P. mL_ Nc, 68/ 1962
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT TUTE CONCLUSION OF TH COMMONI\ JEALTH
PR. IME MINISTERS CONFERENCE I IIN , O'iDON ON 19
SEPTEMBERv, 162
The meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers was concluded
today. This was the first occasio i on which Sierra Leone,
Tanganyika, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have been represented,
as independent countries, at a Commonwealth meeting, and tha
presence of their Prime Ministers, together representing 15 million
people who have achieved independence since the last Commonwealth
meeting in 1961, was welcomed by the other Commonwealth Governments.
During the course of the meeting the Prime Ministers were
informed that Uganda, with a population of nearly 7 million, will
attain independence in October, 1962, and they agreed that Uganda
should then be admitted to membership of the Commonwealth.
They also noted with satisfaction the great progress made
towards the establishment of the Federation of Malaysia by 31st
August, 1963. This would enable the State of Singapore, the
Territories of North Borneo and Sarawak and, it is hoped, the
State of Brunei, with a combined population of about 3 million,
to achieve independence as part of the enlarged Federation.
They were informed that Tanganyika would adopt a republican
form of constitution in December, 1962, and they agreed that Tanganyika
should thereafter remain a member of the Commonwealth as a
republic. In the course of their discussions, the Prime Ministers
have taken the opportunity to hold their customary review of
internationalaffairs and have exchanged views on the political
situation in various parts of the world. They took note, in
particular, of the proposals relating to the Congo which were
recently put forward by the Acting Secretary-General of the United
Nations, and they expressed the hope that these would prove to be
the basis for a speedy and constructive settlement,
The Prime Ministers agreed that the need for disarmament
had been intensified by the steady development of ever more powerful
weapons. They reaffirmed the principles laid down in their
statement on disarmament of 17th March, 1961, and expressed their
conviction that the Eighteen Nation Disarmament Committee at
Geneva should continue its efforts towards a treaty for general
and complete disarmament in accordance with these principles.
They noted that discussions on the cessation of nuclear weapons
tests had also been taking place in Geneva and expressed the hope
that these efforts would be successful in bringing into being an
effective treaty to eradicate this source of fear and danger to
mankind. The primary object of this meeting was, however, to review
the progress made in the negotiations in Brussels about the conditions
on which Britain might join the European Economic Community,
and to examine the nature and prospects of safeguards for the trade
of other Commonwealth countries. The greater part of the meeting
has been devoted to the discussion of this complex question.
Although this discussion has disclosed many differences of viewpoint
and many uncertainties, all the exchanges have been conducted in
the frank and friendly atmosphere which characterises Commonwealth ./ 2
meetings. This has reaffirmed the common determination to strengthe1
the links between the countries of the Comnonwealth.
The Prime Ministers declared that, in all the countries of
the Commonwealth, the constant objective of policy is to promote
peace and economic progress throughout the world and thus to help
to create conditions in which mankind can flourish in freedom,
unfettered by poverty, ignorance or disease. In furtherance of
this purpose, all Commonwealth Governments are resolved to do their
utmost to foster the harmonious development and steady expansion of
world trade, They note with concern that trade and industry in the
developing countries, as well as in some of the more developed
countries which are large producers of primary products for export,
have been adversely affected by widely fluctuating commodity prices
and a progressive worsening of the terms of trade. They see this
as a problem which calls for progressive policies in relation to
international trade and finance so that demand for the products of
those countries can be sustained and increased, and larger and
more dependable trade outlets assured to them,
To meet the needs of the developing countries they will
support policies designed to raise the living standards of the
peoples of these countries and to help them to achieve the
economic, social and cultural progress to which they aspire, To
this end they consider that improved opportunities and conditions
for trade are even more important than financial aid, They
recognise the need for the developing countries to have eas r access
to outside markets for the products of their industries as they
become established and the desirability of this being reflocted in
the policies of the more developed countries.
To meet the needs of the producers of agricultural
commodities, Commonwealth Gcvernments will support policies and
initiatives designed to maintain and expand world trade in those
commodities and to improve the organisation of the world market in
a manner fair alike to producers and to consumers. They will
support a fresh and vigorous approach to the negotiation of international
commodity agreements to this end. In any such approach
principles of price, production and trade access aiould need to be
applied, on a commodity by commodity basis, so as to encourage
maximum consumption without over-stimulating production and to
offer to efficient producing countries adequate access and stable
prices at a fair and reascnabl] leve.. They believe that, in the
disposal of any surplus of agricultural products, opportunity
should be taken, to the fullest extent compatible with the legitimate
interests of traditional suppliers, to meet the needs of those
peoples of the world who are in want.
