Accord On Farm Policy Welcomed

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29722, 16 January 1962, Page 11

Accord On Farm Policy Welcomed

(R.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, January 15. “The Times” and the “Daily Telegraph” both said today that yesterday’s Common Market agricultural agreement would lead to freer trade within the community rather than with the rest of the world.

“The Times” said: "The extremely elaborate proposals for different classes of farm products which the European Commission has evolved have clearly been designed so that they can be used to promote higher efficiency in Europe’s agriculture. “This will be done, however, behind a protective barrier against imports from other countries.”

The “Daily Telegraph” said yesterday’s agreement “will give the whole European movement a boost of which it was beginning to look in need of,” but added: “While there is plenty of talk of freer trade in farm products, it will be freer trade within the community rather than with the outside world. “The main concern, particularly w’here France is concerned, seems to be more to encourage high-cost production and unload the resulting Continental surpluses on world markets at subsidised rates.”

The “Daily Express’” said

“The squabbling Six have patched up their quarrel about agriculture in the Common Market. But the problem of the French, Dutch and Italian food surpluses will not be solved by paper agreement, only by opening up new markets. “And there is no doubt which dumping ground the Europeans will aim at—Britain.”

The “Financial Times” said: “The fact that the six Governments were able to reach a compromise shows that in the last resort they were willing even to gamble with votes at home rather than stand accused of blocking the advance towards closer unity. The way is open now for negotiations proper between the Six and Britain.” The “Guardian” said the outcome of the Brussels negotiations was “a vindication of the European idea and a rebuff to those enemies of the Common Market who sought to detect, in the protracted negotiations of the last two months, a fatal weakening of the community spirit.” By finally agreeing to a common farm policy tney had broken a major roadblock and had made it possible to go on to the next stage of Western Europe’s economic integration, it said.

“It was a historic achievement. But there will be repercussions abroad as well. “For Britain, clearly, the advance in Brussels will increase the pressure which had earlier induced the British Government to apply for Common Market membership. “Now the prospect looks brighter than ever that the 1960’s will witness the economic—and perhaps also the political—unification of almost all Western Europe.

“It would be perilous to ignore the implications of the Brussels success for our own economy ... In our own interest the Common Market’s advance needs to be followed quickly by Congressional approval of the President’s programme for a new trade policy,” said the "New York Times.”