It is a new development, may I say, in political theory, this association of an independent Republic with the Commonwealth of Nations, which has a king at its head. The last aspect of the Declaration is that this Common wealth of Nations which we have joined as a full member will co-operate, will strive, will endeavour in the path and in the pursuit of peace, liberty and progress. We have to examine this Declaration in the light of these three aspects to which I have referred. The first one deals with the title which is a formal one, just a change in the facade in the appearance of this group of nations. But I was rather disconcerted to read the other day Mr. Attlee’s answer to a question in the House of Commons on the 2nd of May. Hardly was the ink dry on the paper on which this Declaration was drafted and signed, only five days later, Mr. Attlee in answer to a question said that there had not been an official change in the designation of this group of nations. By your leave I would like to quote verbatim this reply given by Mr. Attlee to a conservative Member of the House of Commons, Mr. Walter Fletcher. The Prime Minister, Mr. Attlee, on the 2nd May, five or six days after this Declaration was proclaimed to the world said in a Parliamentary reply:
“There was no agreement to adopt or exclude the use of any other terms, namely Commonwealth, British Commonwealth or even Empire………”
“The terminology, if it is to be useful keeps pace with developments, without becoming rigid or doctrinaire, with constitutional developments in the Commonwealth, the British Commonwealth and the Empire.” Again he refers to all these three, the Commonwealth, the British Commonwealth and the Empire. “This has been the subject of consultations between H. M. G. and other Commonwealth countries and there has been no agreement to adopt etc.” This is the official reply given by him (Mr. Attlee) to a Member of the House of Commons. “There has been no agreement to adopt or exclude the use of any one of these terms nor any decision in the United Kingdom to do so.”