EUROPEAN TALKS MAY RESUME

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30302, 30 November 1963, Page 16

EUROPEAN TALKS MAY RESUME

(Special Correspondent t(.ZP.A)

LONDON, Novi 28. The Dutch are concerned over the change of view by the Belgian Foreign Minister, Mr Spaak, who has said he now feels Common Market countries should resume discussions on creating a European political union without waiting for Britain, says the “Daily Telegraph's” Brussels correspondent. The union could consist of a council of Ministers and a commission which would discuss and decide on foreign policy, defence and other political questions in the same way that the Common Market Council and commission now discuss and decide on economic policy. Mr Spaak indicated in a recent speech that he felt political union negotiations should be resumed, but he made no reference to Britain. It is understood that he feels it is “no longer helpful to wait for Britain.” The prospect was. he thought, that the next British Government after the General Election would not be able to decide on Britain’s attitude towards Europe until the end of next year at the earliest. President de Gaulle has

recently indicated that France may again arrange talks on the political union. Mr Spaak may therefore discuss a possible time-table when he visits Paris next month. Until now Mr Spaak has taken the view that Belgium should refuse to join such a union until Britain can be admitted to the Common Market. A Dutch representative to Brussels said: “The Dutch official view still is that Britain should be brought into the talks even though the British Government will shortly have to face a General Election. But if France and Belgium go ahead and agree on a political union without Britain, Holland would reluctantly have to join it and hope that Britain could come in later.”