HC Deb 06 July 1967 vol 749 cc1979-80
30. Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his visit to The Hague to address the meeting of the Western European Union.

Mr. George Brown

In my statement at a meeting of the Council of Western European Union at The Hague on 4th July, I set out in detail Britain's case for joining the European Communities and the points which we hope to see covered in negotiations. My statement has been published as a White Paper, Cmnd. 3345. These meetings are by tradition confidential but I think my statement was particularly well received.

Mr. Morris

What official status has W.E.U. to deal with this matter? Did my right hon. Friend deliver the speech in the White Paper, including the last paragraph? Would he agree that we should avoid any grovelling attitude in face of the obstructive antics of the French Government to stop our application being considered?

Mr. Brown

One of its session days has customarily been de[...]ted by W.E.U. to discussing relations between the United Kingdom and the European Communities, and it was in that connection that I delivered my speech. There is no doubt that I delivered the speech nor that I delivered paragraph 50 with it. I handed copies of it to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and the President of the Commission, both of whom had requested that I should do so. My hon. Friend may take it that it is now on record.

Lord Balniel

In his reference to agriculture, the right hon. Gentleman mentioned only three agricultural commodities—pig meat, eggs and milk. Does this mean that, for other agricultural commodities, he accepts the Community system? If so, is that acceptance shared by the Minister of Agriculture?

Mr. Brown

On the whole, I should like to see that question on the Order Paper. I also mentioned hill farmers in my speech.

Mr. Mendelson

While details of my right hon. Friend's discussions may be private, may I ask whether he recalls that the Government entered into certain commitments to this House during the debate on our application to join the E.E.C., in particular with reference to defence? Will he give a categorical assurance that he is not proposing, or entering into, negotiations on a new sharing of nuclear weapons and the setting up of an additional nuclear command?

Mr. Brown

If my hon. Friend will do me the honour of reading what I said, he will see that that question does not arise.

Mr. Jennings

In fact, has not the right hon. Gentleman committed the Government to the full gamut of economic, political and defence union?

Mr. Brown

That is not a fact at all; nor do I think it arises. I have given the E.E.C. and the other Communities a clear basis on which we could now negotiate the early entry of this country into membership of the E.E.C.

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