This is a timeline of the Commonwealth of Nations from the Balfour Declaration of 1926. Some regard the Balfour Declaration as the foundation of the modern Commonwealth.
Irish TaoiseachÉamon de Valera announces his intention to remain neutral in the impending war, regardless of British policy. The government declares the Emergency.
3 September
The United Kingdom declares war upon Nazi Germany, beginning the British Empire and Commonwealth's involvement in the six-year conflict.
In response to Canada's passage the previous year of the Canadian Citizenship Act the previous year, a Commonwealth conference on nationality and citizenship is convened. It is agreed to redefine the concept of citizenship in the Commonwealth so that, rather than all those in the British Empire and Commonwealth being British subjects, each Commonwealth state is free to also define its own separate citizenship. As a result, the British Nationality Act 1948 is passed the next year by the British parliament which creates a distinction in that country between British citizens and British subjects; Australia and New Zealand also pass their own citizenship acts. Eventually, the category of British subject develops into that of a Commonwealth citizen whose rights are greater than those of a foreign national but often less than one of a full citizen of the country in question. Ireland had already passed citizenship legislation in 1935 defining its own citizenship laws.
15 August
India joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom. Pakistan (including modern Bangladesh) joins the Commonwealth following the Partition of India.
Ireland ceases to be regarded as a member of the Commonwealth by the Commonwealth countries. They took this view on the basis that the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 had come into effect. The legislation ended the statutory role of the British monarchy in Ireland. In contrast, Irish leaders had long regarded Ireland as a republic outside the Commonwealth but associated with it.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government issue the London Declaration. It allows India (and, thenceafter, all other members) to remain in the Commonwealth as a republic, creates the position of Head of the Commonwealth, and changes the name of the organisation to the Commonwealth of Nations. The decisions of the 1947 Commonwealth ministerial conference on nationality and citizenship are affirmed which allow states to create their own citizenship rules. Indians are agreed to be recognised as Commonwealth citizens, rather than British subjects, once India becomes a republic.
The British Empire Games are renamed the 'British Empire and Commonwealth Games', with the opening of the 1954 Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Ghana, previously the Gold Coast, joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom, becoming the first majority-ruled African member.
26 June
The ninth Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference convenes in London. The new Canadian prime minister, John Diefenbaker, proposes the intensification of trade relations within the Commonwealth. His call for an Empire Trade Conference are resisted by the British government which has an eye towards the UK developing stronger trade relations with Europe and the newly formed European Economic Community. However, a Commonwealth Trade and Economic Conference is called for the next year.[2]
31 August
The Federation of Malaya joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom. It is the first monarchy in the Commonwealth except for the Commonwealth realms.[3]
The Commonwealth Trade and Economic Conference concludes with a communique agreeing that the pound sterling should be made fully convertible and that trade barriers within the Commonwealth should be progressively removed
Cyprus joins the Commonwealth,[4] having gained independence from the United Kingdom the previous year. Heavily opposed by the United Kingdom, it is the first small country to join.[3]
27 April
Sierra Leone joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
31 May
South Africa becomes a republic, temporarily withdrawing from the Commonwealth.
9 December
Tanganyika, now part of Tanzania, joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
1962
31 May
The Federation of the West Indies collapses. Its constituent states revert to being colonies of the United Kingdom, and preparations begin to grant them separate independence within the Commonwealth.
6 August
Jamaica joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
31 August
Trinidad and Tobago joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
10 September
The 12th Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference convenes in London. Concerns of Commonwealth countries about the implications for trade and economic relations in regards to Britain's possible entry into the European Common Market is the main topic of discussion.[2]
9 October
Uganda joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
Zanzibar, now part of Tanzania, joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom. It is, albeit briefly, the first hereditary monarchy in the Commonwealth except for the Commonwealth realms.
12 December
Kenya joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
1964
26 April
Two Commonwealth members, Tanganyika and Zanzibar, merge to form the United Republic of Tanzania, which joins the Commonwealth.
