E.E.C. Political Issue In Britain

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29799, 16 April 1962, Page 13

E.E.C. Political Issue In Britain

(N .Z.PJt.-Rcutar—Copyright)

LONDON, April 14. Supporters of Britain’s political parties are fast being jolted into the realisation that the next general election will be dominated by the question of British entry into the Common Market.

This is a worrying prospect for both Government and Opposition adherents, because both main political parties are at present deeply divided on the question of whether Britain should join the Six, a Reuter political correspondent reported.

The decision for or against membership is one of the most vital which any modern British Government has ever faced. It is also vital for the Labour Party, whose fortunes could be profoundly affected by the stand which it eventually takes either in support of or opposition to British members. Pointers to Labour anxiety were seen in new leadership moves to crystallise party thinking on the Common Market issue. Government chiefs are leaving electorates in no doubt as to the extent to which the political focus is now on the Common Market. A senior Cabinet Minister and the Conservative Party chairman. Mr lam Macleod in a speech at Derby recently said: "When the next General Election comes, clearly this is going to be the great issue.” The Labour Party leadership has so far refrained from committing itself to a definite line, preferring to wait until it learns what kind of conditions for membership Britain can secure from the European Economic Community. This point is not expected to be reached for several months. Meanwhile, Socialists like Conservatives, are no nearer to resolving their sharp divisions. The Labour Party has an identifiable pro-market element: a middle section which remains tight-lipped and has not disclosed Itself for or against; and a vocal antimarket group. The “fora” and “against*" are not simple divisions of "Left” and “Right.” The party's present divisions are not necessarily an embarrassment to the leaders at a moment when

they wish to avoid committing themselves. But the time will come before long when the Labour Party chiefs will want to have the solid backing of an overwhelming majority of their supporters for whatever policy they think should be adopted. They have decided the moment has arrived for a closer study of the practical issues involved in membership. This exercise has already been started at the level of the party’s Parliamentary "shadow cabinet." After the Easter vacation a series of Parliamentary Labour Party meetings will be held aimed to digest as much Common Market information as possible and form some assessment of the progress of Britain's negotiations. This mind-cieanng exercise is necessary if the Labour chiefs, at the appropriate moment, are to be ready to declare where they stand The Labour ieader, Mr Gaitskell said tonight that Parliament and the British people should oe given an opportunity to discuss fully the conditions of Britain's entry into the Common Market. "We cannot tolerate a situation in which, a* ter months of secret negotiations, we are suddenly confronted with a fait accompli,” he told a London party meeting. “The Government should not reach a decision cm such grave matters without both Parliament and the British people having first discussed fully the conditions of our entry and all they imply ■Mr Macleod says the next election will be fought on the Common Market issue,” he said “Is he then abaolAtelv certain that we will go in* How can he know the terms when the real negotiations have scarcely begun? “Or is the Government now so desperately anxious that Britain should enter that they will accept any terms, however unfavourable, regardless of their promises tc safeguard the Interests of the Commonwealth, British agriculture and the E.F.T.A. countries?” W Gaiukell asked.