E.E.C Bid ‘Still A Live Issue'

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31279, 27 January 1967, Page 11

E.E.C Bid ‘Still A Live Issue '

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, January 26.

The Prime Minister, Mr Harold Wilson, will report to Cabinet colleagues today on his talks with President de Gaulle about the prospects of Britain joining the European Common Market.

He is expected to call a full Cabinet meeting before going to the House of Commons where he faces a spate of questions from members of all parties. Last week he promised the House to do whatever he could to reveal more about the progress of his probes in European capitals. Mr Wilson also faces mounting pressure from his own backbenchers to open a great public debate to make the country as aware as possible of all the arguments for and against British entry. Informed sources said that in spite of Mr Wilson’s statement before leaving Paris yesterday that he did not think a further visit there will be needed, the British side has left the door open for going back.

Asked at a press conference whether the question of British entry was still a live

one, Mr Wilson replied: “Yes, •very much so.”

President de Gaulle appears unlikely to clarify his stand on Britain’s case for entering the Community for at least. 10 weeks.

Observers believe he will wait until after the French Parliamentary elections in March and the projected summit meeting of the six market countries to be held in Rome in April, Mr Wilson’s talks in Paris over the last few days were the second round of the probe he is carrying out in all six Common Market capitals to assess the chances of entry. They followed closely on a visit to Rome.