The 1973 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, officially known as the II Commonwealth Heads Meeting, and commonly known as Ottawa 1973, was the second Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was held from 2 to 10 August 1973 in Ottawa, hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. It was the first meeting to be attended by the Head of the Commonwealth Elizabeth II.
The summit issued a statement on nuclear weapon tests that affirmed "the unfailing support of Commonwealth governments for the international Treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water. It appeals, furthermore, to the international community for a total ban on nuclear weapon tests in any environment." Other topics included changing relationships among United States, the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, regional security, disarmament, the situation in the Middle East and South East Asia (i.e., the Vietnam War), the proposed creation of a peace zone in the Indian Ocean and the situation in Southern Africa and in particular Rhodesia's white minority ruled government. Also discussed were the desirability of a worldwide expansion of trade through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and negotiations between the European Economic Community and developing countries.The Commonwealth at the Summit: Communiqués of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, 1944-1986, issued by the Commonwealth Secretariat, 1987.
Besides the policy topics discussed, the conference saw a number of incidental, but lasting, innovations that helped define the work of the Commonwealth. The leaders held a private session in Mont-Tremblant, beginning the tradition of the 'retreat', whereby, in addition to the executive sessions, the heads of government leave the host city, taking only their spouses and one advisor each, to be isolated from outside influences and to discuss on less formal terms.
The Commonwealth flag emerged from pennants that were designed to be displayed on the leaders' cars in Ottawa. Designed by Trudeau and Commonwealth Secretary-General Arnold Smith (a fellow Canadian), the flag was officially adopted three years later, on 26 March 1976. The Royal Commonwealth Society petitioned the conference to discuss creating a uniformly-observed Commonwealth Day, which would eventually be discussed, at the proposal of the Canadian delegation, at the 1975 Meeting, and the Canadian proposals adopted.
Queen Elizabeth did not attend the first conference in 1971, and was advised against attending the 1973 conference by British prime minister Edward Heath. Elizabeth II did attend the 1973 conference on the advice of Prime Minister Trudeau. She would attend all subsequent meetings until absenting herself in 2013 when she began to refrain from long distance travel.
This was the first meeting in which the Bahamas and Bangladesh participated.
Participants The following nations were represented: Nation Name Position Pierre Trudeau (Chairman) Prime Minister Gough Whitlam Prime Minister Lynden Pindling Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Prime Minister Errol Barrow Prime Minister Sir Seretse Khama President Ioannis Christophides Minister of Foreign Affairs Sir Kamisese Mara Prime Minister Assan Musa Camara Vice President Napoleon Ashley-Lassen Member of the National Redemption Council and Chief of Defence Staff Forbes Burnham Prime Minister Swaran Singh Minister of External Affairs Michael Manley Prime Minister Daniel arap Moi Vice President Leabua Jonathan Prime Minister John Msonthi Minister of Education Abdul Razak Hussein Prime Minister Dom Mintoff Prime Minister Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Prime Minister Norman Kirk Prime Minister Yakubu Gowon Head of the Federal Military Government and Commander-in-Chief Siaka Stevens President Sirimavo Bandaranaike Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew Prime Minister Makhosini Dlamini Prime Minister Julius Nyerere President Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake Prime Minister Francis Prevatt Minister of Petroleum and Mines Paul Etiang Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Heath Prime Minister Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II Prime Minister Mainza Chona Vice-President
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