Britain And E.E.C. “Commonwealth Not Alternative”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30064, 23 February 1963, Page 12

Britain And E.E.C. “Commonwealth Not Alternative”

(Neu> Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 22. The Commonwealth could not, economically, be an alternative to Britain’s entry into the Common Market, said Lord Lucas of Chilworth, a former Parliamentary Secretary to the British Ministry of Transport, on his arrival in Wellington today in the Orcades.

“The absolute economic life of Britain depends on an expansion of her export markets,” Lord Lucas said. “We cannot expect the Commonwealth to allow British exports to come into their countries duty free at the expense of their home industries. Neither can we let their goods come into Britain at the expense not only of British home produce, but of other markets that can supply Britain cheaper.”

He said that was one of the great problems that Commonwealth Trade Ministers would have to grapple with when they met. He said General de Gaulle’s attitude over British entry into the Common Market was one of the silliest things in modern European history. “I believe that Britain will eventually go into the Common Market because a European -economic Community without her does not make sense,” he said. “New Zealand’s and Australia's attitude over Britain’s entry into the Common Market have been admirable and could have been followed by other members of the Commonwealth, but the Commonwealth as we have known it for the last 40 years is dead.

“But the ties of blood and common interest are still as strong as ever,” said Lord Lucas. “We have got to build up a new economic conception ot the Commonwealth, and it is not going to be easy.”