TNAG-0045-FCO40-81-Britain-s-entry-into-EEC-effect-on-trade-with-Hong-Kong-1967 — Page 143

BRIEF NO. G.1.- EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY

PART II

Talking points for use with the public

These talking points can be used in all the countries

visited. Where there are any special points concerning

a particular country, the se have been noted in square

J

brackets,

A

***

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in

My visit is part of a tour during which I want to learn

at first hand something about the achievements and problems

of Britain's Commonwealth partners in the Pacific area.

Contains. (shall be meeting Ministers and fit would be surprising if

discussing matters of common concern, we did not dealt with

Britain's new approach to the European Economic Community.

2. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary are at present

undertaking a series of visits to the capitals of the Community

countries to see whether conditions exist or do not exist

for fruitful negotiations for British entry into the Community

and the basis on which such negotiations could take place.

follows that we have not yet taken any decision. This can

only be made when the British Cabinet have taken stock of the

position in the light of the exploratory discussions with the

Heads of Government of the Six.

3.

It

Thus, so far as Britain's relations with the Community are

concerned, my visit is quite different from the visits which

Mr. Duncan Sandys and other British Ministers paid to

Commonwealth countries in 1961. Their object was to discuss

on the eve of negotiations, how Commonwealth problems should

be dealt with, We have not yet decided whether to seek

negotiations and, until we do, consultations of the kind

undertaken in 1961 would be premature.

My object, therefore,

/is