“Outer-Seven” Begin Talks On Convention

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29057, 20 November 1959, Page 15

“Outer-Seven” Begin Talks On Convention

(Rec. 11.15 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, November 19. Finance and Trade Ministers of Britain and six other Western European nations will begin historic two-day talks today aimed at creating a European Free Trade Association serving 36 million people.

Authoritative sources were confident that the ministers of the “Outer Seven”—Britain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Portugal, and Switzerland—would by tomorrow afternoon have officially set up the association by initialling a bulky convention.

The actual signature of the convention which will be subject to Parliamentary ratification in each country, will take place in about a fortnight, possibly in Oslo. Finland may eventually associate itself in some degree with the new association. A Finnish Government observer arrived last night to keep in touch with the conference.

The British Chancellor of the Exchequer, and leader of the British delegation, Mr Heathcoat Amory, told reporters on arriving last night: “We are sure that this project on which we are together embarking is going to prove of benefit not only to the seven countries concerned but the whole of Europe.” Officials feel it is necessary to “build a bridge” between the “Outer Seven” and the sixnation European Common Market of France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg which began operating last January 1, Before leaving London for the meeting, Mr Amory said that Britain’s aim was still for a trading association comprising all the Western European countries. The seven nations of E.F.T.A.

first decided to form a trade association ip July this year. The draft convention provides for lowering tariffs and broadening trade over a wide range of industrial goods, agricultural, fish, and other products.