BRITISH E.E.C. ENTRY Pompidou In Favour

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31989, 16 May 1969, Page 11

BRITISH E.E.C. ENTRY Pompidou In Favour

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

PARIS, May 15.

Chances of early British entry into Europe seemed brighter today after the former Prime Minister, Mr Georges Pompidou, said that Britain should join the Common Market “and the sooner the better.”

Mr Pompidou—who is trailing the interim Head of State, Mr Alain Poher, as favourite to succeed General de Gaulle—told a Gaullist meeting yesterday it was a tragedy to leave Britain out of Europe.

“It is desirable that Britain enter Europe sooner or later, and the sooner the better,” he said. Mr Pompidou’s apparent conversion to Britain’s cause despite General de Gaulle’s six-year-old veto on its entry into the Community, means that the British Government should find a more sympathetic President at the Elysee Palace after next month’s elections. Mr Poher, the 60-year-old Centrist president of the Senate, is a convinced European, and has also spoken in favour of British entry. Barring sudden reversals, observers see him and Mr Pompidou as the only real contenders in the election which will open on June 1. Observers regarded Mr

Pompidou’s remarks as a genuine further step away from past Gaullist policy, although they were obviously also meant to win the support of pro-Europeans. But experts gave a warning against expecting any dramatic reversal of French European policies if Mr Pompidou or Mr Poher is elected next month.

Mr Pompidou explained his apparent swing away from the man whose Prime Minister he remained for six vears by saying that General de Gaulle's defeat by referendum last month meant that a change was wanted. “It is not a question of repudiating ourselves but of taking stock of a fact and respecting the people's will,” he said.

Mr Pompidou’s increasing departure from orthodox Gaullism has brought his avowed policies almost completely into line with Mr Poher’s declared objectives. Both advocate the same brand of moderate conservatism, both hold similar views on issues such as the role of the President and the powers of Parliament, and now Europe. Given the identity of programmes. observers believe the election will be decided on the basis of the personality and style of the two main contenders. Mr Poher has so far shown he has an advantage here. His simple, avuncular image has caught the mood of the country, lifting him from political obscurity to the leading position in the Presidential race in one month.