Effect On Farming Of Joining Six

Press, Volume C, Issue 29518, 20 May 1961, Page 11

Effect On Farming Of Joining Six

(N Z.PA..-Reuter—Covynght) LONDON, May 19, The Foreign Under-Secretary, Mr Joseph Godber, said yesterday that if Britain joined the European Common Market it would mean a considerable change in her system of agricultural support for farmers.

He told the House of Commons during a foreign policy debate that some change of emphasis in British agricultural production policy would have to follow. There was no reason to assume that British farmers stood to suffer in a system worked out between Britain and the “Six.” British farmers had the right to a full and fair measure of support and in this respect the Government’s pledges were still good. If Britain went in to the European Economic Community she would be in a strong position to add to agricultural decisions in a way that would help thd British farming community. The "Financial Times” today claimed that the fulfilment of Britain’s participation in the European Common Market depended on three main factors. They were: The willingness of President de Gaulle to see Britain as part of Europe. Some understanding of Britain’s special interests. The British Government’s attempts to educate domestic political opinion. “The Government would indeed like to do a deal with the Common Market as ouickly as practicable,” it said. “The technical issues connected with the Commonwealth. agriculture and E.FT.A. should not be impossible to solve once the political climate is right,” saM the newspaper

The biggest difficulties were connected with imports of temperate foodstuffs and manufactured goods from the Commonweal'h “in other —ords, with Canada. Australia, and New Zealand.”

The “Daily Express” saw Britain’s entry ' into the Common Market as a threat to the country's prosperity. “Misguided politicians chasing the phantom of European union seek to justify it by claiming that to join the Common Market would bring economic benefits." it said. “But the truth is that, far from being a boon for the British wageearner, entry into Europe would be a disaster.” The “Daily Mail” supported the idea of British participation and said: "We should be saying that we intend to put into the Common Market, not what we hope to get out of it."