CONFIDENTIAL
23
Document No. 13
RECORD OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE RIGHT HON. GEOFFREY RIPPON, Q C, M P, CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER, AND THE HON. C. E. BARNES, M P, AUSTRALIAN MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL TERRITORIES, HELD AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA, ON WEDNESDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER, 1970
Present:
The Right Hon. Geoffrey Rippon, QC,
M P
HE Sir Charles Johnston
Mr. Tickell
Papua/New Guinea
Mr. Barnes
Mr. Hay
Mr. Richardson
Mr. Gutman
Mr. Barnes said that British entry into the European Community would create a major problem for the Territory of Papua New Guinea. The Territory had once been a British Colony and had close affinities with its neighbours the Solomon Islands. It would soon achieve independence within the Commonwealth. He hoped that Mr. Rippon would be able to do something in the negotiations to secure a market for Papuan exports. Mr. Rippon said that it was much easier to cope with the sort of problem raised by Papua New Guinea when Britain was inside the Community than at its gates. The problems of primary producing countries of this kind fell into a category of their own. It was moreover difficult for him to talk in Brussels about the problems of a territory dependent on a country which was not party to the discussions. The answer really lay in fixing the right world prices for commodities of the kind exported by Papua/New Guinea. The problem for the Territory should anyway be cushioned by a transitional period. Mr. Barnes asked if Mr. Rippon would in fact raise this specific problem of the Territory in Brussels. Mr. Rippon said that the problem had to be seen in the context of the relationship between Britain and Australia, and of the effects of the enlargement of the Community on the rest of the world. It would thus become as much a problem for the Community as for Britain. As a general principle he believed it would be as bad for industrial as for primary producing countries to have any restrictions on trade. Mr. Hay said this was all very well in general terms but he did not know what the Territory could do in the immediate future. Mr. Rippon said that he could not make arrangements for such countries as Papua New Guinea a condition of British entry and believed he could do far better by seeking to persuade an enlarged Community to give assurances of access to its market to primary producers outside.
2. Mr. Barnes asked if Mr. Rippon would receive a delegation from Papua/ New Guinea which was planning to visit London and other European capitals later in the year. Mr. Rippon promised to do so. Mr. Gutman said that he had talked with Mr. de Koster, the Netherlands Deputy Foreign Minister, about Papuan problems during his recent visit to Canberra. Mr. de Koster had shown much interest. He had said that the Dutch would not raise the question themselves in the negotiations, but if the British did so the Dutch would be very sympathetic. Mr. Rippon said he intended to raise the matter in the negotiations and mention the sort of representations which had been made to him.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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