29. As you will know we have, in co-operation with 5 of the
6 members of the EEC, who are also with us and France members
of Western European Union which antedated NATO, seeking
greater European unity in fields not covered by the Treaty
of Rome. We regret very much that France has recently with-
drawn from attendance at EU meetings, alleging, quite
wrongly, that our purpose there has been to try to side-track
her EEC veto, and to get into the Common Market by the back
door.
30. In fact we remain applicants for EEC membership at the
front door of the Common Market at its Brussels Headquarters
where our application under Article 231 of the Rome Treaty
remains on the table, awaiting only the lifting of the French
veto on the start of negotiations.
31. Whilst ready to take up the French offer of discussions
on a possible wider free trade area, which might embrace
members of the European Free Trade Area as well as of the
European Economic Community, always provided that the other
members of EEC and EFTA are also always kept in the picture
we are not withdrawing our application for full EEC
membership.
32.
Europe,
The main pillar of our foreign policy is a united free
including Britain, in an effective Atlantic Alliance,
with the whole out-ward looking, promoting liberal trade
and aid policies of benefit to the whole world, and especially
the developing countries.
33.
Nothing could do more than this to promote both world
prosperity and world security.