S.A. Interested In Britain Joining Six

Press, Volume C, Issue 29537, 12 June 1961, Page 13

S.A. Interested In Britain Joining Six

(N.Z.P-A.-Reuter— Copy right)

LONDON, June 11

Any British step towards joining the six-nation European Common Market would obviously interest South Africa, observers said in Pretoria today.

This was in spite of the Union no longer being a member of the Commonwealth. The President of the South African Exporters’ Association. Colonel R. Jones, said: "South Africa sends mainly primary agricultural products to Europe. I believe Britain is safeguarding that position, and if she does we will be all right. However, being out of the Commonwealth we can not be sure that the position is safeguarded now. For the moment the whole thing is conjecture.” Canada is seeking to form a united front to protect Commonwealth interests in the British market, trade experts said in Ottawa today. They gave this interpretation to the call by the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Diefenbaker) for a Commonwealth conference, at Prime Ministers level if neceeaary, to discuss any British move towards the Common Market Tffie Canadian Press said that behind Mr Diefenbaker's statement lies uncertainty in Ottawa over what arrangements Britain would propose to her Commonwealth partners to cover their preferential tariff interests should Britain join the Common Market. ,

The Australian Government is regarded as certain to support Mr Diefenbaker’s suggestion for a top-level Commonwealth conference, observers said in Canberra today. The effects of agricultural protection policies adopted ultimately by the Common Market with Britain as a member, are of vital importance to Australia. A large part of its export income is earned by primary product exports to Britain and to a lesser extent to continental Europe. Although apprehensive about the possible ultimate loss of Commonwealth preferences, the Australian Government is placing great store on the assurances of the British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) that the United Kingdom will consult fully with Australia, the observers said Ministers and officials in Canberra are hampered in formulating any detailed attitude in the absence o< settled principles on agricultural protection by the Common Market. Reuter correspondents said from other Commonwealth capitals that the conference call had received a generally favourable reaction in trade circles. 1 In Kuala Lumpur, many

senior Malayan officials would like to see Britain associated more strongly with continental Europe. They believe this could offer Malaya a wider market for her materials — principally rubber and tin—and also possibly provide cheaper manufactured goods. The officials welcomed the call for a Commonwealth conference, but said Britain had kept the Federation Government informed on her attitude to the Common Market Mr Holyoake said in Wellington: “It appears that our negotiations are well ahead of anything that Mr Diefenbaker is engaged in. “I am already in negotiation with Mr Macmillan on this aspect, the purpose of which is confidential in the mean time.” However, authoritative political sources in London said that Britain had no intention of calling the Commonwealth Prime Ministers together. But it is desperately anxious to canvass opinion, and is expected to send its senior politicians on a Commonwealth tour. The Minister for Commonwealth Relations <Mr Duncan Sandys) is expected to go to Australia and New Zealand The Prime Ministers’ meeting is thought unlikely because only two months ago the Commonwealth Prime Ministers held a full-scale conference at which considerable attention was given to the Common Market issue. Political sources also pointed to Mr Macmillan's statement in the House of Commons 11 days ago, when he was asked by a Conservative member if he would seek a Commonwealth conference. The Prime Minister said:

"1 think that it would be much better dealt with in careful consultation with each Commonwealth country separately, because they vary so much in what happens to be their major interest.” It is thought that because of the wide implications of Common Market membership for British agriculture, Mr Christopher Soames, the Agriculture Minister, may also visit some countries. Some politicians believe Mr Macmillan desires to announce some definite move towards British participation in the Common Market before Parliament rises in early August tor its long summer recess. The "Sunday Telegraph" reported that Austria, Switzerland and Sweden would apply for membership in the Common Market under the same conditions as those offered to successor-states of the French Colonial Empire. This would enable them to enjoy economic advantages of membership while preserving their neutral status and avoiding political commitments. The Liberal Party’s council urged today that Britain should join fully in the Common Market. It called for a nation-wide campaign by the Liberal Party, which has six seats in the House of Commons, to ensure that electors were aware of the need for a firm decision on the question. The council carried unanimously a resolution calling on the Government to make “an unequivocal declaration of this country’s willingness to enter into full membership of the European Economic Community.”