BACKING FOR E.E.C. ENTRY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29952, 13 October 1962, Page 11

BACKING FOR E.E.C. ENTRY

Stage Set For Party Conflict

(A'.ZKA.-Reuter— Copyright)

LONDON, October 12.

The British press gave a generally warm reception today to the Conservative Party’s overwhelming endorsement of Britain’s bid to join the Common Market.

National newspapers, almost unanimously in favour of Britain s entry, praised the lucidity and strength of the speeches at the annual conference at Llandudno, Wales, yesterday.

“The Times” said the Conservatives’ support for Britain’s entry turned the issue into a straight party fight within the country.

The vote “completes the work” started by the leader of the Labour Party (Mr Gaitskell), who recently spoke out in opposition to entry on terms to be negotiated, "The Times” said. "The scene is set for the fight between the parties. The two heavyweights of British politics are now in their comers waiting for the bell.” The “Financial Times” said that the vote “leaves the way relatively clear for Bri’ish entry into the European Economic Community. “Yesterday's vote suggests the Government will have relatively little difficulty in getting its proposals through the House.

“It can reasonably hope to gain as much support from dissident Labour members as it loses from its own back benches.” the newspaper said. The “Daily Mail” said: “The move towards Europe is now backed by the majority weight of political opinion in the country." With anti-Europe forces in the Conservative Party crushed, the Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) was determined to speed up plans for Britain’s entry to the Common Market, the newspaper said. He hoped agreement would be reached in Brussels by next February. Legislation to adopt British laws to fit Common Market membership was expected to be placed before the House of Commons by the spring, the “Daily Mail” said. Election Call The “Daily Express.” which strongly opposes Britain’s entry, said: “If the Prime Minister is so con-

vinced of the strength and justice of his cause, let him seek a fresh mandate from the nation.

“The people have never been consulted. Yet it is their fate that is being arranged at Brussels—their future that is being bargained away. “The people have an inalienable right to decide their own destiny. There is only one way to do that—hold a general election before the Government signs the Treaty of Rome." the “Daily Express” said.

Only 12 of the 4500 delegates to the Conservative conference voted against a motion which gave the Government the green light to pursue negotiations with the Six to a successful end.

The chief British negotiator (Mr Heath) was loudly applauded as he told delegates: “Europe is incomplete without Britain and we in Britain are incomplete without Europe.” Britain must do all possible to increase trade with the Commonwealth. "That is in the interests not only of ourselves but of the enlarged European Economic Community itself, if we become a member of it,” he said.

Europe was growing stronger economically and political! cohesion was developing.

Britain welcomed these developments and the abolition of old rivalries.

The negotiations must be hurried to remove uncertainty that had arisen in business and finance throughout the world.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr R. A. Butler) lashed out at Mr Gaitskell for his “passionately backward-look-ing” attitude to British entry. . , “The Socialists have decided to look backwards and leave the future to us,” he said. “For them, a thousand years of history books —for us, the future.” The Commonwealth Relations Secretary (Mr Sandys) said he was more than convinced that if Britain joined on fair terms it would be good for Britain and the whole Commonwealth.

The conference rejected by an overwhelming majority an amendment which sought to put the brake on the Government’s move. The anti-market elements in the party made their challenge immediately after the resolution had been moved and seconded. They put forward an amendment proposing to wipe out the motion and instead recalling “the pledges given that Britain will not join the European Economic Community unless the terms are satisfactory to British agriculture, to our E.F.T.A. partners and to Commonwealth interests.”