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ratification of the Treaty of Accession. In these circum- stances and he emphasized he was thinking aloud and speaking only for himself - it would be necessary for the common agricultural policy to be applied in the candidate countries from the beginning. On this assumption, the only substantial difference between the old and new members of the Community in this field during the transitional period would be the different price levels. The Six would have theirs and the Four would have theirs. Deficiency payments should cease to be paid when we joined, and the two price levels would be brought together over a period perhaps five years: that was not so important. In reply to a question from Dr. Luns, he said that it would be impossible to admit the Four Ministers of Agriculture as full members of the Council of Ministers if the agricultural systems in the Six and the Four remained different. fir. Rippon said that the transitional period we envisaged for Britain was not only for ourselves but also for our present overseas suppliers. And horticulture prosented particular difficulties. G had, however, agreed to move over to a system of agricultural levios, whether we joined the Community or not, so there would be no differences of principle between us after ratification. Sir Con O'Neill said there was no real problem over alignment of the two systems. But it would not be possible to get the Four, all of whom were in different situations, to adopt common price levels from the moment of entry. Dr. de Kostor said that wa could perhaps lock into these ideas. It would naturally be interesting for the Dutch to know when their agricultural products could be sold on the British market. Sir Con O'Neill said that there would have to be arrangements for New Zealand, but Dutch butter would be sold in Britain at Community prices at the end of the transitional period. Mr. Lardinois said that he accepted the need for special arrangements for New Zealand and for the Commonwealth developing countries
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