§ Ql. Mr. Wyattasked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange a meeting with Chancellor Adenauer and President de Gaulle in order to overcome objections currently raised by West Germany and France to Great Britain's entry into the Common Market.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)No, Sir. Negotiations in Brussels are proceeding in accordance with the agreed programme.
§ Mr. WyattIs not the Prime Minister concerned by the fact that both President de Gaulle and Dr. Adenauer have recently made very slighting references to the British prospects of joining the Common Market? Would it not be as well to try to clear the ground, because there is obviously a great difference between what their officials are saying and what the heads of the respective countries are thinking?
§ The Prime MinisterNo. The negotiations are proceeding according to the 218 programme. I am having the opportunity of seeing President de Gaulle in a week or two's time and, naturally, this subject may be discussed. By far the best thing is to proceed with the negotiations, which are going along as we expected.
§ Mr. PentlandIs the Prime Minister aware that it is being extensively publicised in the national Press that as a result of the position adopted by President de Gaulle Her Majesty's Government have now reached a critical stage in the negotiations concerning the Commonwealth? Therefore, will the Prime Minister tell us whether it is his intention when he meets President de Gaulle to make it clear that he is not prepared in any circumstances to move away from his original position of seeking full safeguards for the Commonwealth countries?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is what the negotiations are about.