The Times, 26th November 1998

The old ties that make everyone want to join the club.

An application by Ireland to rejoin the Commonwealth would be the latest and most dramatic signal that the club of counrties once ruled by Britain exerts an increasingly powerful attraction.

There are now 54 members - a record - of one of hte world's largest and most diverse bodies, which cuts across political, economic, geographic and religious groupings.Informal discussions on Irish membership began about three years ago, and were stimulated by the renewed popularity of hte Commonwealth and the precedent set by the readmission of South Africa.

Only three countries that were once part of hte British Empire have remained outside the Commonwealth: Ireland, which left in 1949; Burma, which decided not to join on independence; and Aden, which has since become one country with Yemen.

The end of apartheid signalled a renaissance for the Commonwealth. Britain was no longer isolated in its defence of links with South Africa, and the Commonwealth was able to concentrate on improving good government among its members, especially after the Harare Declaration. Pakistan, which quit over the acceptance of Bangladesh, had already rejoined the Commonwealth.Fiji, which left in teh wake of hte political upheaval and promulgation of a new constitution, has just been accepted back. Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony, was admitted as a special exception in 1995 - on condition that it improved the teaching of English - largely at the urging of President Mandela and because all its neighbours were members.Cameroon, whose southern part was once a British mandate, was admitted in 1995. Yemen made a formal application at the Edinburgh summit last year, and Yassir Arafat lobbied for Palestinian membership on the basis of British rule during the 30-year mandate until 1948.

The benefits of membership are largely informal. The Commonwealth provides an easy network for countless academic, political and economic exchanges. Leaders ofpoorer countries are able to make their views heard through those which are members of the United Nations Security Council and the G7 group of countries. The common language, legal tradition and educational heritage gives every member a wealth of opportunity beyond its frontier.Ireland has always been wary of the close identification of the Commonwealth with Britain and the British monarchy. That has clearly lessened. It would be a crowning achievement for Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the Secretary-General who retires next year, if Ireland were to apply for membership.