Mr Kirk confident over E.E.C. entry

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33113, 2 January 1973, Page 8

Mr Kirk confident over E.E.C. entry

The Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) is confident that the British Commonwealth will remain “in strong and vigorous being” after Britain enters the Common Market. “The relations between New Zealand and Britain should be as close and friendly as they have always been,” he said.

In a statement issued on the eve of Britain’s entry, Mr Kirk said trading relations between Britain and some Commonwealth countries including New Zealand would obviously be affected.

This was because the commonwealth preferences which had regulated bilaterial trade

between Britain and some, but not all of the Commonwealth countries, would be phased out while the E.E.C.’s trading rules apply to Britain. “Politically, it seems inevitable that the priority that Britain will want to give to her place in the E.E.C. and to her relations with her E.E.C. partners will mean some loosening in the ties Britain has with Commonwealth countries around the world. “Successive British Governments have always said that after she joined the E.E.C., Britain would continue to attach great significance to her Commonwealth links. I have no doubt whatever that she will do this.

“Britain and Britons have taken a leading part in every field of Commonwealth endeavour ranging from political consultation at the head of government level to the multifarious programmes of practical co-operation 'hat makes the Commonwealth the great human enterprise it is.

“I am confident that Britain should be able to make a large and valuable contribution to the Commonwealth association.

“The Labour Government is no less determined than was its predecessor to retain the special links that bind Britain and New Zealand. “Those links are in many respects family links that depend for their strength less on what governments do and say than on the manv things that ordinary New Zealanders and ordinary Britons have in common.

“At the governmental level, I am confident that the Labour Government will continue to have with the British Government the frank and easy communication that has so long been the mark of nir political and official association.

“As Britain prepares to join the E.E.C. we look forward to maintaining the closest consultation with British Ministers on the operai tion of the protocol which gives legal effect to rhe special arrangements that : Britain negotiated on New Zealand’s behalf at Luxemburg last year. “We also look forward to welcoming earlv next vear ’he British Secretary of State for Defence (Lord Carrington) who will be the Bost British Minister to visit Wellington since the change of igo’’“rnment here. “His visit will give us the opportunitv to discuss Questions relating to the Five Power defence arrangements under which Britain, Austra-

, lia and New Zealand have given expression to their interest in helping to strengthen the security and (defence co-operation of Ma’ laysia and Singapore. “This Government intends to do all it can to ensure that our historically close tics with Britain are maintained and strengthened,” Mr Kirk said.