Heath And Six To Resume Talks

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29890, 2 August 1962, Page 13

Heath And Six To Resume Talks

(N.Z J» .A.-Reuter—CopynoM) BRUSSELS, August 1. Britain’s chief Common Market negotiator, Mr Edward Heath, will meet the six Common Market Foreign Ministers today in a race against time to reach an outline agreement on Britain’s membership application by the end of the week. The negotiations, to break the deadlock reached last Saturday, are due to continue non-stop until Saturday night or early Sunday morning, if necessary.

The Ministers are making a determined effort to solve the crucial problem of alternative markets for farm products exported by Canada. Australia and New Zealand after Britain enters the market. The Six will meet privately this morning to coordinate their views before meeting the British delegation. Common Market officials in Brussels emphasised that margins for manoeuvres were small and that the Six were near the limit of their concessions. They said one of the negotiators’ main tasks would be to find formulas which would give the three Commonwealth countries confidence that the enlarged market would look after their interests. British sources said Mr Heath would insist chiefly on a more precise definition of the Common Market promise to pursue a reasonable price policy which would leave the door open to food imports from Canada. Australia, and New Zealand. The British view is that the market proposals as they stand are much too vague and do not provide adequate safeguards for the Commonwealth. The sources said Mr Heath, back in Brussels, had not brought any new proposals from London. British Pledges Before leaving London. Mr Heath told reporters: “The Government has given its pledges to the Commonwealth and will adhere to them. The decision on whether Britain enters the Com mon Market will be made by the Government after the Prime Ministers’ conference iater this year.” The “Financial Times” today said the Six would put forward an amended plan at today's meeting. The main feature of the plan was reported to be a proposal for an international agricultural commodity conference in 1933 to reach world agreements. The "Daily Telegraph” said Mr Heath was expected to make new suggestions to

he Six at today’s talks. He had received new instructions from the Cabinet on how to deal with safeguards for Commonwealth foodstuffs. “The first reaction by the Six to wa x is being talked of as Britain's new flexible approach was that it appeared to offer some hope of ending the deadlock by the week-end or. a-t any rate, before the Commonwealth conference in September," it said. "The Times” Said in an editorial that the Common Market, with or without Britain, should pursue a liberal trading policy vis-a-vis tihe rest of the world In the present negotiations, the Six were “being forced to face the issue of their trading policy towards third countries before they have set their own house in order.” The “Daily Express” in an editorial described the talks as “the betrayal of the Commonwealth.” It said that step by step, the Government had retreated from its promises to protect the Commonwealth.

“Alternative to Joining?" The "Guardian" said: “The Commonwealth Prime Ministers are likely to meet in London; in September, whatever has happened in Brussels meanwhile. Would it not be as well if, instead of

simply considering whether Britam should jo.n Europe, the Commonwealth Prime Ministers came prepared to discuss an alternative? “The choice is not easy: and it would help if the future evolution of the Commonwealth could be seen more clearly.” The "Financial Times” suggested Commonwealth countries might earn just as much money from Britain if she entered the Common Market. The newspaper said in an editorial: ". . . . It is probably wrong to suggest that they tthe Commonwealth countries) will earn less from Britain as a member of an enlarged European community than from an independent Britain forced to balance its payments with cheap food.” The “Daily Mirror” said: "People should not get upset because Britain is not gomg to get the six member countries of the Common Market to make all the concessions. If the Six had been so easy, there would have been no need for negotiations at all.” The "Daily Sketch" said: "To Europeans it looks as if instead of trying to join the market we are trying to bring the market into the Commonwealth This if not so. For if Britain has a future it is in Europe."