HC Deb 18 December 1956 vol 562 cc1085-6
27. Mr. Fell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what relationship he envisages between the proposed European common market and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Mr. H. Macmillan

While a European free trade area would doubtless strengthen the economies of all the members of the North Atlantic Alliance, it is premature to consider what, if any, institutional arrangements should exist between such an area and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Mr. Fell

Yes, but is not my right hon. Friend aware that on the tape report of the Foreign Secretary's statement to N.A.T.O. on the grand design, the common market of Europe—

Mr. Macmillan

indicated dissent.

Mr. Fell

On the tape record of the Foreign Secretary's speech to N.A.T.O. on the grand design the common market was mentioned as one of the things to come under N.A.T.O.

Mr. Macmillan

I think that can hardly be accurate, since the common market refers to the Messina Powers, the six Powers, and we are not responsible for and have no control over them. I think the probable reference was to the European free trade market, or area, which it is hoped to build round the six Messina Powers, not to the common market of the six Powers.

Mr. Fell

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend, but will he take another look at this, because in The Times report on the following morning point No. 2 was altered and was quite different from the point No. 2 mentioned on the tape the night before as being the point No. 2 which the Foreign Secretary had made?

Mr. Macmillan

What we are really considering is a future European free trade area if it is organised—the wider body within N.A.T.O. I think one should say that it is hoped to work with the European free trade area through the machinery of O.E.E.C., in which, of course, the Transatlantic countries are represented.