New France-Five Clash Predicted

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30065, 25 February 1963, Page 11

New France-Five Clash Predicted

(N.ZP. A.-Reuter—Copyright) BRUSSELS, February 24. A new clash between France and some of her Common Market partners is predicted by Brussels observers for this week, when the Foreign Ministers of the Six meet for the first time since the breakdown of negotiations for Britain’s entry. The clash is expected over France’s insistence on the early signature of an agreement of association between the Common Market countries and 18 independent African States.

France wants the agreement—which was formally initialled in Brussels last December signed and ratified by the six national Parliaments as soop as possible. Italy and the Netherlands, however, are expected to oppose an early signature. Italy’s position is that she cannot sign the agreement pending the outcome of the Italian general election, called for April 28.

Mr Antonio Venturini, the Italian permanent representative to the Common Market, explained his country’s position at a meeting of the six permanent representatives yesterday. He asked for the question of the association agreement to be taken off the agenda of the council.

He was overruled by a majority. Hie association agreement will come before a restricted secret session of the Ministers during the twoday meeting, which opens tomorrow.

The Italian Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr Emilio Colombo, presided over most of ‘.he Ministerial negotiations with the African countries at which the association was worked out. Sources close to the Italian delegation said today it was doubtful if he would attend next week’s council meeting.

The Dutch, Britain’s most outspoken champions within the Common Market, have decided not to send their Foreign Minister (Dr. Joseph Luns) to the meeting. The Dutch Cabinet decided yesterday that Holland should be represented by her permanent representative, Mr Dirk Spierenburg. Socialist Talks

Socialist Ministers and leaders from 13 European countries met on the outskirts of Brussels yesterday to try to work out a common policy for a closer. European unity. The Belgian Foreign Minister (Mr Spaak) gave a diagnosis of the deadlock caused by the breakdown of the talks between Britain and the Common Market. A conference spokesman declined to give any further details of Mr Spaak’s speech, but conference sources said he repeated strong criticism of President de Gaulle’s January press conference which led to the collapse of the Brussels talks. He also criticised the French-German co-operation treaty as undermining the spirit of the Treaty of Rome, the market’s basic document, the sources said. The new British Labour Party leader, Mr Harold Wilson, will arrive in Brussels today to lead the British delegation . in the debate which is expected to be the climax of the two-day meeting. The party’s foreign affairs

spokesman, Mir Patrick Gordon Walker, outlined Labour’s European policy in a speech today, according to a short conference communique. Mir Wilson said at a press conference in Cardiff, Wales, yesterday that the party had proposals for “a closer European community” which he would discuss with the Socialist leadens in Brussels. Mir Wilson said: “We are not slamming the door on Europe. But we do not accept a situation where a Brit•ish Minister is left outside after 18 months’ discussion. “We have proposals for a doser European community. They do not preclude our plans for much more intimate trade relations with the Commonwealth on lines which go far beyond tariffs,” Mr Wilson said. The Brussels • conference, called by the Socialist International, is being attended by representatives of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, West Germany, Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.