journal of european integration history revue d'histoire de l ...

30Anjo Harryvan and Jan van der Harstdisadvantageous for Britain with its tradition of low agricultural prices.Consequently, even though the interests of France and the Netherlands, as twomajor agricultural producers and exporters which would both profit from agenerously financed CAP showed considerable overlap, no EEC agreement couldbe reached on the matter, due to the differences on British accession. A few Cabinetmembers suggested some way of British involvement – “in the wings” – in theongoing discussions on finding a definite solution for CAP financing, but ministerof Agriculture Pierre Lardinois disagreed. Rather than having the British involved,he thought it sufficient to “inform” London of progress in the CAP talks. In allcircumstances, Lardinois expected a long transitional period for British agricultureto adapt itself to European standards, so there was no need of a special treatment ofBritain at this stage.The Cabinet meeting of early July also discussed a monetary integration planput forward by European commissioner Raymond Barre and supported by theFrench government. The plan provided for some form of mutual credit supportbetween the six EC member states. The Hague’s view was that integration in thisarea was only open to discussion after British entry into the Community, in linewith the wording of a recent Benelux memorandum on this issue. Likewise, thegovernment made progress in political integration conditional on the resultsbooked at the enlargement negotiations. 6Luns’ declaration of intention regarding EC enlargement met with a strikinglack of interest abroad. In particular, France was unwilling to accept the date of 1January 1970 to open membership negotiations with Britain. It seemed that TheHague’s cautious diplomacy vis-à-vis France had failed to produce the desiredeffect. Instead, the French government reconfirmed its preference for convening asummit of the heads of state and Prime ministers of the six EC countries, to be heldin the month of November. State secretary for Foreign affairs Hans de Kosterwarned the Cabinet for a further delay of EC enlargement “with at least fourmonths” if the French got what they wanted. 7Towards a European summit:passing the buck and a triptych emergingLate in July, the government came to realise that there was no credible alternativeto dropping the declaration of intention and accepting the plan for holding aEuropean summit. In an attempt to justify this early concession, De Koster said thatFrench Foreign minister Schumann had proved to be much more co-operative thanhis two predecessors, and that France thus deserved a fair chance to demonstrate itsEuropean intentions. As chairman of the Council, the government therefore6. Notulen MR, 4 July 1969.7. Notulen MR, 18 July 1969.