BRITISH-ITALIAN TRADE TALKS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28180, 19 January 1957, Page 11

BRITISH-ITALIAN TRADE TALKS

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rcc. 10 p.m.) ROME, January 17. British-Italian talks were held in Rome tonight on ways of fitting together the projected "Little Europe” common market and British proposals for free trade in a wider area of Western Europe.

Britain was represented by the Foreign Minister (Mr Selwyn Lloyd) and Italy by the Foreign Minister (Professor G. Martino).

Mr Lloyd is believed to have expressed the hope that the common market treaty, scheduled to be signed by si:, member nations next month in Rome, would not be so rigid that it would be difficult for other nations like Britain to enter the market partially.

The Italian Minister is understood to have told him that Italy was extremely anxious to see Britain draw closer to the Continental European countries, but that at the same time it was important to maintain intact the idea of common market between the six nations of “Little Europe,” and not to allow the treaty, provisions to be dangerously watered down.

On this point the Ministers were described as having views very much in common. Agricultural Products

Although accepting Britain’s intention to exclude food, drink, and tobacco from the free trade link with the common market. Professor Martino asked whether special arrangements on agricultural products could be made betv een Britain and individual members of the market.

He said that Britain was an important market for oranges, lemons, and other fruits and vegetables from Italy’s backward southern regions.

Mr Lloyd was understand to have agreed that this would be possible. Sneaking at a banquet tonight. Mr Lloyd said that Britain was determined to play its part in evolving forms of closer association with Western Europe. In Brussels today the Belgian Foreign Minister (Mr Paul-Henri Spaak) postponed his report to a “Little Europe” conference on his London talks concerning possible British association with the proposed six-nation market. He decided to delay the report until the arrival, expected tomorrow or Saturday, of the French Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr Maurice Faure) and his West German counterpart (Mr Walter Hallstein).

The conference of Government delegates and experts from France, Western Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg is drafting treaties on the common market and the projected atom pool. Tomorrow, the conference is expected to begin discussion of the project for a customs free common market, possibly linked with Britain. FREE TRADE AREA Britain Gives Support LONDON, Jan. 17. The new Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Peter Thorn eycroft) said today that the British Government was solidly behind the proposals for a free trade area for Western Europe. He was addressing the American Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon in London. “I do not yet know whether we shall reach agreement in Europe, but I say here and now that over a period, and upon agreed terms, we will throw our markets open to their manufactures if they will throw their markets open to us,’’ he said. Britai: had to be competitive or nothing, said Mr Thorneycroft. “At the same time, we intend to maintain our special relationships with the Commonwealth. Europe is one side of the picture: That is new and exciting. The Commonwealth remains the other: That is firm and enduring and exciting, too. There is nothing inconsistent between the two.’’

By growing strong in the great European free market Britain would be helping not only Europe and herself, but the Commonwealth and America, the Chancellor said.

Duke Arrives At Lonely Island (Rec. 10.45 p.m.) TRI ’TAN DA CUNHA, Jan. 18. The Duke of Edinburgh arrived at Tristan da Cunha yesterday aboard the Royal yacht Britannia for a visit to this “loneliest island in the world.” When the Duke went ashore he was greeted by most of the population of the island, which lies in the middle of the South Atlantic about 1800 miles south-west of Cape Town. The Duke was only the second Royal visitor ever to set foot on tl.. island. The first was the only other Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Victoria’s second son, Alfred.