‘Agreement On Terms By August’

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29803, 21 April 1962, Page 11

‘Agreement On Terms By August’

(N.Z. Press Associat’on—Copyright)

LONDON, April 19

The “Daily Telegraph” reported today that the British Government is convinced that acceptable terms for Britain’s entry into the Common Market can be negotiated by the end of July or early in August.

Subject to detailed reservations on particular commodities. these terms had a good chance of endorsement by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers at the September conference, the newspaper said. But a report in the "Daily Express" claimed that the British Cabinet has been forced to have a “big rethink" about its Common Market time-table. "lingering hopes ot Unking up with Europe on January 1 have been squashed." a 'Daily Express" commentator. Keith Renshaw, wrote The reappraisal is due to the tremendous impact which Australia's Deputy Premier and Commerce Minister, Mr John McEwen, has made on Whitehall during intensive top-level talks over the past week

“He has made the Cabinet realise that a mere transitionperiod solution during which Australia's traditional preferences in Britain are eased out—is unacceptable to Canberra." Another "Daily Express" writer. George Malcolm Thomson. claimed that 'Britain is being drawn into the Common Market by the United States" and that this was a main objective of American policy The “Guardian" said that Britain's entry into the Common Market is expected to be made more difficult by the breakdown of the Common Market talks on European political unity. "This is in the view of many observers here after, a

night for reflection." the “Guardian's” Paris correspondent said. The “Daily Worker" sa.d: "When the Commonwealth Premiers meet in London m September they will be confronted with the accomplished fact of a Government decision to enter the Common Market.” The "Financial Times" commenting on the breakdown of the six-power talks on a European political union tieaty. urged Britain to “press for speed in Brussels without in any way becoming involved in what is still an internal dispute among the Six "