ASSOCIATES OF E.E.C.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29681, 27 November 1961, Page 15

ASSOCIATES OF E.E.C.

Discussions On Commonwealth ( MX .P.A,-Reuter—-Copyright) BRUSSELS, November 26. Britain has discussed with the Common Market the possibility’ of some Commonwealth nations becoming associate members of the market, according to sources close to last week’s talks in Brussels.

No specific list of Commonwealth candidates was submitted, but a list of all Commonwealth countries and their economic and commercial characteristics has been circulated.

It was prepared to bring home to the market countries the type of problem facing each member of the Commonwealth should Britain join, said the sources.

In London, the British Government made the surprise announcement last night that it would issue to the Commonwealth the full text of Britain’s proposals for joining the market. Until now the Commonwealth has been refused more than a summary. The decision came in the midst of a growing storm over rumours that the United States had been “leaked” the full plan, though not by Britain.

As late as Thursday, the Commonwealth Relations Secretary (Mr Sandys) refused demands in the House of Commons that details be given to the Commonwealth. The text will also be made available to the seven-nation European Free Trade Assoc ation, of which Britain is a member.

Some press reports had said the “leak” of the statement came from France. The Foreign Office announcement reiterated that Britain had not made the full text of Mr Heath’s statement available to any other Government.

Earlier today diplomatic observers said Britain had refused to disclose the full text of Mr Heath’s statement because she did not want to be publicly tied down to a firm position at the start of what would probably be long and

involved negotiations over Britain's application to join the Common Market. The following is the text of the Foreign Office statement:

“The negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Economic Community began in Paris on October 10, 1961, with a statement by the Lord Privy Seal <Mr Edward Heath), on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government.

“At the conclusion of this speech the verbatim text was made available in five languages to the six member Governments and the Commission of the European Economic Community. “In accordance with the arrangement made between those taking part in the negotiations that all working documents for the negotiations were to be treated as confidential, this document was marked secret.

“No copies have at any time been made available by H.M. Government to any other government. "A substantial portion of the statement dealt with United Kingdom domestic affairs. A detailed written summary of the parts affecting the Commonwealth was communicated to Commonwealth Governments shortly before the Lord Privy Seal made his speech.

“At the same time a detailed written summary of the parts affecting members of the European Free Trade Association was communicated to their Governments. Confidential Account

“At the conclusion of the meeting in Paris, the Lord Privy Seal gave orally an account of the contents of his speech as a w hole to both the Commonwealth and the F.F.T.A. Ambassadors in Paris and, on his return to the High Commissioners in London on a confidential

basis. “In view, however, of the persistent reports that the full text of the Lord Privy Seal’s opening statement has come into the possession of some governments which are not parties to the negotiations, it has now been decided, after consultation with representatives of the six Governments and the commission in Brussels, that, as an exception to the arrangement that working documents should be confidential to the seven Governments taking part in the negotiations and the Commission of the E.E.C., a verbatim text of the Lord Privy Seal’s opening statement should be made available in confidence to the Governments of Commonwaltih countres and to members of the E.F.T.A..”