TNAG-1117-FCO40-1391-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1982 — Page 164

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CONFIDENTIAL

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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.