6 July
Malawi, previously Nyasaland, joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
8 July
The 13th Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference convenes in London. The leaders agree to a communique declaring the Commonwealth's commitment to racial equality and an end to discrimination. The idea of a Commonwealth Secretariat is proposed. The government of the colony of Southern Rhodesia, whose prime ministers had frequently attended Imperial and Commonwealth conferences since 1930, is excluded due to a decision to confine attendance at meetings to leaders of independent states.[2]
21 September
Malta joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
24 October
Zambia, previously Northern Rhodesia, joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
1965
18 February
The Gambia joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
17 June
The 14th Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference convenes in London.[2] The Conference approves the creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The meeting also discusses the crisis in Rhodesia, relations with South Africa and Portuguese colonies in Africa, and opposition by Asian and African Commonwealth countries to British, Australian and New Zealand's support for American intervention in the Vietnam War. The Commonwealth reaffirms its declaration that all Commonwealth states should work for societies based on racial equality.
The 16th Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference convenes in London.[2] Discussion is again dominated by Rhodesia with the United Kingdom announcing NIBMAR policy towards the rogue colony: refusing independence until the Black majority is given the vote.
30 September
Botswana,formerly Bechuanaland Protectorate, joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
4 October
Lesotho, formerly Basutoland, joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
30 November
Barbados joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
1968
31 January
Nauru joins the Commonwealth as a 'Special Member' upon being granted independence from a joint Australia-New Zealand-United Kingdom trusteeship. It is the first microstate to join.[3]
12 March
Mauritius joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
6 September
Swaziland joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
1969
7 January
The 17th and last Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference convenes in London and is again dominated by discussion of how to bring white minority rule in Rhodesia to an end. Also discussed is the Biafra crisis in Nigeria and discrimination against South Asian communities living in Africa and Black and Asian immigrants living in the UK.[2]
1970s
Year
Date
Event
1970
2 March
Rhodesia declares itself a republic and a new constitution takes effect.[5]
4 June
Tonga joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
At the conclusion of the first CHOGM, the assembled Commonwealth Heads of Government issue the Singapore Declaration, setting out the core political values of the Commonwealth. It is considered, along with the 1991 Harare Declaration, one of the two most important documents of the Commonwealth's constitution.
26 March
East Pakistan declares its independence as Bangladesh.
Bangladesh joins the Commonwealth, having gained independence from Pakistan the previous year.[6] Pakistan temporarily withdraws from the Commonwealth in protest at the Commonwealth's recognition of Bangladesh's independence.
1973
10 July
The Bahamas joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joins the Commonwealth upon being granted independence by the United Kingdom.
12 December
Zimbabwe Rhodesia dissolves itself, returning power to the United Kingdom (formally as Southern Rhodesia) in preparation for recognised independence.[5]
The 1986 Commonwealth Games open in Edinburgh, the United Kingdom. The Games are boycotted by 32 countries, including almost all African, Caribbean, and Asian nations, to protest against the British government's attitude to sport in apartheid-era South Africa.
Fiji is deemed to have left the Commonwealth of Nations by decision of the assembled Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, after two coups d'état, and Sitiveni Rabuka's declaration of a republic in Fiji.
1989
29 September
Cameroon applies for observer status in the Commonwealth, paving the way for its membership six years later.[8]
At the conclusion of the twelfth CHOGM, the assembled Commonwealth Heads of Government issue the Harare Declaration, establishing the core principles and values of the Commonwealth, detailing membership criteria, and redefining and reinforcing its purpose. It is considered, along with the 1971 Singapore Declaration, one of the two most important documents of the Commonwealth's constitution.
Cameroon joins the Commonwealth, having been granted independence by France in 1960, and joined by the former British colony of Southern Cameroons in 1961.[8]
Mozambique joins the Commonwealth. It is the first country to join the Commonwealth without having had constitutional ties to an existing member.[9]
1997
1 October
Fiji returns to the Commonwealth, having adopted a new constitution that complies with Commonwealth standards.
Robert Mugabe personally announces Zimbabwe's immediate withdrawal from the Commonwealth, in wake of his failure to have his country's suspension lifted.[15]
^Staff writer (29 May 2010). "Kamla now Commonwealth Chair". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 29 May 2010. The position she has inherited from former prime minister Bob Manning following the nation's hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November, 2009.