France May Propose Associate Status

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31363, 8 May 1967, Page 15

France May Propose Associate Status

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, May 6. France might formally propose that Britain be made a “junior” member of the European Economic Community as a prelude to full entry, Nicholas Carroll reported from Paris for the “Sunday Times.” The idea of fobbing Britain off with associate membership for four or five years was still current at the highest levels in Paris, the correspondent said.

Yet France had been told with finality on more than one occasion—the last being during Mr Harold Wilson’s Paris trip in January— that this was totally unacceptable. The other five members of the Common Market fully agree with Britain’s total rejection of what they consider a political impertinence, he said. They wanted Britain to become a full member from the start. Former Colonies Association was conceived to give preference for former colonies and dependencies while keeping them outside the political machinery of the E.E.C., Carroll said. The French argued that association would meet Britain’s Immediate economic anxieties; serve as the transitional period all agree Britain would need; and give the E.E.C. a chance to strengthen its structure in readiness for full British membership, plus that of i

some of her E.F.T.A. partners. U.S. Ties Carroll said President de Gaulle’s attitude towards British membership was still “completely negative” It was rooted in his concept of a third force —Europe—standing apart from the United States, Russia, and now China. He could not tolerate the idea of Britain joining the E.E.C. as a full member, tied as she was to the United States. He apparently conceded that Britain had moved in a European direction since 1963 but still had not gone far enough. N.Z. Problems

The problem of New Zealand was going to be more difficult than was generally realised in London, Carroll said.

“I was often asked *why should there be permanent arrangements to help New Zealand’s farmers, who are much more prosperous than many E.E.C. farmers?’,” he said.