§ Q4. Mr. Healeyasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his official talks with the Prime Minister of Australia.
§ The Prime MinisterI am very glad that the Prime Minister of Australia has been able to come to London for discussions. Our talks, are of course, confidential.
§ Mr. HealeyCan the Prime Minister say whether there is any precedent in Commonwealth history for the direct public criticism which the Prime Minister of Australia felt compelled to make of Her Majesty's Government's failure to protect Australia's interests in the Common Market negotiations? In view of this very disturbing state of affairs, has the Prime Minister been able to assure Mr. Menzies that last week's agreement will not constitute a precedent and that, in particular, Her Majesty's Government will accept no transitional arrangements for Commonwealth agricultural products and Asian 201 manufactures which do not firmly guarantee comparable outlets for the permanent period which follows the end of the transitional arrangements?
§ The Prime MinisterWhat we are trying to do is to carry on this negotiation stage by stage. We may reach certain points on which it is possible to arrive at agreement, or we may not. When these provisional agreements are made, then will be the time for us all, the Commonwealth Prime Ministers, Her Majesty's Government and the House of Commons, to reach a conclusion.
§ Mr. SmithersIs it not a prime interest of Australia that this country should have a strong and stable economy, and will not this be forwarded by our entry into the Common Market on suitable terms?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir; I think that that is fully recognised by the Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth countries.
§ Sir C. OsborneWill my right hon. Friend stress to the visiting Commonwealth Prime Ministers or leaders that in all these difficult talks the British people have their own rights and their own interests and they have a perfect right to state what their interests are and to protect them? If the Commonwealth leaders do not wish us to go into the Common Market, should they not make an offer themselves to increase trade with the United Kingdom?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that these are all questions I would rather leave. We have these frank and very old friendships, especially with the Prime Minister of Australia. We have known one another in war and in many troubles. The Prime Minister and I talk frankly and freely to each other, and I am sure that his visit is of great benefit to us.
§ Mr. HealeyWill the Prime Minister bear in mind that very many of us on both sides of the House regard the maintenance of the solidarity of the Commonwealth as a multi-racial association as a first priority of British policy, and we do not consider that we should sell the Commonwealth down the 202 river, even on the instalment system, for the sake of temporary economic benefits to this country?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is just because many of us feel that the close association of Britain with Europe will strengthen Britain and in that way strengthen the whole Commonwealth that we have entered into these negotiations.