India's New Role in Commonwealth

Chronicle (Levin), 30 April 1949, Page 5

India's New Role in Commonwealth

(N.Z.P.A- — Reuter,

CopyrigM)

Received Friday, 5.20 p.m.) LONDON, April 29. "India has repudlated the Crown 111 that there will 110 longer be a Kmq of India, but it has accepted the Kin^ as the head of the Commonwealth. Thi-> is not so illogieal as it might seem ;u first siglit, " says the ALancliester'Gua> dian, which adds: " What India object ed to was allegiance to the Crown. A; legiance has come in India to symbolise India's former state of subjection. Bu. if the King is tliought of as tlie suprenu officer of the Commonwealth the quesI tion of allegiance does not arise. " Indian reaction to the decision of tli. Commonwealth Prinie Alinister 's Cou ference in London is generallv favour able but not exactly enthusiastic, sa\ • tlie Times' Delhi correspondent. India new status as an independent republiwithin the Commonwealth is welcomed. but some Leftwing organs expresdoubts about whether India can in pn* tice maintain her independeuce in suc. inatters as foreign policy. Indian opinion, -the corresponden. adds, is naturally interested in the ex tent to which the Lbndon decision ma,, influeh'ce the future constitutions of hc neighbour States, Ba'kistan and Ceyloa So far there is no evidence that repun iican sentiment in eit-her of these two countries is anything like as strong a.it is in India, or that they will seek tc foliow India's example. As for Burma which is now outside the Conimou wealth, there is speculation whether >!i will seek to profit bv India's realisli approacli to Commonwealth relationship