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Britain, the Commonwealth and the free world as a whole of a stable and united Europe. Australian difficulties must of course be stated but they should be seen in context. Mr. Anthony said that Australia could not decide whether membership of the Community was good or bad for Britain or anyone else but they could assess the disadvantages to Australian agricultural interests. Mr. Rippon said that he was as aware as anyone else. But it hurt the case he had to present in Brussels if Australians constantly said that Britain did not care and was ready to sell Australia down the river. This merely meant that the Community would refuse to take Britain's pleas for Australia very seriously. He wished the Australian Government clearly to understand that Her Majesty's Government did care and were doing their best for Australia. Her Majesty's Government had never told the Community at any point that we were only concerned about British interests alone. Mr. Anthony said that he and his colleagues heard on all sides that Britain was really fighting only for New Zealand's dairy products and Caribbean sugar. He accepted that Australia was strong but repeated that she had certain interests which could be severely damaged. Mr. Rippon said that some problems were more serious than others and some countries would be more hard hit than others. But this did not mean that Her Majesty's Government was unaware of Australia's difficulties and would not do their best for Australia in the negotiations. If the Community refused to give us fair treatment, Britain's entry into the Community would not be possible.
Document No. 15
SPEECH MADE BY THE RIGHT HON. GEOFFREY RIPPON, QC, MP, CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER, TO THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, AUSTRALIA, AT CANBERRA ON 16 SEPTEMBER, 1970
It is good to have the opportunity of exchanging views and explaining why Britain wants to join the European Communities if fair terms can be obtained, and why in the long term we believe that this is very much in our joint interest. Our ties and relationships are extremely close. They extend well beyond traditional trading links.
Community of interest
We have a general community of interest in international affairs. I have been responsible for Britain's negotiations with the EEC for less than two months, but I was determined to come to Australia and New Zealand as quickly as possible. I want to hear the Australian position at first hand from your Ministers, your primary producers, your industrialists-indeed from as many Australians as I can meet in a couple of days. I shall do my best to answer their questions and yours. But do remember that we are now just at the start of negotiations. We can see, I hope, most of the problems-but we shall not know the answers until the end of the negotiations. It has been said that some Australians feel that Britain does not care any more, because she wants to join the Common Market. I want to say at once that this just is not true. All the evidence is against it. The present British Government took office only a few months ago.
I am the second member of the Cabinet to visit Australia. We have both been privileged to partake of your excellent lunches and address this club. Both the Prime Minister and Sir Alec Douglas-Home were also here privately a little
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