Wilson Bids Strongly At Strasbourg

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31277, 25 January 1967, Page 13

Wilson Bids Strongly At Strasbourg

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

PARIS, January 24.

Mr Harold Wilson will confront President de Gaulle today in the crucial round of his European crusade to find backing for British entry into the Common Market.

The British Prime Minister arrived in Paris for two days of talks last night after publicly warning in Strasbourg that if Britain fails again to enter the Six the fault will not lie at her door.

The French leader blocked Britain’s first move to join the Community in January, 1963, and is widely reported still to have strong reservations about British willingness to accept all the membership conditions. Diplomatic sources said Mr Wilson’s task in the Elysee Palace was to convince the President that his Government had been genuinely converted to the European ideal and would not sacrifice European interests in favour of a policy of close support of Washington.

Mr Wilson seemed to go some way towards dispelling these Gaullist fears in a major policy speech which won him a sympathetic and encouraging reception at the Strasbourg Council of Europe Parliament.

He told Parliamentarians from 18 nations that while Britain was loyal to N.A.T.O. and the Atlantic Alliance this must never be interpreted as subservience. U.K. Contribution

In the first speech to the Consultative Assembly by a British Prime Minister, he said although the road to Britain’s entry into the European Community was hard and difficult there were no insurmountable obstacles. “. . . I have said that Britain will gain if the right conditions can be established for a decisive and urgent move forward. But equally let no-

one here underestimate what Britain can also contribute. “We shall be bringing, not only to the council chamber but to the power house of Europe, a new, more determined Britain, a Britain whose answer to the sick gibes of some commentators is being given not in words but in deeds.”

Mr Wilson said Britain would bring all that British technology had to offer as well as an economy growing in strength. -He asked how the American industrial economy would look today without British technological contributions: jet aircraft, antibiotics, radar —“indeed the entire nuclear superstructure which could never have been created except on the basic research of Rutherford and other British scientists.”

Mr Wilson said: “We have to see that the European industry of tomorrow does not become dependent on an outside technology, with all that can mean in terms of industrial power and independence.”

Mr Wilson is expected to emphasis technological bene-

fits Britain could give Europe when he opens his talks with the President.

He will be able to cite the current Anglo-French supersonic Concord airliner project, co-operation in a swingwing military aircraft and other aviation and technical ventures.

Not Simple But President de Gaulle is not expected to give a simple yes or no at this early stage of Mr Wilson’s probing operation in all six Common Market capitals which remains to be completed in Bonn, Brussels, The Hague and Luxembourg.

In Rome last week Mr Wilson received strong support for any new British attempt to join the Community. But his Cabinet will not decide whether to open formal entry negotiations until the European tour is over. Mr Wilson will lunch with President de Gaulle today and later meet the French Prime Minister, Mr Georges Pompidou. Both he and his Foreign Secretary, Mr George Brown, plan to fly back to London tomorrow after a second meeting with the French leader.