N.Z. Butter Issue Raised In France

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31522, 9 November 1967, Page 16

N.Z. Butter Issue Raised In France

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, November 8. The problem of New Zealand butter was raised by Mr Couve de Murville, the French Foreign Minister, in a major policy speech to the French National Assembly yesterday.

Setting forth France’s view of Britain’s proposed entry into the Common Market, he said an outstanding example of an area requiring prim agreement among “The Six” was the E.E.C.’s common agri cultural policy. According to the Paris correspondent of the “Financial Tinies,” Mr Couve de Murville said that in the present state of affairs the Six could anticipate completion of the finan ci al regulation by January 1970, without insurmountable difficulties presenting themselves. “But would this be true if Great Britain were taking pari in the discussions?” he asked, “Moreover, could New Zea land butter be granted a guaranteed market in the E.E.C. which butter of the member States does not have? And what of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, with sugar production of the Six already in surplus and that surplus growing?” London Comment

general assumption that Brit ain would be able to negoti ate reasonable terms for out contribution to the Agricul tural Fund, for New Zealand dairy exports and for the future of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, he did little to clear up the ambiguity about sterling and the balance of payments. “It is increasingly evident that the French Government is either unable, through lack of technical understanding, or unwilling, through bad faith, to explain its terms.”

The leading article in the business section of today’s issue of “The Times” says: “Confusion is, if anything, worse confounded by Mr Couve de Murville’s attemp l yesterday to explain France’s conditions for Britain’s entry into the Common Market.

“Quite apart from throwing new doubt on the hitherto