HL Deb 04 December 1967 vol 287 cc357-9

2.35 p.m.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will now withdraw their application to the Common Market in order to save Britain further humiliation; and whether they will now concentrate on the policy as announced in the 1964 and 1966 Election Manifestos.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have no intention of withdrawing their application for membership of the European Communities, which is fully in accordance with the policy set out in the Manifesto on which they were elected.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the present policy is in contradistinction to the speech made by the Prime Minister at Bristol in 1966? Is he further aware that by de Gaulle's veto we cannot now expect anything but humiliation, and we cannot expect the Five to save us because they are mixed up in this economic "omelette"? Is it not now time for us to sit up and seek our livelihood in the world without the Common Market?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I take leave to differ with my noble friend that the Prime Minister has ever said anything that has contradicted our present policy of seeking entry into the Common Market. As my noble friend mentioned the 1966 Manifesto in his original Question I would remind him that this stated: Labour believes that Britain, in consultation with her EFTA partners, should be ready to enter the European Economic Communities provided essential British and Commonwealth interests are safeguarded. This is the policy by which Her Majesty's Government stand. My noble friend referred to a veto by the President of the French Republic, but all we have had so far is a Press Conference given by President de Gaulle. We now await the answer of the Six of the European Communities to the application which we have made under Article 237 of the Treaty of Rome.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that when we were vetoed in 1963 it was preceded by the same kind of speech by General de Gaulle?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, of course we are aware of what happened in 1963. There are, however, a number of differences between the situation in 1963 and the situation now. The major difference is that the previous Administration had not applied for membership under Article 237 of the Treaty. Their approach to the Common Market was of a slightly different kind. I make the point again: we have made application under Article 237 of the Treaty of Rome This Article says that any European country may apply for membership and it goes on to say that the opinion of the Commission should be given on such an application. The opinion of the Commission has now been given. But it says that there shall be a unanimous 'decision by the Six members of the Community. We await that unanimous decision.

LORD BLYTON

By Lords, would my noble friend assure me that, whenever we are humiliated again, we will not stand at the door of the Common Market kicking our heels, but with some dignity will try to seek our livelihood in the rest of the world?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I cannot agree with the implication in my noble friend's question, that there is any humiliation involved in this. Her Majesty's Government are involved in a major act of foreign policy concerning the unity, the strength and the future of Europe. We do not regard anything that has happened so far as being a humiliation. We do not contemplate anything that might happen in the future as being a humiliation. We shall continue this policy until we are members of the European Communities.

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, by way of agreeing with what the noble Lord has now said, may I ask whether he could possibly persuade his noble friends behind him, such as the noble Lord, Lord Blyton, that the real humiliation for Britain would be to admit, quite erroneously, that we had lost the campaign for entry into Europe, whereas we have merely lost a skirmish at the present moment?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I take the point of what the noble Lord has said. Of course, my noble friend Lord Blyton is entirely entitled to his views, and I respect his views, which he holds very sincerely. I can only agree with what the noble Lord, Lord St. Oswald, has said, that the Press Conference of the President of the French Republic is not a humiliation. It is not a defeat. It might, perhaps, be regarded as a temporary reverse. We shall see on December 18 when the Council of Ministers meets.

LORD HANKEY

My Lords, would the Minister agree that if we were to withdraw our application we should let down our friends in Europe and give great encouragement to the General?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, of course I should agree with this. We have no intention of withdrawing our application. It is there, and there it remains.

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