E.E.C. Proposals On N.Z. Goods

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29832, 26 May 1962, Page 11

E.E.C. Proposals On N.Z. Goods

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BRUSSELS, May 24. The Common Market Six have tabled counter-proposals regarding manufactured products from Canada, Australia and New Zealand, it was learnt tonight.

Britain proposed earlier this month that Commonwealth preferences on these products should be gradually reduced by 1970. The first reduction, of 30 per cent., should take place on January 1, 1965.

The British proposals ran into strong opposition from the Six, which felt that special transitional arrangements should be granted for only about 40 or 50 major industrial products exported by Canada, Australia and New Zealand. They felt the first 30 per cent, reduction of preferences should take place on the date Britain joined the Common Market. Well-informed sources said the May 29 and May 30 Ministerial meeting would include discussions of the counter proposals and also British suggestions on comparable outlets for agricultural exports from Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In London last night, the Commonwealth Relations Secretary (Mr Sandys) said Commonwealth Prime Ministers to meet in London in September would not be presented with a fait accompli. During an I.T.V. programme, Mr Sandys said the meeting had been called for September because negotia-

tions between Britain and the Six would have reached a stage at which she would know the terms under which she could enter. But the final stage, committing Britain. would not have been reached. Dinner for Mr Marshall Mr Sandys gave a dinner last night in honour of the New Zealand Deputy-Prime Minister (Mr Marshall). Mr Marshall has been engaged in an intensive round of talks with British Cabinet leaders on factors arising for New Zealand out of Britain’s bid to join the Common Market. At the dinner were Mr Shand, the New Zealand Minister of Labour; Sir Francis Cuming-Bruce, the British High Commissioner in New Zealand; Mr Soames, the British Minister of Agriculture; and Sir John Wirmifrith, the permanent Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture. Mr Marshall is due to leave London later today for the

Continent on a visit to Common Market countries, but will have further talks, with Cabinet Ministers in London from June 12. Mr Marshall’s visit was described as “ironic” by the “Evening Standard" in a Commonwealth Day editorial today. The newspaper said Mr Marshall did not come for the purpose of commemorating the splendour and pride of Empire—he came to see that the position of his own part of the Commonwealth would not be weakened by Britain's efforts to talk her way into the Common Market.