It was good both for them and for the mother country that they could help each other against a menace which threatened them all. They have reached manhood in a century already marked by two world wars. The British colonies grew up in a century of peace and had no one to fear. But when dangers arise it is better to be in company that has the same ideas and the same interests to protect. In times of peace, it is all well and good to emphasize independence. If independence is stamped on one side of the Commonwealth coin, interdependence is the pattern on the other side. There is truth in the old jest that those who do not hang together may hang separately. The chief tie that keeps the Commonwealth together is the conviction of a common interest in common survival. Canada and South Africa are both constitutionally bilingual. ![]() And even the conquered peoples may sometimes remember that their distinctive characteristics-language, law, religion, and culture-were not destroyed but were officially preserved against any campaign to make them British. There can be conflicts of economic interest, but there are many economic harmonies as well. The tie of “blood” and traditions is strong for a lot of people, and even those who build their own nationalist dwellings often realize that the foundations are British. The right to leave the Commonwealth may make a dominion willing to stay in, for now the question is no longer “Can I go out?” but “Where do I go?” The choices are limited and unattractive-either to be a powerless small nation or to become attached to some other large power. And few of us have reached the point where we can dispense with symbols. The king symbolizes the unity of peoples of many races, creeds, continents, and cultures as no president could ever do. Yet political, economic, and ancestral factors play some part in keeping the Commonwealth together. Similarly the British farmer has sought protection against his competitors in the dominions as well as against those of foreign countries. They have built tariff walls to keep British products out of the field. ![]() While the overseas primary producers have looked chiefly to Britain for their market, the young manufacturing industries have regarded Britain as their most dangerous rival. There is not even complete harmony of economic interests. Canada and South Africa have large non-British populations, and even the all-British character of Australia has not prevented the growth of a strong nationalistic spirit and policy or muzzled the cry “Australia for the Australians!” They are not tied together completely by a common, national origin. Perhaps it should be reworded to read: What makes the overseas nations stay in the Commonwealth now that they are free to leave it? They obviously are not kept in by force or by any constitutional bonds, and no war would be waged on them if they wished to secede. NOW WE CAN sum up our survey and get back to the question.
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