BRITAIN URGED TO LINK WITH E.E.C.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29524, 27 May 1961, Page 13

BRITAIN URGED TO LINK WITH E.E.C.

(NAPA. -Reuter —Copyright)

LONDON, May 25. Mere than IM leading personalities in Britain today urged the Government to declare its willingness in principle to join the six-nation European Economic Community. "Unless the Government makes this attempt at negotiation with the Common Market, Europe will be still further split, and Britain will be in increasing danger of beeominr a backwater, both politically and economically.'* they sa*d in a statement The statement was drawn tin by the committee of the C>mmon Market Campaign, under the chairmanship of Lord Gladwyn. former British Ambassador to France, and now Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The committee opened the campaign at a press conference in London.

Lord Gladwyn said at the conference that the aim of the campaign was to make clear to the Government that when it found It possible to apply for membership of the Common Market It would have widespread influentia’ support, and to focus attention on the controversy. The essential suggestion of the campaign was that the Government should first consult the Commonwealth and the members of the European Free Trade Association and inquire whether they would have any objections in principle to Britain applying for Common Market membership. Lord Gladwyn said.

There would be no question of Britain signing the Treaty of Rome until and unless negotiations had shown that this could be done or terms which would not materially injure the interests either of the Commonwealth or any members of E.F.TA which were not prepared to apply for membership themselves.

The statement was signed by members of Parliament of all parties, industrialists, scholars, trade unionists, businessmen and writers. It said Britain must decide soon "whether she is to play her full part in the dynamic new power which has arisen in Europe, or whether she is to be increasingly cut off from the Continent, both politically and economically. "Equally, the Six must soon decide whether they are prepared to facilitate the entry of the United Kingdom into the Commcn Market, or whether they prefer to run the very real risks involved in a continued political division of Western Europe.” it added. “If we are to prevent a dangerous split in Europe, time is short.”