ABSTRACT
The Commonwealth was the fount of British power; and it gained strength through the united front it presented to the world. The Indian republic would not owe allegiance to the British Crown, which was the keystone of the Commonwealth, and the King would have no place in the government of India. The Colonial Office thought that India's presence in the Commonwealth would lessen problems with Indian settlers in British colonies, while her secession would probably have a detrimental effect on relations between Indians and British subjects. The British knew that their security was now tied up with that of West Europe at the same time, West Europe was then taking the first steps to economic recovery and could not be relied upon to guarantee western security. Political discord and administrative exigency prompted the British to wind up the Raj in August 1947 without achieving any of the conditions that would have guaranteed their military and economic interests in an independent India.
