§ 40. Mr. Wyattasked the Prime Minister whether, in advance of receiving proposals for closer association wish the European Economic Community, he will himself formulate plans for the method and timing of Great Britain's entry into the Common Market, and lay them first before the Prime Ministers of the Outer Seven and then before those of the European Economic Community.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 21st June. Negotiations are going on in the Committee on Trade Problems in Paris, and I think that it would be better to wait and see what comes out of them.
§ Mr. WyattDoes not the Prime Minister realise that the growing strength of the Common Market represents an urgent threat to British industry? If he will not take that from me, will he read the Motion on the Order Paper signed by a number of his hon. Friends in revolt against his slowness? Would it not be better for him to address himself to this problem than to waste time trying to promote summit conferences that do not take place?
[That this House, recalling the concern expressed by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference at the prospects of any economic division in Europe and its possible political implications, and noting the President of the French Republic's 1143 recent definition of the road to be followed in the building of Western Europe as that of organised co-operation of States, pending the advent, perhaps, of an imposing confederation, urges Her Majesty's Government, without further delay, to consult our partners in the European Free Trade Association and in the Commonwealth, and to put forward firm proposals for subsequent negotiations with the Six.]
§ The Prime MinisterIn this matter I shall, of course, do anything I can which seems at the right moment best calculated to lead towards the achievement of our aims, and, I think, the aims of the whole House, of a partnership between the two groupings in a common system of European trade consistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
§ Sir H. Legge-BourkeWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there will be many people who will entirely agree with him if he shows reluctance for this country to do all the giving and get no benefit in return?
§ The Prime MinisterThere are two main points we have to keep in mind. We are entering these negotiations with our partners. We do not intend in any way to abandon the partnership into which we have entered, that is, the E.F.T.A. We shall do all we can to reach an agreement, for the purposes I have stated, with our friends in the Six.
§ Mr. GrimondCan the Prime Minister tell us whether, if suitable terms can be arranged with the Commonwealth and arrangements made with our partners in the Seven, the Government have made up their mind whether they want to go into the Common Market or not?
§ The Prime MinisterWhat we want is an arrangement and a partnership between the two groupings for a common system of European trade, and that does imply, first, loyalty to our friends in the E.F.T.A., and then every possible effort to reach agreement upon how the Six and the Seven can be brought into a common European trade system.