TIES WITH EUROPE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30561, 2 October 1964, Page 20

TIES WITH EUROPE

Parties Berated, By Paper (N.Z.P.A.-R e uter —Copy rip ht) LONDON, Oct. 1. Britain’s General Election is only 15 days ahead and “The Times” yesterday attacked both major political parties for saying nothing about the need for stronger ties with Europe. The newspaper commented in a leading article: “Anybody who expected the parties to have something to say about Europe that was worth hearing would be mistaken. They hare not. “The Labour manifesto is content with an offhand reference to ‘closer links with our European neighbours.’ The Conservatives talk of ‘an Atlantic partnership between America and a united Europe’ without specifying whether Britain should or should not be part of the latter. “It can be read either way, and presumably the ambiguity is deliberate. Negotiations for association with Europe, says the manifesto, are not possible at present, so there is nothing more to be done.” “The Times” said it was left to the Liberals as a party, and to individual Conservative and Labour candidates, to remind voters that the text Parliament, whatever its composition, may be faced with the necessity of taking a fresh look at Europe.