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depend on the rural areas. At present there was a general feeling that Britain was entirely preoccupied with the EEC and not sufficiently concerned about the Australian agricultural situation. The Australian Government hoped that their concern would not be overlooked.
9. Mr. Rippon assured him that it would not be overlooked. It was wrong to think that Britain was not concerned. We believed that we could do better inside the Community than out but if we could not get the right terms we should have to make the best of life outside.
Transitional period
10. Mr. McEwen said that it appeared that the only measure which Britain contemplated to meet Australia's interests was a transitional period. What period was expected? Mr. Rippon said that one year would suffice for Euratom and the ECSC. For industry it could be a short period, perhaps three years. For agriculture it would need to be longer and there would probably have to be a compromise which might mean that it would come out to somewhere between five and seven years from now before we were fully in. It would be mid-1971 before we should know whether we should succeed and 18 months from then before an agreement could become effective. He repeated that the Commission themselves recognised the need for changes in agricultural policy, but it was impossible to make such changes a condition of British entry. Mr. McEwen said that Australia did not expect this but did expect that Britain should pay regard to Australia's problems. Mr. Rippon commented that the Community themselves might have solutions to put forward once they had studied the problem but he himself was simply not prepared to give vague assurances which he could not implement.
Document No. 12
RECORD OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE RIGHT HON. GEOFFREY RIPPON, Q C, M P, CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER, AND Mr. E. G. WHITLAM, Q C, M P, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPPOSITION, HELD AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA, ON TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER, 1970
Present:
The Right Hon. Geoffrey Rippon, QC,
M P
Mr. Tickell
Mr. E. G. Whitlam, QC, MP (Leader
of the Australian Opposition) Mr. R. A. Patterson
Position of Opposition
Mr. Whitlam said he had been very discreet at lunch earlier that day when Mr. McEwen had forecast doom and disaster for the Australian agricultural industry if permanent special arrangements were not made for it. It was natural for the Country Party to make the loudest possible complaint, but its importance should not be exaggerated. He wished to give Mr. Rippon a firm undertaking that the Australian Labour Party would never do anything to impede British entry into the Community. If he himself were British he would want to join. He was certain that Britain would be stronger in than out and could contribute more to the
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