British bid: Labour support

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32604, 12 May 1971, Page 17

British bid: Labour support

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copsrlphe; LONDON, May 11. A group of Labour Parliamentarians last night issued a declaration which showed that 100 Labour M.P.S were firmly in favour of Britain’s joining the European Common Market.

They said that the declaration was designed to reassure British and Continental opinion that, despite all appearances, there was substantial support within the Parliamentary Labour Party for British membership.

There are 271 Labour Parliamentarians. The promoters of the declaration said that reassurance had become vital because of a widespread and growing impression that Labour was weakening in its support for the European ideal. The declaration, signed by 100 Labour M.P.s, expressed the conviction that social democracy, peace and economic advancement would be strengthened by enlarging the Common Market to include Britain and the three other applicant-countries, Norway, Denmark and the Republic of Ireland. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Harold Wilson) was not asked to sign the declaration, although he knew of the move to obtain signatures for it Among the signatories were a number of former Ministers, including the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Roy Jenkins). Mr Wilson last night refused to commit himself on the issue. In a television interview, the former Prime

Minister denied that he was “sitting on the fence,” his position, he said, was the same as it had been when Britain applied for membership in 1967 under his leadership. Mr Jenkins, a former Chancellor of the Exchequer, believes that Britain's exclusion from the European Common Market by the six mem-ber-countries could conceivably cause the Community to disintegrate. “Exclusion by veto, or by burdensome entry terms, could impart such discord into the heart of the Community as to frustrate its future development—even, in extreme circumstances, to cause a break-up,” Mr Jenkins says in an article in “The Times."

In Brussels, British opponents of Common Market entry today delivered letters to the embassies of Community countries that British membership could lead to the break up of the E.E.C.

The leaders of the Keep Britain Out Campaign wrote in a letter to the Foreign

Ministers of West Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and Italy: "Should the strength of public opposition in Britain be disregarded by the British Government, there could well be very serious trouble.” Effect on Aust. In Sydney yesterday, Britain’s new High Commissioner to Australia (Sir Morrice James) said that Britain's level of investment in Australia would drop temporarily after her entry into the European Economic'Community. if, indeed, she was accepted.

Speaking at a press conference at Sydney Airport, Sir Morrice James said that entry would mean a broader scope for Britain’s investment, and therefore less for her Commonwealth partners. “Private and portfolio Investment in Australia will suffer, but the level will rise again after the British growth-rate increases as a result of its entry,” he said.

The Australian industries most affected would be dairying, fruit and wheat. Britain would buy less of these products, but Australia would have the opportunity to sell them to other Common Market countries.

Asked about the Monarchy, Sir Morrice James said that it would continue, despite disfavour with the young. "They will not take anything for granted, question-

ing all institutions—the law. Parliament and the Monarchy,” he said. “This is a proper and healthy thing to do, but we still continue to have the Monarchy. “Whether Australia will continue to have a Monarch is a question for her.”