TNAG-0045-FCO40-81-Britain-s-entry-into-EEC-effect-on-trade-with-Hong-Kong-1967 — Page 186

verbatim service 232/65

common market

thursday

10th november 1965

following is text of prime minister's statement in the house of commons on 10th november,

m wilson: the position of her majesty's government in relation to the european economic community was stated in the gracious speech on the 21st of april in these terms:

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my government will continue to promote the economic unity of europe and to strengthen the links between the european free trade association and the european economic community. they would be ready.to enter the european economic community provided essential british and commonwealth interests were safeguarded. 7 0

this policy, which was itself a reaffirmation of that laid down in the Labour party election manifdsto, has also been reaffirmed on many occasions in this house, in the country and abroad, notably in the speech of my right hon. friend the foreign secretary, then first secretary, at stuckholm on the 6th may.

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on the 21st of april i informed the house that we had made certain ministerial arrangements to ensure that any opportunities that do present themselves in europe can be quickly seized upon so that they can be evaluated..." and i said that it would be our intention to probe in a very positive sense the terms on which we would be able to enter the european economic community and its related organisations''.

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sir, in recent weeks the government has conducted a deep and searching review of the whole problem of britain's relations with the e.e.c., including our membership of efta and of the common- wealth. every aspect of the treaty of r rome itself, of decisions taken subsequent to its signature, and all the implications, and consequences which might be expected to flow from british entry, have been examined in depth.

in the light of this review the government has decided that a now high-Level approach must now be made to see whether the conditions exist - on do not exist - for fruitful negotiations, and the basis on which such negotiations could take place.

sir, it is vital that we maintain the closest relations with our efta colleagues. her majesty's government therefore now propose to invite the heads of government of the efta countries to attend a conterence in London in the next few weeks to discuss the problems involved in moves by efta' countries to join the e.e.c.

following that conference my right hon. friend the foreign secretary and i intend to engage in a series of discussions with each of the heads of government of the six, for the purpose of establishing whether it appears likely that essential british and commonwealth interests could be safeguarded if britain were to accept the treaty of rome and join e.e.c. in the Light of these discussions the government will then take its decision whether or not to activate the arrangements for negotiating for entry, and what the appropriate time for such negotiations would be. commonwealth governments, as well as efta governments have been informed and we shall maintain the closest degree of consultation with them throughout."