TNAG-1297-FCO40-1652-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 174

put forward its full economic strength will never have the political influence which I believe it could and should exert within the United Nations, within the Western Alliance, and as the means for effecting a lasting détente between East and West: and equally in contributing in ever fuller measure to the solution of the world's North-South problem, to the needs of the developing world.”*

34. These are also the common objectives of the Six, and they can best be pursued by common endeavour. Our presence in a Europe which is banding together to end ancient rivalries and to find a new strength in unity of purpose and action will help to cement the newly formed ties. This will reinforce our security, which throughout history has been bound up with events on the Continent. The Channel is no longer a barrier when the greater Powers are bridging space itself.

35. Because of the weakness of Europe after two World Wars the defence of Europe, including the United Kingdom, has greatly depended since 1945, as it did not before, upon the strongest member of the North Atlantic Alliance. The United States of America have played and are playing a great and generous role: but it is a burdensome one, and they feel it is now time for Europe to play a larger part in maintaining her own security. It is for that vital reason--the strengthening of the Western Alliance that successive Administrations in the United States have consistently supported the development of unity among the Western European democracies, including the United Kingdom, in a more self- reliant community of nations, even though they have recognised that such a development will from time to time give rise to differences of view and interest in particular fields of policy.

36. There is no alternative grouping of countries with similar circumstances and interests which could offer us the same opportunities to safeguard our national security and prosperity. A North Atlantic Free Trade Area has been suggested from time to time; but the United States with its great business corporations would be so dominant a partner in any such arrangement that we as members would find our economy increasingly tied to theirs and our political choices therefore increasingly determined by theirs as well. Nor has such a grouping interested successive United States Administrations, who have made it clear that they would prefer to see us as members of a stronger and more united Europe than as a satellite of the United States. Similarly, the Six have firmly and repeatedly made clear that they reject the concept that European unity should be limited to the formation of a free trade area.

37. Nor does the Commonwealth by itself offer us, or indeed wish to offer us, alternative and comparable opportunities to membership of the European Community. The member countries of the Commonwealth are widely scattered in different regions of the world and differ widely in their political ideas and economic development. With the attainment of independence, their political and economic relations with the United Kingdom in particular have greatly changed and are still changing. They

* Membership of the European Communities: Statement by the Prime Minister, the right hon. Harold Wilson, м p, to the House of Commons on 2 May 1967. (Cmnd. 3269: May 1967.)

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