T.U.C. Leaders Study Problems Of E.E.C.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29525, 29 May 1961, Page 11

T.U.C. Leaders Study Problems Of E.E.C.

(ft Z.P.A.-neuter—Copyright) LONDON, May 27. Leaders of Britain’s Trades Union Congress yesterday refused to be panicked by a cablegram from the New Zealand Federation of Labour over Britain’s move towards the European Common Market, the London “Daily Telegraph” reported today.

The cablegram, from the federation’s president (Mr F P. Walsh), received “rather unsympathetic consideration" from the T.U.C.’s economic committee, it said. Far from endorsing Mr Walsh’s argument that an “enormous industrial war" would result from membership of the Common Market. the committee decided simply to ask him for more information on the points worrying his federation. The T.U.C.’s letter would also emphasise its continuing concern for maintenance of Commonwealth trade links. However, the committee came no nearer to defining the congress’s attitude to the Common Market the “Daily Telegraph" report said.

It was agreed that a joint meeting with Labour Party leaders should be held to discuss the issue, probably next month.

The report said that there was growing feeling in many trade unions that Britain could not afford to be excluded from the market At the same time, there was a “genuine reluctance, born of divergent economic interests, to come out wholeheartedly in favour of the plunge being taken.” Publicity New Zealand’s concern over intensification of the campaign in Britain for Britain’s early entry into the Common Market and her demand for prior and definite assurances that New Zealand’s interests will be safeguarded have received in British newspapers as much publicity as any news from the Dominion for a lone time, says a New Zealand Press Association special correspondent in London. Mr Walsh’s appeal to the Trades Union Congress was seen as the first real prod tn the TUC and the Labour movement generally to state unequivocally their stand on the Common Market. So far there has been nothing concrete to indicate the attitude of either. The

main reason for this reluctance. it is suggested, is because of serious conflicts of opinion on the subject. All national newspapers in Britain, with the exception of the London popular tabloids. gave New Zealand’s reactions very good publicity

The “Yorkshire Post’s” industrial correspondent, commenting on the message to the TUC. from the New Zealand Federation of Labour, said that the “hard realities" of the Common Market controversy had arrived with embarrassing suddenness in the lap of British Labour and the trade union movement.

“In the absence of a clearcut policy, there are signs of uncertainty, confusion and strongly held differences in a belief which could sprout into a major row," he wrote The “Daily Express.” which, alone of the nationals is against Britain’s entry into the Common Market, had a three-column heading referring to “Empire leaders” seeking urgent safeguards on the Common Market.