“U.K. Sacrifice In Offer To Six”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29452, 2 March 1961, Page 15

“U.K. Sacrifice In Offer To Six”

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, March 1. Britain, rather than the Commonwealth, was offering to sacrifice an advantage, the “Financial Times” said today when commenting on Britain’s suggestions for bridging the gap between the Common Market and the European Free Trade Association.

The Lord Privy Seal, Mr Edward Heath, putting Britain’s case to the Foreign Ministers of the Western European Union, said that if the Six could meet Britain’s Commonwealth and agricultural difficulties. she could then consider a system based on a common or harmonised tariff on raw materials and manufactured goods imported from countries other than the seven countries of the European Free Trade Association or the Commonwealth.

He also said that, as part-of an over-all settlement, Britain could see no difficulty of principle in the way of discussions between the Six and Commonwealth countries about possible reductions in tariff preferences which she enjoyed in those countries. The "Financial Times” says that as for the Commonwealth. Britain seems to be ready to abandon preference in cne

direction, but not in the other. Thus Commonwealth countries would be free to import French cars with the same tariff as British, but Britain would not direct her common tariff against imports from the Commonwealth. It is thus Britain rather than the Commonwealth which is offering to sacrifice an advantage. “Commonwealth Support”

The Commonwealth would support the British Government's economic plan to link the European Common Market and the seven-nation European Free Trade Association, the “Daily Telegraph” said today.

“The essence of the plan is that Britain would consider harmonising her external tariffs with those of the Six on raw material and manufactured goods imported from countries other than the Commonwealth or the Seven,” the newspaper said.