THE MONARCHY AND THE COMMON WEALTH
SIR,—Mr. Christopher Hollis deserves congratula- tions on his realistic discourse and review of Un- doubted Queen (Spectator, September 12). He is quite right in saying '. . . India led the way in asking—a demand up till then unheard-of—to be a Republic within the Commonwealth.' But it appears that the case of Malaya is even greater. It has rulers who have a king who, in turn quite voluntarily, recog- nises the 'Queen' as the head.
Surely this makes the Commonwealth-a unique in- stitution. We have seen monarchies, democracies, various forms of aristocracies, and dictatorship. But never have we in our entire human history witnessed a more dynamic partnership and political organisa- tion Unto that of the Commonwealth. It is, therefore, our duty to demonstrate its spirit and its idea to the civiliSed and backward nations alike, in the hope they may care to join us, or even form their own commonwealths, who may in turn be in partnership with us.—Yours faithfully, I'. K. SFIAHANI The Royal Commonwealth Society, Northumberland Avenue, WC2
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