The British Imperial Establishment, Post Imperial Era, and the ‘Churchillian’ World View, 1945-2016. (Adjustments & Challenges in Contemporary British Diplomatic Strategy)

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What is the
Commonwealth?

The
Modern Commonwealth is the free association of sovereign states that
had been members of the British Empire.
“A loose, but in some ways powerful,
association united by similar legal and political institutions, but
bound by no
constitution or rules of membership. The United Kingdom monarch is widely
recognised by the
member states as head, though it is not clear what this means.
The monarch cannot be head of the
Commonwealth, since that is a position that
bears no legal sovereignty. Nor can (s) he be head of each state,
since that is
legally, impossible, and formally rejected e.g. by India, which has declared itself
a
republic.”16

The most
efficient way of co-operation between all members of the Modern
Commonwealth is the practice of close
consultation that has been devised. This
machinery which makes consultation take place at all levels is
smooth and
effective. “In London the Commonwealth Relations Office is the main centre
of
consultation and information. As a mark of their more intimate relations
Commonwealth countries
exchange High-Commisioners instead of
Ambassadors. Commonwealth consultation is so valuable because it
is
continuous. There is a non-stop exchange of telegrams, memoranda and visits
upon all subjects of
mutual interest so that members are probably better informed
about each other than any other group of
countries.”17

There are
various levels of meetings, from small sub-committees to the
Prime Minister’s Conferences which take
place about once every eighteen
months. Another important Commonwealth link is trade. About 20-25% of
the
total trade carried out in the world is Commonwealth trade. Defence is another
matter of close
Commonwealth liaison. “There are inter- Commonwealth staff
meetings; co-ordination of training and
planning; exchange of staff officers and

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