1
CONFIDENTIAL
3
DSR 11C
law (see Annex 3) and in immigration policy have also had the
effect of reducing considerably the privileges formerly
accorded to Commonwealth citizens. Partly as a consequence of
these changes and partly as a result of deliberate policy on
our part, Britain no longer dominates the Commonwealth's activ-
ities, but acts as a member like others, albeit an important
This has been an inevitable transition. The growth in
the number of developing country Commonwealth members, most of
them members of the UN and many influenced by the rhetoric
of the Non-Aligned Movement, would have made it hard for us to
have remained the centrepiece of the Commonwealth, dominating
its policies, even had we wanted to.
one.
7. But it is not easy to escape from a traditional role and
some members still see us as having a special position in and
obligation towards the Commonwealth and urge us to take a more
active part in its activities. The reasons for this include
historical associations, Britain's major constitutional role
in bringing Zimbabwe and Belize to independence (two recent
issues which have helped to keep Britain prominent in
Commonwealth affairs), The Queen's position of Head of the
Commonwealth and the location of the Commonwealth Secretariat
in London.