LV PALAIS DES CONGRESS
SV ITALIAN DELEGATION ARRIVING FOR COMMON MARKET COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING
GV TILT ROUND TABLE FROM THE DUTCH DELEGATION
SV MR SFAAK & ASSISTANT OF THE BELGIUM DELEGATION
SV GERMAN DELEGATION - MR SCHROEDER ON THE LEFT
SV & GV FRENCH DELEGATION-MR COUVE DE MURVILLE (NO GLASSES)
SV ITALIAN DELEGATION LED BY MR FERRARI-AGGRADI
GV PAN. DELEGATIONS AT COUNCIL TABLE

(1.02)
PC/V/MGT/SGM
Background: MINISTERS OF THE SIX COMMON MARKET COUNTRIES AGREED IN BRUSSELS TODAY (TUESDAY) TO OPEN FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS FOR LINKING NIGERIA AS A "SPECIAL ASSOCIATE." IT WAS ALSO DECIDED TO START EXPLORATORY TALKS ON TRADE LINKS WITH SPAIN.

SUCCESS IN ASSOCIATING NIGERIA WITH THE MARKET WOULD AUTOMATICALLY MEAN ASSOCIATION FOR KENYA, UGANDA, TANGANYIKA, NORTHERN RHODESIA, NYASALAND AND PROBABLY THE WHOLE OF THE REST OF BRITISH AFRICA.

ASSOCIATION WOULD GIVE THESE COUNTRIES DUTY-FREE ACCESS TO THE COMMON MARKET, NOTABLY FOR THEIR TROPICAL GOODS. IT WOULD ALSO END THE DIVISION OF BLACK AFRICA INTO TWO PREFERENCE ZONES.

NIGERIA BECOMES THE FIRST COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY TO OPEN FULL NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SIX SINCE THE BREAKDOWN OF THE TALKS OF BRITISH ENTRY. BUT FRENCH DELEGATES EMPHASIZED THAT PRESIDENT OF GAULLE RETAINS THE RIGHT TO VETO THE TALKS WITH NIGERIA IF HE FINDS THEY'RE LIKELY TO LEAD TO AGREEMENTS ENDANGERING FRANCE'S SPECIAL INTERESTS IN AFRICA.

THE MEETING OF THE COMMON MARKET COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TONIGHT AVERTED AN IMMEDIATE CRISIS OVER NEGOTIATIONS TO FIX COMMON GRAIN PRICES. THEY DECIDED THAT THE COMMON GRAIN PRICES TO BE INTRODUCED IN 1966/67 SHOULD BE AGREED ON BY THE COUNCIL BY DECEMBER 15, THIS YEAR.

THE CRISIS THREAT AROSE TONIGHT WHEN THE MARKET'S EXECUTIVE COMMISSION DEFIED WEST GERMANY BY MAINTAINING ITS PROPOSAL FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF HARMONIZED GRAIN PRICES IN 1966/67.