MENZIES IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29841, 6 June 1962, Page 13

MENZIES IN BRITAIN

Signs Talks Are Showing Results (ft Z. Press Assn.— Copyright) LONDON, June 5. 1 he Australian Prime Minister (Mr Menzies) will confer today with his advisers on Common Market policy, amid signs that his talks with the British Government have already shown results. In public statements Mr Menzies has sharply criticised the British Government for its agreement on Commonwealth industrial goods with the Common Market at Brussels. His only direct hint so far about progress has been his remark on a television programme last night that in his talks with British Cabinet members, “I think they understood my point of view.”

Sources close to Mr Menzies said that in his conferences with the British Prime M nister 'Mr Macmillan) there had been some clearing of the air Officials said Mr Menzies—who has had an al meet nonstop round of talks since arriving in London last Wednesday—planned a fairly qu et day. discussing matters with Australian trade experts and diplomats

The British Parliament is warming up for a full-scale debate on Britain's bid to join the Common Market.

Political observers said Mr Menzies' statement last Friday had emphasised the growing controversy in Britain itself, as well as in the Commonwealth coun tries whose exports would be affected by the Brussels talks A Reuter correspondent said Mr Macmillan would be interrogated in the House of Commons today on aspects of Common Market issues

Mr Menzies last night spoke directly to the British man-;n-the-street about the Common Market for the first time The BBC. estimated

9.000.000 persons were in the television audience for his appearance on the interview programme. “Panorama.”

The Australian Prime Minister. in quiet. forceful w’ords. said: “We want to come out of this with as little injury as possible “Don’t imagine for one moment that we expect to come out of this at a profit —we won't We will lose something. But we want our losses to be within reason." Some observers felt these remarks represented a slight shift in emphasis in recent statements by the Prime Minister and Australian spokesmen.

Previously, these observers said, the focus had tended to

be on damage that Australia would suffer unless there were adequate safeguards. Now Mr Menz.es had flatly ‘.old the British people there would be damage anyway if Britain entered the European unity movement.

But the general stand taken by Mr Menzies' still reinforced Australian policy that firm decisions at Brussels and decisions based on “precipice” solutions were unacceptable Australian officials said las night there seemed to be a realisation now among British Cabinet members that Australia and other Commonwealth countries must not be confronted later in the year with completely decisive and accomplished facts