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the internal conditions had not been met as far as the UK was concerned - inflation was too high. But the UK would join once the conditions had been fulfilled.
13.
The Secretary of State said that on political union the UK had come out with ideas of its own. We were having to be a bit more intellectually aggressive. We had been so at Dublin, with some success. But much of the European clamour for political union was bogus. One only had to hear the French talking about defence to realise this. They were not willing to rejoin the NATO military structure never mind put their forces under EC control. Often the countries whose iplementation of EC directives was most abysmal, Italy, were the first to jump on the bandwagon of political
union. In any case, henceforth the future development of The Twelve would have to take account of the fact that a much larger entity,
a Community of 20, was now in prospect. Now that neutrality had ceased to be relevant, the EFTA countries would want to join the group. So, once they transformed themselves into bourgeois democracies with free market economies, would the East Europeans.
Agricultural Trade
14. Senator Evans asked what the effect of the developments in Europe would be on world agricultural trade. The Secretary of State said that large areas of Eastern Europe were potentially very productive land. At one time the Eastern European countries had fed the whole of Europe. But, notwithstanding all the recent developments, the UK was continuing to press within the EC for a satisfactory conclusion to the Uruguay Round. We regarded this as both important and urgent. Senator Evans said he was glad to hear this and thanked us for our efforts.
South Africa
15. The Secretary of State said Mr De Klerk was in Europe at present. He would make a good impression on those who took an intelligent interest in South Africa. The Secretary of State asked whether Senator Evans had met Mr Mandela. Senator Evans said, he had. He was impressive. What had been said about his lack of bitterness was true. He thought that Mandela had a genuine, objective commitment to non-racial democracy. He also had considerable confidence in De Klerk. Senator Evans added that De Klerk seemed to be emotionally and intellectually convinced about one man, one vote, one value and the majoritarian principle. The Secretary of State said a key problem was the skills gap among black South Africans. They needed to be taught the various skills that they would soon require. The UK was doing what it could to help with this.
16.
Senator Evans said the messages Australia was receiving from its contacts in South Africa suggested that there was no great pressure within the country for the lifting of sanctions. The Secretary of State said De Klerk had indicated he did not want there to be a great battle about sactions. What he was mainly interested in was investment and markets. He would not be too bothered about
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