HC Deb 31 July 1961 vol 645 cc127-8W
Sir D. Walker-Smith

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that in the English text of Articles 236 and 237 of the Treaty of Rome, dealing respectively with proposals for the revision of the Treaty and with applications for membership of the European Economic Community, the words "Modifications", "Amendments" and "Adaptations" are all translated as "Amendments"; and whether he has taken this phraseology into account on his assessment of the situation.

The Prime Minister

Yes. All three words imply the possibility that the Treaty as it now stands might in various circumstances, and by agreement of the States concerned, undergo some change. Whether and to what extent this might happen in a given set of circumstances would depend on the course of the negotiations envisaged in the Articles in question.