Extract from a letter from Thomas J. Kiernan to Seán Nunan (Dublin)¹
(D/64/8)

The decision of Pakistan to change to republican status is reported with little, and with calm, comment in the Australian press; the underlying note being that Pakistan has 80 million people, is the sixth largest nation of the world and the most important of Moslem countries.

[matter omitted]

The change was anticipated, as is now a similar change in Ceylon. The High Commissioner for Pakistan² mentioned to me that Pakistan could not afford to be a republic outside the Commonwealth as long as India is in the Commonwealth, as this would give India an advantage over Pakistan (apart from trading relations) which she could use to press her claims in Kashmir.

Pakistan, he said, had opposed the plan to allow India to remain in the Commonwealth as a republic but got support only from Australia.

I asked Dr. Evatt (who was Australian Minister for External Affairs at the time) if he could confirm what the High Commissioner said to me. He said that he had, with the approval of the Prime Minister, the late Mr. Chifley, opposed India’s remaining in the Commonwealth as a Republic, on the ground that the Crown is an essential part of the Commonwealth; and the Crown means allegiance; and it was contradictory to have a Republic in the Commonwealth accepting the Crown as a link without having any allegiance to the Crown.

During his visit to London for the Coronation, he had heard British politicians of all parties say they would like to see the Republic of Ireland in the Commonwealth on the lines of the Indian development.