Non-applicants
Egypt, Burma and Iraq have never shown an interest in joining the Commonwealth, although they are eligible to do so, having histories of British rule. Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Oman similarly are not members. Other countries with historical links to the United Kingdom or other Commonwealth countries that could theoretically be Commonwealth members, but have shown no indication of a wish to join, include Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The United States declared its independence from Britain in 1776, which is more than 100 years before Lord Rosebery coined the term Commonwealth of Nations. Consequently, it is not a member. In addition to the original Thirteen Colonies, Hawaii (which still retains the Union Jack in its flag), Alaska, Washington state, and Oregon were all under post-1776 exploration by various British captains such as James Cook, and his protégé George Vancouver. The British had settlements in what is now the United States up until the Oregon Treaty of 1846.
France secretly considered membership in the 1950s, under the leadership of Prime Minister Guy Mollet. In the context of nationalisation of the Suez Canal, colonial unrest, and increasing tensions between British-backed Jordan and French-backed Israel, Mollet saw a union between Britain and France as a possible solution. A British Government document of the time reported "That the French would welcome a common citizenship arrangement on the Irish basis". The request was turned down by the British prime minister Anthony Eden, along with a request for Commonwealth membership, and a year later France signed the Treaty of Rome with Germany and the other founding nations of the Common Market, later to become the EU.
The United States declared its independence from Britain in 1776, which is more than 100 years before Lord Rosebery coined the term Commonwealth of Nations. Consequently, it is not a member. In addition to the original Thirteen Colonies, Hawaii (which still retains the Union Jack in its flag), Alaska, Washington state, and Oregon were all under post-1776 exploration by various British captains such as James Cook, and his protégé George Vancouver. The British had settlements in what is now the United States up until the Oregon Treaty of 1846.
France secretly considered membership in the 1950s, under the leadership of Prime Minister Guy Mollet. In the context of nationalisation of the Suez Canal, colonial unrest, and increasing tensions between British-backed Jordan and French-backed Israel, Mollet saw a union between Britain and France as a possible solution. A British Government document of the time reported "That the French would welcome a common citizenship arrangement on the Irish basis". The request was turned down by the British prime minister Anthony Eden, along with a request for Commonwealth membership, and a year later France signed the Treaty of Rome with Germany and the other founding nations of the Common Market, later to become the EU.
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