The Nigerian Prime Minister (Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa), who has indicated that the Commonwealth Prime Ministers at next month’s London conference may consider alternatives to Britain joining the Common Market. He told a press conference he was convinced alternatives could be found. He suggested an association between Britain and the Commonwealth countries—possibly not all of them—on a different basis to their existing relationships. He declined to specify exactly the kind of new association he had in mind. He said some Commonwealth countries feared that Britain joining the E.E.C. could lead to closer political ties with Europe which would not be acceptable to Commonwealth members. Therefore ail Commonwealth countries should help towards finding an alternative to Britain’s membership.— Lagos, August 28.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29913, 29 August 1962, Page 13

The Nigerian Prime Minister (Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa), who has indicated that the Commonwealth Prime Ministers at next month’s London conference may consider alternatives to Britain joining the Common Market. He told a press conference he was convinced alternatives could be found. He suggested an association between Britain and the Commonwealth countries—possibly not all of them—on a different basis to their existing relationships. He declined to specify exactly the kind of new association he had in mind. He said some Commonwealth countries feared that Britain joining the E.E.C. could lead to closer political ties with Europe which would not be acceptable to Commonwealth members. Therefore ail Commonwealth countries should help towards finding an alternative to Britain’s membership.— Lagos, August 28.