Remarks on the Constitution

In certain respects the Constitution represents a compromise, not in matters of principle but of operation. It could hardly be otherwise to be acceptable to the many diverse elements of which the Commonwealth is composed. Every individual concerned, coming from different backgrounds and with different ideas of political and social institutions, has been feeling his way towards expression of the implications of World Citizenship. The Constitution has not completed this personal adjustment; but it has certainly stimulated its accomplishment by compelling each citizen to think in terms of the concrete instead of the abstract. A very great deal remains to be learnt from practical experience and mutual endeavour.

This affords additional justification for making the Constitution provisional. Yet even now there has emerged a creditable blending of the several forms of democracy with something distinctive added. This has not been due to any pressure, but to mutual questing in a hopeful spirit for a sufficiently embracing and workable system. What has chiefly contributed to ironing out difficulties has been that the system has never been considered as an end in itself. It had to be the servant of the world servants, flexible and adaptable. What was being created was a living organism, not a mechanical organisation.

Balance, therefore, has had .a prominent place in the conception of structure, balance between the unit and the collectivity, between central and regional organs of administration, enough government but not too much, coordination of heart and head, of head and hand. The Constitution is Statelike, but does not create a State. It builds a functional agency, which is yet a People. It provides for a man's natural loyalties, but makes him nevertheless a World Citizen. It exemplifies world unity without instituting a World Government.

In the forefront of the Constitution the Commonwealth has set its Principles. These go far beyond anything that has ever been expressed in an instrument of this nature, and they are regarded as of greater consequence than the rest of the Constitution put together. Every other Article is to be looked at in the light of these Principles, which may be thought to offer to all mankind an interpretation of what should be the common aim for the coming time.

The General Provisions that follow bring the Principles to bear upon the institutional character of the Commonwealth and its external relations. It is clear that the Commonwealth denies to itself all means of compulsion to establish itself. It entrusts the practicability of its existence with complete confidence to the goodwill of every State, and has not the slightest fear that it will encounter any lack of responsiveness.

The internal government of the Commonwealth of World Citizens as set out in the body of the Constitution has been designed to facilitate the carrying into effect of the primary object of service to humanity at every level, local, regional and universal. The respective administrative organs will work everywhere in conjunction with national and international authorities, and will at all times be approachable to perform special tasks or meet specific needs contributing to human well-being, with the means placed at their disposal.

The numerical strength of the Commonwealth is never likely to be excessive in relation to the population of any country. This is assured by the nature of the responsibilities which have to be assumed, and to an extent confirmed by the relative smallness of the total membership of organisations directly engaged in welfare activities. Provision for the widest possible distribution of citizens has been made in Articles 10, 41 and 42.

Since the Commonwealth is not technically a State almost all its administrative functions can be performed by courtesy of the territorial Power without exercise of sovereignty over lands and buildings. Sovereignty will only be necessary by an arrangement of extraterritorialisation in the case of central and regional seats of deal remains to be learnt from practical experience and mutual endeavour. This affords additional justification for making the Constitution provisional. Yet even now there has emerged a creditable blending of the several forms of democracy with something distinctive added. This has not been due to any pressure, but to mutual questing in a hopeful spirit for a sufficiently embracing and workable system. What has chiefly contributed to ironing out difficulties has been that the system has never been considered as an end in itself. It had to be the servant of the world servants, flexible and adaptable. What was being created was a living organism, not a mechanical organisation.

Balance, therefore, has had,a prominent place in the conception of structure, balance between the unit and the collectivity, between central and regional organs of administration, enough government but not too much, co-ordination of heart and head, of head and hand. The Constitution is Statelike, but does not create a State. It builds a functional agency, which is yet a People. It provides for a man's natural loyalties, but makes him nevertheless a World Citizen. It exemplifies world unity without instituting a World Government.

In the forefront of the Constitution the Commonwealth has set its Principles. These go far beyond anything that has ever been expressed in an instrument of this nature, and they are regarded as of greater consequence than the rest of the Constitution put together. Every other Article is to be looked at in the light of these Principles, which may be thought to offer to all mankind an interpretation of what should be the common aim for the coming time.

The General Provisions that follow bring the Principles to bear upon the institutional character of the Commonwealth and its external relations. It is clear that the Commonwealth denies to itself all means of compulsion to establish itself. It entrusts the practicability of its existence with complete confidence to the goodwill of every State, and has not the slightest fear that it will encounter any lack of responsiveness.

The internal government of the Commonwealth of World Citizens as set out in the body of the Constitution has been designed to facilitate the carrying into effect of the primary object of service to humanity at every level, local, regional and universal. The respective administrative organs will work everywhere in conjunction with national and international authorities, and will at all times be approachable to perform special tasks or meet specific needs contributing to human well-being, with the means placed at their disposal.

The numerical strength of the Commonwealth is never likely to be excessive in relation to the population of any country. This is assured by the nature of the responsibilities which have to be assumed, and to an extent confirmed by the relative smallness of the total membership of organisations directly engaged in welfare activities. Provision for the widest possible distribution of citizens has been made in Articles 10, 41 and 42.

Since the Commonwealth is not technically a State almost all its administrative functions can be performed by courtesy of the territorial Power without exercise of sovereignty over lands and buildings. Sovereignty will only be necessary by an arrangement of extraterritorialisation in the case of central and regional seats of government, embassies and legations, and certain small tracts of land for special and agreed purposes such as exemplified in Articles 16 and 17.

The Commonwealth will have no titular head, its highest dignity being reserved for the elected members of the Supreme Council whose functions will be judicial and humanitarian rather than political. Such duties of a State character as are necessary will be discharged by the President of the Supreme Council during his year of office.