South Africa and apartheid, membership of South Africa, Cyprus and Sierra Leone, British membership in the Common Market, disarmament
While Commonwealth conferences were normally held biennially, this conference was held after an interval of only a year following the May 1960 conference due to disagreement over South Africa and whether the country should be removed from the Commonwealth due to its policy of racial segregation. Malaya's Prime Minister demanded South Africa's expulsion.
South African Prime Minister H.F. Verwoerd, attended the conference to give formal notice that his country was to become a republic in May 1961 after having approved the constitutional change in an October 1960 referendum. South Africa's application was opposed by the leaders of African states under black majority rule, as well as Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Malaya's Tunku Abdul Rahman, and the other non-white Commonwealth countries as well as Canadian prime minister John Diefenbaker due to South Africa's policy of apartheid. Canada was the only member of the old white Commonwealth to oppose South Africa's application. The "Keep South Africa In" group included Britain's Harold Macmillan, Rhodesia and Nyasaland's Roy Welensky, Australia's Robert Menzies and Keith Holyoake of New Zealand.[1] Canadian prime minister John Diefenbaker proposed that South Africa only be re-admitted if it joined other states in condemning apartheid in principle.[2] Once it became clear that South Africa's membership would be rejected, Verwoerd withdrew his country's application and left the conference.[3]
Concerns were also expressed about Britain's prospective membership in the Common Market and the possible impact on trade relations between the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.[1] The Commonwealth also expressed its support for worldwide disarmament "subject to effective inspection and control".[4]
Cyprus' application to join the Commonwealth, following its independence the previous year, was approved over the opposition of the United Kingdom which objected as Cyprus had not applied for membership prior to independence as had been customary. Cyprus' President, Archbishop Makarios III, joined the conference once the decision on his country's membership was made. The membership application of Sierra Leone was also accepted and became effective upon its independence on 27 April.
This was the first Commonwealth conference in which one of the heads of government was a woman, Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike, who was also the first female prime minister in the world.
^John Diefenbaker: Staring down South Africa, CBC Archives, 17 March 1961
^"South Africa withdraws from the Commonwealth". South African History Online.
^The Commonwealth at the Summit: Communiqués of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, 1944–1986. London: Commonwealth Secretariat. 1987. p. 69. ISBN0-85092-317-4.
External linksedit
John Diefenbaker: Staring down South Africa, CBC Archives, 17 March 1961
January 19, 2024
1961, commonwealth, prime, ministers, conference, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, april, 2013, learn, when, re. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message The 1961 Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference was the 11th Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations It was held in the United Kingdom in March 1961 and was hosted by that country s Prime Minister Harold Macmillan 11th Commonwealth Prime Ministers ConferenceHost country United KingdomDates8 17 March 1961Venue s Lancaster HouseCitiesLondonParticipants13ChairHarold Macmillan Prime Minister Follows1960Precedes1962Key pointsSouth Africa and apartheid membership of South Africa Cyprus and Sierra Leone British membership in the Common Market disarmamentWhile Commonwealth conferences were normally held biennially this conference was held after an interval of only a year following the May 1960 conference due to disagreement over South Africa and whether the country should be removed from the Commonwealth due to its policy of racial segregation Malaya s Prime Minister demanded South Africa s expulsion South African Prime Minister H F Verwoerd attended the conference to give formal notice that his country was to become a republic in May 1961 after having approved the constitutional change in an October 1960 referendum South Africa s application was opposed by the leaders of African states under black majority rule as well as Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru Malaya s Tunku Abdul Rahman and the other non white Commonwealth countries as well as Canadian prime minister John Diefenbaker due to South Africa s policy of apartheid Canada was the only member of the old white Commonwealth to oppose South Africa s application The Keep South Africa In group included Britain s Harold Macmillan Rhodesia and Nyasaland s Roy Welensky Australia s Robert Menzies and Keith Holyoake of New Zealand 1 Canadian prime minister John Diefenbaker proposed that South Africa only be re admitted if it joined other states in condemning apartheid in principle 2 Once it became clear that South Africa s membership would be rejected Verwoerd withdrew his country s application and left the conference 3 Concerns were also expressed about Britain s prospective membership in the Common Market and the possible impact on trade relations between the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth 1 The Commonwealth also expressed its support for worldwide disarmament subject to effective inspection and control 4 Cyprus application to join the Commonwealth following its independence the previous year was approved over the opposition of the United Kingdom which objected as Cyprus had not applied for membership prior to independence as had been customary Cyprus President Archbishop Makarios III joined the conference once the decision on his country s membership was made The membership application of Sierra Leone was also accepted and became effective upon its independence on 27 April This was the first Commonwealth conference in which one of the heads of government was a woman Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike who was also the first female prime minister in the world Participants editNation Name Portfolio nbsp United Kingdom Harold Macmillan Prime Minister chairman nbsp Australia Robert Menzies Prime Minister nbsp Canada John Diefenbaker Prime Minister nbsp Ceylon Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike Prime Minister nbsp Cyprus Makarios III President nbsp Ghana Kwame Nkrumah President nbsp India Jawaharlal Nehru Prime Minister nbsp Malaya Tunku Abdul Rahman Prime Minister nbsp New Zealand Keith Holyoake Prime Minister nbsp Nigeria Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Prime Minister nbsp Pakistan Ayub Khan President nbsp Rhodesia and Nyasaland Sir Roy Welensky Prime Minister nbsp South Africa H F Verwoerd Prime MinisterReferences edit a b Roth Edwin 6 March 1961 The Commonwealth Convenes Saskatoon Star Phoenix p 15 John Diefenbaker Staring down South Africa CBC Archives 17 March 1961 South Africa withdraws from the Commonwealth South African History Online The Commonwealth at the Summit Communiques of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings 1944 1986 London Commonwealth Secretariat 1987 p 69 ISBN 0 85092 317 4 External links editJohn Diefenbaker Staring down South Africa CBC Archives 17 March 1961 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1961 Commonwealth Prime Ministers 27 Conference amp oldid 1191673719, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
