Britain gives Tonga the green

KINGDOM PLANS TO JOIN COMMONWEALTH AND UNITED NATIONS

Britain gives Tonga the green light to go it alone

The Kingdom of Tonga is to seek independence within the British Commonwealth, and also plans to join the United Nations as a fully independent nation. She will do this by cutting her protective ties with Britain under the 68-year-old Anglo-Tongan Treaty of Friendship.

King Taufa’ahau announced these important decisions in a broadcast to Tonga from Nukualofa on February 4. He said complete independence would flow from a revision of the Treaty of Friendship. Under the re vision British controls will be reduced, but Britain will continue to be re sponsible for Tonga’s foreign affairs until Tonga arranges a date for the complete transfer of powers from Britain to Tonga.

This will be done by the addition of anew article in the treaty, which will allow the two nations to cancel the sections in the treaty referring to British controls.

This will have the effect of draw ing the teeth from the treaty and leav ing a simple Treaty of Friendship which states that “there shall be per petual peace and friendship between

Her Britannic Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, and His Majesty the King of Tonga, His Heirs and Suc cessors and between their respective territories and subjects”.

In London this year

King Taufa’ahau said the British had been informed officially that he intended to open negotiations for this final step to independence when he visited London towards the end of this year.

The draft of the revised treaty will meanwhile be brought back from London in May by the British Com missioner and Consul in Tonga, Mr.

A. C. Reid, who is at present on leave.

In his broadcast King Taufa’ahau outlined the history of the treaty

since it was first made in May, 190 when some of the big powers of tl day were attempting to gain a foe hold in the Pacific. Britain, he sal had taken Tonga under her protectic because Tonga was not in a positic to safeguard her own interests ai may have endangered her indepe dence.

The king said that up to the tin of the revision of the treaty August, 1958, there had been i thought of any major or radic change in the British protectu clauses. But after 1958 there h: been some negotiations, which h; continued during visits he had mai to the United Kingdom. These neg tiations had led to talks late h year with Sir Arthur Galsworthy Tonga.

King Taufa’ahau said, “I sincere believe that the provisions embodi in the originial treaty and which ha been perpetuated through the Fi and Second World Wars have serv us well. For these were uncerfi and troubled years in the affairs nations.

“Prior to World War II there w no UN to which weaker nations li Tonga could belong for joint prot< tion but now such an institution exi and hence the negotiations leading to this year’s new and revised trea

International views

“I am sure that the new treaty v be of great benefit to the Kingdc of Tonga. Great Britain will contin to be responsible for all of Tong foreign affairs until the new arran] ments are completed and the trans of power is effected. But once th< powers are returned to Tonga—l second phase already referred tc we will then be in a position to se representation in the United Natic as well as in other world count considered wise for Tonga to jo There is no need for us to se membership in every world body, 1 there will be some suitable a worthy for Tonga to join.

“The new status of Tonga v bring with it new privileges as w

s responsibilities. However, I really link that if we use the privileges isely they will outweigh any diffi jlties that may arise, “I have requested the Premier to rite to the Prime Ministers of Aus alia and New Zealand, informing lem of the proposed changes. We lould also approach the two Prime [inisters first to seek their support a move by Tonga to apply for 11 membership of the British Com onwealth, in the same way as Aus alia and New Zealand, when this atter comes up at the next meeting Commonwealth Prime Ministers. ‘‘And secondly, to inform the two ime Ministers of Tonga’s desire to •ntinue in friendly relations and co icration with them because of their mmon geographical position, to the tent of seeking entry into the Pact, of which Australia, Jw Zealand and the USA are mem rs.

“Tonga is situated right in the ddle of the communication routes tween these three countries. We ve been on friendly terms with all ;se countries in the past and they iuld be assured that we wish to itinue our co-operation in matters ating to protection, etc. ‘Nothing will change in our atti le. We will do our utmost to in ase the sphere into which we can Ip one another with the aim of

iceful and friendly co-operation.”

Tribute to UK

Gng Taufa’ahau added; “This vement towards freedom of action no reflection upon Great Britain ather it is because of great bene we have derived through our long ociation with Britain that we have lined our identity and are in a lition today to fix our sights firmly independence. Our aim as always 0 foster harmony and peaceful co ration with our neighbours and rids.” onga’s new decision has involved ny weeks of work.

Sir Arthur Galsworthy left December there was a special Jting of the Tongan Parliament to uss the two main proposals—that iga should undertake all the ctions formerly assigned to Britain that Tonga should seek to join British Commonwealth. The draft ty was approved by the Privy mcil only a day or two before the 1 made the first public announce it.

Tiis move for full Tongan indepen ce has obviously come from within ga. While one can’t say that the sion was exactly expected, the

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path chosen is a path one would have expected Tonga to have taken. If Queen Salote were still on the throne probably it would not have been made it this stage, for the old Queen had a /ery high regard for things British md was content to remain under Britain’s umbrella. Her elder son has i forward turn of mind, although cer- ;ainly no less an appreciation of what Britain has done in giving, for so ong, the protection which has allowed Fonga to retain her identity. But it’s i freer hand that he wants.

Although the king has not made my specific announcement, it seems :ertain that Tonga will seek to join he South Pacific Commission as a ull member. This will make for a nore active organisation of the type vhich has been sought in recent years >y Fiji’s Chief Minister, Ratu K. K. f, Mara. Western Samoa was adnitted to membership a couple of 'ears ago after the SPC articles were hanged to allow membership to any □dependent South Pacific nation. 4auru, which achieved its indepenlence on January 31, has already an-

nounced it will seek full membership.

With Western Samoa, Nauru and Tonga all pushing their weight on the commission, there should be a lot more excitement in the South Pacific, Tonga’s exact political position has always been rather vague. Politically she is referred to as a constitutional monarchy, yet Tongans are not only Tongan subjects but British Protected Persons. Tonga has been a British Protected State since the treaty of 1900. There was an earlier treaty of November, 1879, not as farreaching, and there were various agreements over the years up to the time of the revision of 1958. (For the treaty details, see p. 19.) British advice is passed on through a British Commissioner and Consul in Nukualofa, and there has also been a long-standing tradition that the Secretary to the Government of Tonga, who is an important cog in the working of the administrative machinery, should be a British colonial officer on secondment.

The Tongan Government has developed along British lines and con-

sists of the sovereign, the Privy Council and Cabinet, the Legislative Assembly and the judiciary.

Seven Tongans comprise the Cabinet, with the Premier presiding —the Premier at the moment being King Taufa’ahau’s brother, Prince Tu’ipelehake. Both men were edu cated in Sydney.

There is no reason why Tonga shouldn’t manage very well, especially now that she has been put on her feet as a result of British financial help with a five-year development plan. Growing population pressure will result in the population—at pre lems. The present pattern of increase will result in the populaiton—at pre sent 77,000 —doubling in 24 years.

With improved education facilities and with the impact created by an in creased flow of tourists, Tongans will want something better than a village economy and low wages.

The significance of the Tongan de cision for Australia and New Zealand is that with the loss of the British umbrella after more than 60 years Tonga will quite clearly be within their orbit. In time of trouble, financial or otherwise, they will not be able to tell themselves that Tonga is Britain’s responsibility.