'U.K. Cabinet Considers Alternative To Entry’

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30041, 28 January 1963, Page 9

'U.K. Cabinet Considers Alternative To Entry’

(NZPA.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, January 26.

An alternative to Britain’s entry into the Common Market was believed to have been considered by the British Cabinet yesterday, the “Daily Telegraph” reported.

Strengthening the European Free Trade Association and the formulation of closer economic links between ETTA and the Commonwealth might have been discussed, said the newspaper's political staff. Ministers were believed to be considering the possibility of next week’s talks in Brussels breaktag down the report said The newspaper said M was not thought the Ministers had

yet reached an advanced stage of planning possible alternatives to Common Market membership. Until President de Gaulle’s recent rebuff they were optimistic about the outcome of the negotiations. The Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) was spending the week-end at his country home, Chequers, and no meetings with Ministers had been arranged for him. Last night, Britain’s chief Common Market negotiator (Mr Health) said talks with the Six next week would be crucial, Reuter reported. Mr Heath said ait a Leeds Chamber of Commerce dinner the belief of West Germany. Italy, Belgium. Holland, and Luxembourg that negotiations should continue was “immensely encouraging." “If the will to there amongst the countries to reach agreement I am quite certain the negotiations should be successfully concluded within the framework of the Treaty of Rome, a common agricultural policy and common tariffs.’’ he said. Übor Attack The Labour Party's foreign affairs spokesman, Mr Harold Wilson, said Mr Macmillan’s Common Market policy was “in shreds." Mr Wilson said tn a speech at Huyton. near Liverpool: “Whatever blame may be laid on France, let us be dear that our humiliating posture of the last 18 months has stemmed from the economic

mismanagement which panicked Mr Macmillan into swing for entry." Mr Wilson called for:— A Commonwealth conference to work out immediate plans to reactivate trade relations A declaration that Britain was anxious to seek with her E.FTA. and Commonwealth partners, the United State* and the Americas, a round of

tariff exchanges such as envisaged by the United States with the enlarged Common Market World commodity agreements to bring- stability and assurance to Com-

monwealth and other pri-

mary-productag countries. A report in the “Financial Time*” today claimed British Ministers would accept no proposal on the Common Market which was likely to involve further prolonged discussions without real prospect of success. “The Government to determined that if the talks are to fail because of President de Gaulle’s political attitude the cause of failure should be dearly seen—and should not be lost sight of in further arguments of a technical nature," the “Financial Times’’ political correspondent wrote.

“Of course, even at this stage, British Ministers are not prepared entirely to write off the possibility that the French President can be brought round by the other five—but they plainly regard it as an outside chance.” he said.

The “Daily Express” urged Mr Macmillan to break off the Common Market negotiations. When this was done “Britain can Wart moving again," it said. The “Guardian” reported from The Hague today that the Dutch Foreign Minister (Dr. Luns) said in a radio interview last night that France’s five Common Market partners were considering continuing the negotiations without her.

He foresaw a grave crisis in the EEC. if France persisted in her attitude, which could undoubtedly slow down co-operation between various countries in the community’s development “or even worse". He said some of his colleague held “even more pessimistic views.”