BRITAIN AND E.E.C.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29649, 20 October 1961, Page 18

BRITAIN AND E.E.C.

“Straight Talk” At Conference The United Kingdom’s decision to negotiate for entry into the European Common Market seemed to be influenced mainly by political considerations, said Mr R. M. Macfarlane. MJP. for Christchurch Central, yesterday, when he returned from attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference in London. Mr Macfarlane said that some interests in Britain were not convinced that membership of the E-EjC. would be beneficial to the United Kingdom’s economy. The United States Government had an observer at the conference, Mr Macfarlane said, and it was obvious t v at the United States was strongly in favour of the United Kingdom joining the E.E.C, but both the observer. Senator Fulbright, and officials of the State Department in Washington and New York whom the New Zealand delegation had met on the way home, had not fully realised the strong feeling of concern among some members of the Commonwealth. There had been some straight talking from New Zealand, Australian, and Canadian delegates at the conference, Mr Macfarlane said, and even after the United Kingdom Ministers had spoken some Commonwealth delegates had made it clear that they still had reservations on the assurances given.