1949 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 4th Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference |
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The Commonwealth prime ministers with King George VI at Buckingham Palace for the Conference, 1949
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| Host country |  United Kingdom |
| Dates | 22–29 April 1949 |
| Cities | London |
| Participants | 8 |
| Chair | Clement Attlee (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) |
| Follows | 1948 |
| Precedes | 1951 |
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Dominion of India , London Declaration, Commonwealth citizenship, role of the Monarchy( King/ Queen)(Head of the Commonwealth)
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The 1949 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference was an important meeting of leaders from countries in the Commonwealth of Nations. It happened in London, United Kingdom, in April 1949. The meeting was led by Clement Attlee, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the time.
The main reason for this meeting was to talk about India. India wanted to become a republic, which means it would have its own elected head of state instead of the British King or Queen. Before this, all Commonwealth countries shared the British King as their head of state. The big question was: Could India become a republic and still be a part of the Commonwealth?
Contents
A Big Decision for the Commonwealth
The leaders at the conference had to decide if a country could be a republic and still stay in the Commonwealth. Some countries, like Canada, worried that if India left, others like Pakistan, Ceylon, and South Africa might leave too. This could make the Commonwealth fall apart.
Ben Chifley, the Prime Minister of Australia, wanted to keep a strong link with Britain. On the other hand, D. F. Malan, the new Prime Minister of South Africa, wanted more independence for his country.
The London Declaration
After much discussion, the leaders agreed to something called the London Declaration. This agreement allowed India to remain a member of the Commonwealth even though it would become a republic.
They also decided that the King would have a new role. He would no longer be the head of state for all Commonwealth countries. Instead, he would be "the symbol of the free association of its member nations." This new role meant he was the Head of the Commonwealth, representing the unity of the group.
What Happened to Ireland?
Just four days before this conference, Ireland officially declared itself a republic. The other Commonwealth members decided that this meant Ireland was no longer part of the Commonwealth. Ireland had not really taken part in Commonwealth activities since the 1930s. This conference was the first one held after Ireland's membership ended.
Who Was There?
Here are the leaders who attended the 1949 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference:
