EMBARGO: For use only after receipt of Macmillan's speech
P. M. No 39/ l961
UNITED KINGDOM AND EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. R. G. ienzies
The British Government has now made a momentous decision
to enter into negotiations with the Members of the European
Economic Community with a view to joining the Community if
satisfactory arrangements can be made to meet the special needs
of the United Kingdom, of the Commonwealth, and of the European
Free Trade Association. A second, and more momentous decision
will become necessary when the negotiations conclude and further
consultation takes place, as it no doubt will, with the other
Commonwealth countries.
I had been madc aware, through messages from the British
Prime Minister, of thl decision of the British Government prior
to the announcement in the House of Commons. Mr. Macmillan's
messages to me covered both the terms of his Governniontts
decision and also the considerations which led his Government to
it. The issues for Australia are pressing and real. We will,
I hope, with the assistance of Great Britain be participants
in a series of negotiations which I believe to be the most
important, in time of peace, in my lifetime. They will demand
of us both wisdor and patience and our constant vigilance,
On the commercial side we have taken the view and have
expressed it strongly, that in the negotiations which will now
take place arrangements to protect our export trade and
commercial interests must be secured. To this end further
consultations of a detailed character on trade and commodity
questions will take place between the United Kingdom and
Commionwealth countries, including Australia, before substantive
negotiations with the European Economic Community begin. When
I those substantive negotiations do begin we will persist in the
presentation of our view that nobody can argue the case for our
export industries half so ioell as we can ourselves.
One of the things Great Britain had to decide is whether
in fact her membership of the Co: mron iMarket would strengthen her
own economy. It is tremendously important to us that her economy
should be strengthened, because if it weakens our own British
ma-rket will suffer.
With respect to preferences we have special arrangements
which are of ii. mense value to us and we regard ourselves as the
Australian Government as having a primary duty to protect those
interests. Therefore we have devoted much time to discussing
them and to pointing out that you cannot turn a preferontial
system upside down without exposing our export indust:. ios such as
wheat, butter, dried fruits etc. to very great danger.
JW have also felt that if the United Kingdom were to
join the Cozmunity it would not be without effect on the close
and individual political relations which characterize the
Commonwealth. The European Economic Community, besides being a
commercial arrangement, is also a great political conception,
working towards something resembling a common political organismn
It could be a tremendous thing for the world to have a cohesive
Europe, but if this common European policy develops with United
Kingdom participation one could hardly say that the Co; monwealth
would remain quite the same. I hope that I may be wrong, but so
it seens to me.
2,
Iwill make a statem~ ent to the Parliament as soon as
possible after it assoribles on Aug-ust 13-th. An opportunity will
be given at that time to debate, these important issues in terms
of Commonwoalth relations and in torms of our trade and econormic
interests. CANBERRA, 31st July, 1961.