn’t he realise that Biden the tool of Obama is the last person we should look to for any “help” with the Commonwealth, does he not remember the instruction from Obama prior to the Referendum to REMAIN in that “Care Home for failed European Nations aka the EU”?
Does he not remember that this instruction came from an Obama that viewed an UK’s return to influence on “his patch” fostered by our link up with the Commonwealth?
Does he not remember the strictures written in the Daily Telegraph, by that ex Conservative Big Beast Michael Ancram, who had been lied to for 40 years and that US antipathy to ex colonialist UK had never been expunged from base US psyche ( they will never forgive or forget that they were once a British colony -we should never rise to equality with them again)?
Sorry Sir Peter, I may agree with your Commonwealth sentiments, but we will rue the day if You allow Biden anywhere near interference or guidance in our nation’s affairs.
+1 I agree. Biden is an Irish terrorist supporter – we must keep the man as distant from British business as possible.
Roger Turner. I agree entirely that we would rue the day if we allowed Biden to influence us. Apart from your arguments, my immediate reaction to the article was ‘why, on earth would we want to sign up to ANY Trade Block’. Look where signing up to the E.E.C. got us. That is/was a Trade Block surely.
Free Trade is what we want and need.
Pauline, I may say I appreciate ‘some’ of what this chap writes, but the Biden aspect is not the only one that grates.
When I first saw and read the article, I thought Sir P was a member of the military, but as I went on, I wondered that there was no reference to defence and safety of trade in distant lands East of Suez, so I looked him, turned out he’s a dyed in the wool Foreign Office habitue .
I also looked up this Trans Pacific Partnership idea which originally had the US as a signatory and wondered why Trump had withdrawn from it
Perhaps he’s wary of EU type trading agreements which to me are a corporate stitch up coupled to global domination objectives, but on reflection I believe it was more to do with how to deal with Chinese aggressive hegemony, I.e members of that organisation would be reluctant to meet Chinahead on and when it came to the dirty bits as in Afghanistan the US would be soon left without active allies in the field and left to shoulder the burden alone
Any trade/defence understanding I have always envisaged as a “commonwealth alone” enterprise, based on “Commonwealth Preference” and mutual assistance in a true spirit of friendship and equality.
Perhaps additional members would be welcome, as apparently some already are, but they would be required to adhere to full Commonwealth terms and ideals (even ex colonies like the US would e welcome)
But above all yes it’s China we have most to be aware of and defensive against
Indeed we should look towards the Commonwealth in preference to others, especially the EU and also the US if Biden succeeds in becoming POTUS. Sadly New Zealand seems to have been lost to the enemy for now with their loony PM, Jacinda Ardern; she seems to have swallowed the globalist agenda hook. line and sinker…
Well said Jack, perhaps I should have said how pleased I was to have found somebody at least who was prepared to state the Commonwealth does have relevance in a Brexit world, unfortunately you and “we few” seem to be hard to find
Too many people seem to go down the Cleggy line, that we are not good enough, a second/3rd rate country, can’t cut the mustard, as identified by Nigel a while ago.