Signing of the Statute of Westminster
AUTONOMY AND EQUALITY
The Statute of Westminster remains one of the most influential pieces in the Commonwealth's history. While Canada, South Africa, and the Irish Free State had won some degree of independence from the United Kingdom's parliament in previous legal battles, the Statute officially granted legislative powers to all Dominion states. For the first time in the empire's history the Dominions did not require UK's parliament to enact laws on their request. While these states gained independence, they also agreed to join with the UK in the establishment of a global community that would work together to enrich both their and their partners' citizens. People in the Dominions were no longer just subjects, they were citizens of both their nation and the Commonwealth.
Flag of the Commonwealth
Members of the London Conference - 1949
Reform
In 1949 the definition of a member of the Commonwealth changed. Previously a status granted only to crown dominions, the independence of India and its move towards forming a completely separate republic caused troubles for the UK and Commonwealth. Though attempts were made to convince India to accept Dominion status, the negotiations eventually lead to the London Declaration. This agreement allowed any former colony granted independence membership in the global society of the Commonwealth of Nations without it being necessary to retain Dominion status. This flexibility is what led the Commonwealth from being simply a select club of chosen nations to allowing a truly pan-Global community of citizens working together to secure safety for diversity, democracy, and economic well-being.