The Prime Ministers expressed the readiness of their
Governments to join in comprehensive international efforts by
all available means to expand world trade in both primary products
and manufactures. They recognised the important contribution
which the European Economic Community and other regional groups
could make in such efforts. They hoped that the general objectives
set out above would be shared by the rccmbors of the European Economic
Community. They also took note, in this connection, that legislation
was at present before the United States Congress which could
materially assist in this aim,
The Prime Ministers were informed of and considered the
stage reached in Britain's negotiations with the European Economic
Community, and discussed the arrangements which might be made to
meet the special needs of other Cormmonwoelth countries if Britain
joined the Community. 0* 0 * J C.*/ 3
British Ministers. st out the broad political and
economic considerations which had led the British Government
to initiate the negotiations in Brussels' They emphasised that,
in the view of the British Government, Britain's accession to the
Community on satisfactory terms would have the result of
strengthening the po. sition of Britain, of the Commonwealth and
of Europe, They explained in detail the position so far reached
in the negotiations in Brussel. and emphasised the principal
points among the many provisional arrangements which had been
worked out. In the first place, an offer of association on
advantageous economic terms was open to Commonwealth countries
in Africa and the Caribbean and the majority of British independent
territories. Should certain of the countries not become
associated, the provisional agreement reached in Brussels offered
further discussion in the course of the negotiations with a view
to the possible conclusion of other arrangements.
Secondly, the Community were prepared to negotiate as
soon as possible trade agreements with India, Pakistan and Ceylon
which would have the declared objective of developing mutual trade
to maintain and, as much as possible, to increase the level of
their foreign currency receipts and in general facilitate the
implementation of their development plans.
Thirdly, as regards temperate products, the enlarged
Community would make, at the time of British accession, two
important declarations. One would express their intention to
initiate discussions on international commodity agreements for
temperate foodstuffs on a world basis. It would recognise the
greatly increased responsibilities of the enlarged Community by
reason of its predominant position amongst world importers.
The second declaration would relate to the price policy of the
Community. While taking appropriate measures to raise the individual
earnings of those engaged in agriculture in the Community,
the Community would do its utmost to contribute to a harmonious
development of world trade providing for a satisfactory level
of trade between the Community and third countries, including
Commuonwealth countries.
British Ministers considered that the policy which the
enlarged Community intended to pursue would offer reasonable
opportunities in its markets for exports of temperate agricultural
products. The representatives of other Commonwealth Governments
wdlcomed this opportunity for personal consulation on this issue
and for supplementing the exchanges of information and consultation
which had already taken place between Ministers and officials.
They took note of the considerations which had influenced the
British Government in deciding to accede to the iLropcan Economic
Community if satisfactory terms could be secured. They recognised
that, after full and continuing consultation with the other
countries of the Commonwealth and in the light of the further
negotiations to be held with the members of the Community, the
responsibility for the final decision would rest with the British
Government. The representatives of the other Commonwealth countries
freely acknowledged the strenuous efforts which the British Government
have made to ensure on the part of the Six a full understanding
of the safeguards required, if Britain's entry into the
Common Market is not to be on such terms and conditions as to
impair their vital interests. Tiey expressed their hope that
00 0, a / I
4,
the members of the European Economic Community will wish to
preserve and encourage a strong and growing Commonwealth, in
furtherance of their own ideals of an expanding and peaceful world
order. At the same time, the representatives of various
Cormmonwealth Governments expressed anxieties about the possible
effects of Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.
They trusted that, shculd there be closer association between
Britdin and Europe, it would not be allowed, as it developed, to
weaken the cohesion of the Commonwealth or its influence for
peace and progress in the world. They drew attention to the
difficulties to which these developments could give rise in
relation to their trade both with Britain and with other countries.
They explained the economic points of special concern to their
respective countries and the extent to which their interests had
not so far been met in the Brussels negotiations.
Some independent African countries considered that
association with the Community under Part IV of the Treaty of
Rome would not be acceptable to them., On the other hand, the
Government of Sierra Leone wished to consider further their
attitude towards association, after consultation with other
African territories which are not members of the Commonwealth.
In the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago will be willing to accept
association, and Jamaica will wish to consider their attitude
further. The Prime Ministers were informed that the Federation
of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is willing to accept association, and
they were also informed that, after appropriate consultations, it
seemed likely that the majority of the British dependent territories
eligible for association would wish to accept it.
The representative of India, Pakistan and Ceylon urged
that, if Britain entered the Community, the trade agreements which
the enlarged Community had offered to negotiate with their Governments
should be concluded as soon as possible and that, meanwhile,
no change should be made in their existing trade arrangements with
Britain, They expressed their apprehension that if the treatment
of their products in the United Kingdom was altered before wider
trading arrangements had been worked out for the enlarged Community,
their foreign exchange earnings and investment in export industries
would be adversely affected at a critical stage in the implementation
of their development plans.
Importance was attached to the need for securing
adequate safeguards to protect the essential interests of Commonwealth
producers of temperate foodstuffs and other agricultural
products, including tropical products, as well as certain raw
materials for which zero tariffs had been requested. The
importance for some Commonwealth countries of trade in a broad
range of manufactured and processed goods was also emphasised.
The Prime Ministers took note that the negotiations in
Brussels were incomplete and that a number of important questions
had still to be negotiated. Only when the full terms were known
would it be possible to form a final judgment.
It was agreed that, when the negotiations were resumed,
British Ministers would take full account of the views, both
general and particular, which had been expressed on behalf of
other Commonwealth Governments at this mooting and would continue
their efforts to safeguard essential Commonwealth interests,
The British Government undertook to continue to arrange
for the closest consultation with other Commonwroalth Governments
during the remainder of their negotiations with the European
Economic Community. _ UI