TNAG-0281-FCO40-317-Visit-of-the-Chancellor-of-the-Duchy-of-Lancaster-to-Hong-Ko-1970 — Page 53

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changes we will react together. But while I understand the anxieties that have been expressed to me during my visit I do put it to you that it is possible, as you Mr. Prime Minister suggested in your speech earlier this month to your Chamber of Commerce, that the enlargement of the Communities to include Britain and the other applicants will bring New Zealand new opportunities, a wider relationship and a significant partnership with the countries of Western Europe. That is certainly what we must work for.

In your presentation of New Zealand's economic relationship with Britain you are right to stress-and I know you do--the historical background; and right also to stress the other links which make our relationship an enduringly close one.

I hope you will not mind if, in conclusion, I also make one or two historical observations to explain why, after 10 years of striving to join the European Communities, our resolve in Britain to succeed-if fair terms can be achieved— remains as strong-and perhaps indeed even stronger-than ever before.

Wider culture

Britain is a major European country. That statement could be simply a definition of geographical location. But it is not. Nor is it just an expression of the ties of affinity and culture which link us and you to the continent of Europe, because New Zealand, like Britain, is the heir of that wider culture and we shall put your case in the context not only of Britain but in the culture which the European Community should have.

In addition to all this, Britain has played a major role in continental politics in virtually every century since the Dark Ages. There never was a period in Britain of glorious isolation. We have never been able to be indifferent to what is happening elsewhere in Europe. The reason for this is simple. As New Zealanders who came to our aid so heroically in two European wars know only too well, Britain's security has always been directly linked with the European continent.

All this has been true for centuries, but in the past 25 years there have been two major developments which have brought Britain inexorably closer to her continental neighbours.

First, individual European countries even the big ones-are for the first time dwarfed, politically and economically, by other Powers. Since 1945 the power of the Soviet Union has grown immeasurably and now reaches to all parts of the world.

Powerful economies

The United States of America, the great and irreplaceable friend of your country and mine, is so powerful economically that she will inevitably take over European industry piecemeal unless we Europeans can create a framework within which our industries can work together and pool their resources.

Other countries are also emerging which could soon be more powerful in economic terms than any single European country. Japan is already in that class.

So there is among Europeans now a tremendous need for, and a tremendous urge towards, greater political and economic union and I think that is something your Government understands. The European Communities have already shown that they can to some extent protect the interests of their members by working together and by negotiating as one bloc in such bodies as GATT which have

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