Heath’s followers subdued

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32660, 16 July 1971, Page 9

Heath’s followers subdued

(By

MICHAEL ROBSON.

N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent)

LONDON, July 15.

The Conservative Party’s special conference on the Common Market yesterday confirmed that there seems to be some master-plan afoot to make the great leap into Europe as boring as possible.

If the apathy and dreariness which prevailed in the Central Hall, Westminster, is typical of the rest of the country’s feelings about the matter, it seems almost as if the Prime Minister (Mr

Heath) will have to wake up his followers to tell them that the great event has come about. The sole moment of excitement came mid-way through the question-and-answer period, when a woman in the upper gallery threw some leaflets down on the audience below, at the same time explaining: “Mr Heath, you’re a traitor!”

She was quickly ejected, and the proceedings subsided into dreariness again. Part of the problem it the moment seems to be that the country, as a whole, is suffering from “Common Market overkill.” First there was Mr Rippon’s return from Luxemburg; then his appearance in the House of Commons to explain the terms; then Mr Heath’s appearance in the House to explain the ground rules for the debate and voting; then the publication of the White Paper, and, earlier this week, Mr Heath’s international press conference. In truth, all these events have been something of a series of anti-climaxes, and the Tory conference yesterday confirmed the fact that, at this stage, there is very little new for committed Europeans to say about British entry. This, however, did not pre-

vent Mr Heath from speaking for more than 30 minutes to the party faithful, but the ground he covered was well worn from past treading. Parliament will make the . decision, he said, because , this is our traditional way ; of reaching great national decisions; Entry is beneficial, ' he said, because real buying 1 power will increase; food . prices will rise, but not by much; the White Paper is bal- j anced and sensible; the Com- ( monwealth is protected, and ' New Zealand and the Carib- , bean sugar-producers are . happy. All these arguments were ’ delivered in Mr Heath’s i forceful, clipped style, and I every so often delicate ap- i plause rippled through the < gathering. Mr Heath was perhaps at 1 his most eloquent when he ' discussed the quarrels and I disputes which in the past . had set the great European nations at each other’s throats.

“It must be the duty of every British statesman to make sure that this cannot happen again,” he said. “This is an aim which we share with the Governments and peoples of the existing Community. It is an aim which lies at the foundations of the very Community itself.”

After Mr Heath had finished, rank-and-file members of the party were given the opportunity to ask questions from the floor. With less than half the hail filled, there was no stampede to the microphones, but there were enough inquirers for an hour or so of give-and-take. One or two objectors to the three-line Whip method of getting things done in Parliament surfaced, and the odd, disgruntled antiMarketeer arose to dispute Mr Heath’s vision of a greater Europe. The gathering, on the whole, however, seemed remarkably unthirsty for knowledge considering the confusion which is reputed to exist over the Common Market, and the deepest impression came from a Northern Irishwoman who wanted to know how the Prime Minister was going to control alcoholism when al! those wine-produc-ing E.E.C. countries started flooding Britain with cheap

vino. At the end of the meeting, Mr Heath was given a standing ovation as he left the hall. But one was left with the impression that it was rather from force of habit and good breeding than any special enthusiasm for his vision of Europe.