1971 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

1st Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Host country	Singapore
Dates	14–22 January 1971
Cities	Singapore
Participants	32 (of 32 members)
Heads of State or Government	26
Chair	Lee Kuan Yew (Prime Minister of Singapore)
Follows	1969 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference
Precedes	1973
Key points
Singapore Declaration British arms sales to South Africa

The 1971 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was the first Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly named the British Commonwealth). It was held in Singapore, between 14 January 1971 and 22 January 1971, and was hosted by that country's Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew.^[1]

British prime minister Edward Heath advised Queen Elizabeth II not to attend the conference due to a row within the Commonwealth over Britain selling arms to South Africa.^[2] It would be the only CHOGM the Queen would miss until 2013.^[3]

Ugandan president Milton Obote was overthrown by Idi Amin in a military coup, whilst he was attending the meeting.

At the meeting the Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles was agreed setting out the core political values that would form the main part of the Commonwealth's membership criteria. The final document was not ratified by Pakistan.^[1] Topics discussed at the meeting included Chinese representation at the United Nations, East-West relations, conflict in the Southeast Asia, Portuguese violations of Guinean sovereignty and situation in Portuguese colonies, and South African situation.^[1] Members also discussed the repercussions of future Accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities.^[1]

References[]

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