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January 1975 cou/d spe/1 eco–
nomic disaster for this British–
reared family of nations. Here
are the reasons.
Ottawa, Canada
H
ARDLY A
more beautiful or
peaceful city could have
been cbosen for the latest
Commonwealth Conference than
this beautiful Canadian capital.
Ottawa's spectacular scarlet-and–
black-clad Guard of Honor, marching
smartly on the lawn in front ofParlia–
ment Square, harkens back to empire
and early Commonweaith days.
Below the properly ordered surface,
however, the Commonwealth picture
is notas tranquil as the protocol and
ceremonies might indicate.
Severing the Tie That Binds
Today's Commonwealth, encom–
passing 33 scattered and sundry na-
PLAIN TRUTH
January
1974
tions, covers one quarter of the
eartb's land surface and includes
about one fourth of tbe earth's peo–
ples. Yet despite its size and variety,
the Commonwealtb, as a unit, long
ago ceased to exercise any signifi–
cant political and military impact on
the world.
For tbe past two decades, one of
the major and practica! reasons for
the existence of the Commonwealth
has been the
economic
benefits it
bestowed on its members. Yet, on
January
1,
1975, the "Common–
wealth preference system" - that
complex set of trading arrange–
ments whereby raw materials and
finished goods ftow virtually duty–
free between members - wil l be
dropped.
Few observers have seen the tre–
mendous significance of this change
- to take place only one year from
now.
How Commonwealth Preferences
Were Establ ished
It
was British merchants and
tradesmen who established colonies
throughout the world, hoping to re–
ceive lucrative profits. As these colo–
nies grew, there was a subsequent
need for protection by the mother
country to keep its tenuous oceanic
supply lines open. As a result, the
British Imperial Navy grew until it
became the mightiest in the world.
The flag indeed followed the trade.
In those days, the imperial might
and splendor of Great Britain had
to be reckoned with. The growl of
the British !ion really did mean
somet hing. The R oyal Navy
proudly ruled the seven seas. Brit–
ain's hardy soldiers guarded the
forts and sea gates of over one quar–
ter of the eartb. It held sway over
the "thin red line" of empire out-
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