Is our bond with Britain so special? Why yes, I agree it will cause some temporary harm to our relations, that we will still be more than willing to trade openly and make agreements with His Majesty will help rebuild those relations, without the binding of our two nations in these wars. Indeed, free from these burdens, our relations may very well soar!
I agree with you completely that they have not wronged us, but the mere fact that we are so closely aligned with one nation, a nation they hate vitriolically, virtually ensures that we will be drawn into a war, despite any of our intentions (of course, the Colonel is probably looking forward to that).
Should we form Commonwealth-like agreements with all the powers of Europe? That would simply drive us even more into the affairs of Europe. I call for complete neutrality, or to come as close to it as possible. When (I fear it is no longer a matter of 'if') this war breaks out, I want America to have no such attachments that could be used to bring us to war. The Commonwealth is built almost entirely on mutual protection, which would require our entering into a war, especially one of such gravity as I fear, and predict, will happen.
However, if we reform the system as substantially as you wish, then what is the point of having the Commonwealth in place? It is, though to a much smaller degree, reforming the Bible to better suit our needs; it no longer is a significant agreement, simply a common deal, something that no longer matters. We must act cautiously, and with great neutrality, which the Commonwealth almost entirely makes impossible.
((The Jarvis-Hensdale debates))