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| Subject: Sorry Ian, I think that Jim is right. | |
Author: Ed Harris (Venezia) | [ Next Thread |
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] Date Posted: 16:28:33 12/06/04 Mon In reply to: Jim (Canada) 's message, "First Step" on 15:35:13 12/06/04 Mon I think that the first step must necessarily be on the part of the British government. The former dominions will never take the first step towards renovating ties with the UK. What the British govt must do is UNILATERALLY declare freedom of residence, employment, franchise etc. in Britain to all Australian, Canadian and NZ citizens, and make it quite clear at the time that no reciprocal privileges are expected from the former dominions in return (although now I think of it the franchise bit is already true). In this way and in this way only will Britain, which is ascendent in the world once more, make it quite explicit that this is not the first step towards repatriating power to London for Britain's sake alone. It would be a gesture of trust. Any suggestion that 'magnanimity' of this sort would not be passed by Parliament unless Ottowa, Melbourne and Aukland reciprocate in toto would bugger the whole thing, as this will send out entirely the wrong signals. The rhetoric must be about reconciliation, the debt which we owe to the above countries, and a gesture of making things up for the shameful way in which they have been treated by Britain (especially after our entry into the European concert). I have given some thought to this and I really think that this is how it must be. The only other way would be for the former dominions to have a go at federation without Britain, and make it so successful that Britain petitions to join on the others' terms. Ian's suggestion that NZ and Australia should lead the way in this respect is eminently sensible. So, Britain should be involved either first and gently or last and desperately. Frankly, I think that there is too much historical baggage for it to work otherwise, and it is very necessary to tiptoe around the sensibilities of people who have been taught that London is some weary but powerful titan which is just waiting for the opportunity to leap on people's necks and grind them into the dust in order to regain it's own greatness. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
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Author: Ian (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:00:02 12/06/04 Mon Well, you're right, I guess. A unilateral move from Canada would get things off the ground, but not "equally well". A gesture of magnanimity from Britain would make us colonials feel loved, which would have to be a good thing. I suppose now it is all up to you lot who vote in the UK to try and come up with a government that cares about ties with the Commonwealth and is prepared to do something about them. Which sort of puts us back to square minus several thousand, doesn't it? [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: Well... | |
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Author: Ed Harris (Venezia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:11:05 12/06/04 Mon When I'm PM, it's the first thing I'll do, I promise! Seriously, though, the first step is leaving the EEC, because then people will be literally forced to look around and think hard about where we go from there. If that first step be taken, then I think that it is inevitable that the British people will looked towards the Commonwealth. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> Subject: I'll vote for you... | |
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Author: Dave (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:18:35 12/06/04 Mon If you promise to make me Governor of Bermuda... [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> Subject: Well... | |
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Author: Ed Harris (Venezia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:23:34 12/06/04 Mon You'd have to be prepared to give it up when I retire! [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |