Talks Likely On E.E.C. Political Link

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 15

Talks Likely On E.E.C. Political Link

(N .ZJ’.A.-Reuter—Copyright) PARIS, November 14. The chairman of the executive commission of the European Economic Community (Professor Walter Hallstein) will discuss with President de Gaulle in Paris on Thursday proposals for a permanent political link between the six Common Market nations, according to official sources.

The invitation to - .ofessor Hallstein was made, these sources said, on the suggestion of General de Gaulle. Before seeing the British

Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) in England this month. General de Gaulle is anxious to discuss the possible repercussions of a permanent political organisation between the “Six” on Britain's future membership of the Common Market The discussions would include such questions as to whether Britain should be invited to take part right away in the talks between the “Six” about political links. The six Governments of the Common Market have a “blueprint” which provides for twice yearly or more frequent meetings of the heals of Government to consider military and foreign policy questions and to agree if possible on a common pr’icy in each case. Association Approved From Brussels, the Associated Press reported that the Council of Ministers of the Common Market today approved the association of Dutch West Indies with the Common Market The only other country associated with the Common Market so far is Greece. Various overseas territories —mainly former French African colonies—are temporarily associated with the Common Market, but the definite status of their relations with it will be decided at a meeting in Paris next month.

The British Ambassador to the United States (Sir David Ormsby-Gore) said last night in an address to the Pilgrim Society that if Britain joined the Common Market her whole influence would be exerted to ensure that Western Europe became not a third force, but "an ever stronger pillar supporting one side of the arch of the Atlantic community.” He described Britain’s decision to seek Common Market membership as comparable to that taken by the United States in launching the Marshall Plan.

Sir David Ormsby-Gore said the United States* relationship to the Common Market was of vital concern. “I would like to emphasise that the British consideration has been to unite and not to divide," he said. "No-one wishes to see a split which seemed to be developing tn Western Europe transferred to the Atlantic community. “Nor should we ignore the political implications of all this. And here again I would like to give you a catcsoriai assurance that we have no intention of attempting to dleate some ‘third force* in the world. “Our whole influence would be exerted to ensure that Western Europe became an even stronger pillar supporting one side of the arch of the Atlantic community.”