Stephen Dorrell: I am sorry, but they did. The Maastricht treaty was endorsed by referendum in France by a very tiny majority. Given that history and the French tradition of referendums, in particular under the Gaullist party, it would be a brave Government in France who sought to carry the proposals through against the advice of a Gaullist President, without a referendum.
Mr Phillip Whitehead: ...'s announcement by M. Marchais, the leader of the French Communists, that they were not now opposing the principle of direct elections? This means that only the most reactionary elements of the Gaullist Party are now opposed to the principle. Will he urge this unanimity upon our own party, in the hope that we shall not follow the Gaullist path?
Mr Jo Grimond: ...that there was no discussion on Britain entering the Common Market. May I ask the Prime Minister whether that is correct? Would he make clear that the type of Europe we have in mind is not a Gaullist Europe?
Mr Robert Cant: Discounting the de Gaullist sentiments contained in Question No. 11, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he does not find it strange that the Governor of the Bank of England thinks that foreign investment is absolutely vital, whereas Mr. Catherwood of N.E.D.C. thinks that capital investment abroad is the source of all our problems?
Mr Donald Anderson: ...my right hon. Friend's long-awaited and positive statement, but why will he not couple this with a declaration of political intent, to offset the fears of those who imagine that we shall be more de Gaullist than de Gaulle when in the Community, and to prevent the emergence of an irresponsible Executive?
Mr Norman St John-Stevas: Will the Foreign Secretary assure the House that he will not be intimidated by Gaullist bullying from continuing his efforts to co-ordinate European policy towards the Middle East, and, in particular, that he will not allow the conference of W.E.U. later this week to be called off?
Sir Peter Kirk: I agree with the hon. Gentleman that there are those who want to see a supranational nuclear deterrent in Europe. I am one of them. Why does the hon. Gentleman say that it is a de Gaullist point of view? It is not. The de Gaullists fundamentally reject any supranational command of that kind.
Mr Phillip Whitehead: ...Giscard d'Estaing on pressing ahead with the Bill for direct elections with the assent of all the parties of the Left in France and the opposition only of the unreconstructed elements in the Gaullist Party?
Mr Bruce Grocott: ...that the only consistent position to adopt is to be in favour of the Community and in favour of direct elections? Is not the experience of French membership, especially in the view of the Gaullist and other parties, almost the opposite?
Mr James Johnson: Is not this a typical example of the callous and cynical attitude of our Gallic or Gaullist partners in the EEC? Is not the right hon. Gentleman now helpless? Will he give a pledge that he will do his best to call into any port available anyone who is caught poaching, particularly anyone in French vessels?
Mr George Younger: I share my hon. Friend's mystification about the activities of that Member of the European Parliament, who seems to be part of the Gaullist group in the EEC. However, her reading cannot have been effective if she thinks that the Government have neglected farming, because the reverse is true.
Martin Horwood: ...love everything that comes out of the European Union. I simply regard it as another level of authority with which we must negotiate gently and carefully, rather than necessarily taking the rather Gaullist approach that the hon. Gentleman and his colleagues are taking today.
Mr Terence Boston: Before my right hon. Friend leaves that point, does he not feel that the recent French elections and the overwhelming Gaullist victory suggest that it is less likely that we shall have a chance of obtaining French agreement to entry? Also, does not the recent appointment of M. Couve de Murville as Prime Minister of France make it additionally less likely that France will change her view?
Gwyneth Dunwoody: ...that contained nine different nationalities, whereas the Liberals had only two? He spoke about the problems that only the British bring to the European Parliament. Has he ever listened to a French Gaullist and a French Communist discussing matters in the European Parliament?
Mike Gapes: Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman recall that, regularly over the past 10 years, the Christian Democrat leaders in Germany and the Socialist or Gaullist leaders in France have issued joint communiques prior to virtually every European summit, whether it was held in this or in another country? For example, President Mitterrand issued joint communiques with Chancellor Kohl. Will the...
Mr David Marquand: ...development fund is important for Europe and for the United Kingdom. I urge my right hon. Friend, when he is in Brussels next week, to make sure that it is used in a European and not simply in a Gaullist, way.
Kenneth Clarke: ...a sedentary position by the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Mitchell) because it seemed to me to raise a relevant point. Is it really the position that the hon. Gentleman is adopting a Gaullist attitude, that it is more important to try to cut the European Assembly down to size than to look at any possible advantage to this country from being in the EEC at all?
Mr Neil Marten: If the Prime Minister sees the Prime Minister of France, will he reflect that the views of the British people are very much in line with those of the Gaullist Party, that if the Common Market continues to develop it should develop on the lines of Europe des patries? As it is now 3.30 p.m., may I congratulate the Prime Minister on the dexterity with which he has tried to answer, not always...
Mr Nicholas Budgen: ...It may well be that candidates will not be divided upon present party lines as in the House of Commons but that the division will be between those who are pro-federalism and those who adopt a more Gaullist solution, in which case the prospect of influence by the media from Europe could be extremely important.
Mr James Spicer: ...raises an interesting point, but it is easy to point the finger at the West German Government, who were at that time a Social Democratic Government, and at France, which had a Socialist or a Gaullist Government. If one wanted to extend the matter, one could point the finger at the previous Labour Government, because they were instrumental in providing the Argentine fleet with a large part...
