No Early Decision Expected On E.E.C.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29554, 1 July 1961, Page 11

No Early Decision Expected On E.E.C.

(A Z.P.A-Reuter— Copyright) LONDON, June 29. A considerable time may elapse before the British Government decides whether or not it will seek negotiations with the Common Market.

Authoritative sources said in London that full consideration would have to follow the reports from the three Cabinet Ministers now visiting Commonwealth countries, testing the Commonwealth reactions.

The Minister for Commonwealth Relations (Mr Duncan Sandys) left London yesterday for Australia. New Zealand and Canada. The Aviation Minister (Mr Peter Thorneycroft) will have bilateral talks with the Governments of Singapore. Malaya. Ceylon. Pakistan, and India, and the Labour Minister (Mr John Hare) is to confer with those of Ghana. Nigeria. Sierra Leone and the Rhodesia-Nyasaland Federation.

But even after tne Ministers’ visit it was possible that further bilateral talks —at Prime Ministerial or Finance Ministers’ level—would still be necessary, the sources said.

It was expected that bilateral talks with Cyprus would take place while the Ministers were abroad. Parlimentary quarters suggested yesterday that Mr Thorneycroft might visit Nicosia on his return journey British Trade

The former British Ambassador in Paris. Lord Gladwyn. said in London yesterday that Britain could not join the Common Market unless the six membercountries agreed to some “protocol.” principally covering British trade with New Zealand and with the Commopwealth generally. New Zealand was a special case, and if external tariffs

were applied against them, they would be “broke,” he said.

But Lord Gladwyn said he believed that after consultations. Britain would apply for membership. The “Daily Mirror” today said that if Britain joined the European Common Market it would constitute a world force capable of meeting the United States and Russia on equal terms. The article, the last of a series examining the question of Britain's possible membership of the Common Market, said: “Either Britain joins Europe and takes part in shaping its political and economic destinies, or Europe will unite without Britain, and Britain will dwindle into an isolated off-shore island.”

The "Daily Mirror” urged the British Government to announce that Britain was willing to join the Common Market and to “begin negotiations at the earliest possible moment.”

The “Daily Express.” a staunch opponent of British participation in the Common Market, criticised the “small clique” who want Britain to join. “The people have yet to speak. When they do, they will speak for Britain and the Commonwealth.” it said.