Sir, Rwanda is not the second nation that was “not once part of the British Empire” to join the Commonwealth (report, Nov 30). It may have been assumed that Mozambique, a former Portuguese possession that joined the Commonwealth in November 1995, was the first case. In fact, Namibia was the first when it joined the Commonwealth on its independence in March 1990. Namibia (then South West Africa) was a German protectorate from 1884 until 1915 when South Africa assumed control, later formalised by the Treaty of Versailles and implicitly endorsed by the League of Nations.
There is also the ambivalent case of Cameroon, which became independent from France in 1960 and in the following year acquired a minor addition to its territory when part of the former British Cameroon voted to join it rather than Nigeria. Cameroon, very much part of the “Francophonie” association of states, joined the Commonwealth in 1995.
The Commonwealth lays claim to standards of democracy, human rights and freedom of public expression that continue to be the focus of international attention in regard to some of its members. It also claims that part of its success as an association of free independent states is its extensive network of organisations and regular meetings, at almost every level up to heads of government, wherein information and opinion can be exchanged frankly and at will. An important element of that is the ready use of the English language, without the deadening effect of interpreters at meetings.
No less important than the accession of French-speaking Rwanda, however, is the presence at the Trinidad Commonwealth meeting of President Sarkozy, in a sense linking Francophonie with the Commonwealth, and perhaps both with Europe. The invitation to him was inspired.
Martin Reith
Former High Commissioner in Swaziland (1983-87) and Ambassador to Republic of Cameroon (1987-91)
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Sir, Contrary to the implication in your report, Rwanda owes its predominant language not to France but to Belgium, whose troops from the Congo captured it in 1916. The greater part of German East Africa was occupied by Britain, becoming known as Tanganyika, but the small area of Ruanda-Urundi in its northwest corner was mandated to Belgium and became a Trust Territory under the United Nations in 1946. In 1962 the two parts became independent as Rwanda and Burundi, the latter being initially a kingdom.
King Albert and Queen Astrid were both portrayed on Ruanda- Urundi stamps in the 1930s, and King Baudouin as late as 1955.
Anthony New
Petersfield, Hants