India, The Commonwealth And The UN

The foreign relations of a country are developed in accordance with International Law.

- Camila Visconti

It is composed of treaties, customs, jurisprudence, and doctrine, among other sources. Furthermore, International Organizations are also involved in the drafting of International Law through the structure of the International Community.

During World War I, more than 1.3 million Indian soldiers and labourers served in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, many of whom lost their lives in service. At the same time, the population suff ered from tax increases, influenza epidemic, commercial recession and social crisis. The United Kingdom, in an attempt to mitigate the situation, acknowledged India’s wartime assistance by granting certain political concessions. For example, they allowed gradual autonomy through the democratic election of an Indian government to take over part of the political administration in collaboration with British officials. In this context, India as a British colony signed the Treaty of Versailles and was a founder member of the League of Nations, which raised its international profile.

The Commonwealth was simultaneously emerging as a community of British nations united by a common past in terms of the territories had been part of the Great British Empire, which was weakened year by year by the world’s waves of independence. Many territories wanted to govern themselves, without cutting ties with Britain, so an agreement was designed to give that right of self-government to each territory, under the supervision of British rule. Australia, Canada, the Irish Free State, New Zealand, South Africa and Newfoundland participated. After World War I, the Statute of Westminster was signed in 1931, officially creating the British Commonwealth of Nations, where nations acquired equal status among themselves united under allegiance to the British Crown.