FOCUS ON DE GAULLE

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31381, 29 May 1967, Page 13

FOCUS ON DE GAULLE

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter — Copyright)

ROME, May 28. All eyes will be on President de Gaulle at the two-day summit meeting of the six Common Market members in Rome on Monday and Tuesday.

At most, political sources believe, the meeting may decide on opening negotiations with Britain about joining

the market and may nominate an Italian or Belgian successor to head a merger of the three European communities —the Common Market, Euratom, and the Coal and Steel Community. In fact, the conference’s achievements may well be less than this. Only three hours have been set aside for political discussions on Tuesday morning, apart from cere--1 monies and social functions. Attention will focus on 1 President de Gaulle to see ’ how far he is prepared to go on the major issues facing the future of the market. There is fear in some quarters that he may first demand a radical reshaping of the community, before British entry can be negotiated. Anti-Market Group Among the other five, Italy is perhaps the strongest supporter of the membership of Britain and other democratic countries of Western Europe. A small group from the “keep Britain out” movement has announced it will 'be in

Rome during the conference to publicise their campaign against British entry. Among them will be the chairman of the movement, Mr Christopher Frere-Smith, and Major Oliver Smedley, a former chairman of the Liberal Party. On the merger of the three communities, the Italians hope to secure an agreement for an Italian to become the new chief European executive, thus, in effect, succeeding Professor Walter Hallstein of West Germany, to whom France has objected. Even if nothing spectacular is accomplised, the Italian view is that it is valuable to get the heads of the Common Market members together again and that new impetus will result towards European unity.