Sovereign State
As I see it
A number of prominent citizens here give their answers to a question which The Spectator has put to them — "What is your principle reason for voting 'No' in the forthcoming referendum?"
John Osborne The EEC is the last desperate dream of dull, dim, tradesmen without vision, imagination or self-respect, feeling for life or history.
Sir Roy Harrod My principal reason is that it means taking from the poor and giving to the rich. Priority is given to those rich countries such as France and Germany as against the poorer countries of the world; like underdeveloped countries in Africa and South America, etc.
Sir George Dowty Well, I say this, that we were taken into the Common Market by politicians who said that we were going to get a bigger market, but I always queried that that was so. When I visited the continent there were people like the Germans who said they were going to welcome us in because they were going to get a bigger market — well now we couldn't all of us get a bigger market. Do you think our joining made any difference? Were the European countries going to buy products they didn't want? The fact is that it's proved to be right. I think the politicians were just talking through their hats.
Brigid Brophy I think it's probably basically an economic reason. That is to say, I think the only thing this country has to export is 'Know-how' of every possible kind. Not only technological, but also literary, as it were, and I don't think one can export that successfully to Europe, which has got a great deal of it, as one can to other countries which are prepared to pay to get it.
Mr L. St Clare Grondona Great Britain's economic position requires complementary trade. It is to our advantage to exchange our only export, the product of our skill, in the form of manufactures, for basic essentials; commodities for which we can look to the world. And by buying from them we accord to them reciprocal buying power which porvides us with the essential overseas markets for our products. The Community, to my mind, is an association of well-endowed nations without regard for the well-being of the rest of the world.
Johnny Speight It's emotional I suppose. We've come along so far with this country on its own — I like England as England, well, Britain as Britain — that I'm frightened of the risk of losing our individuality in Europe. I think there's a big risk of a major beaurocracy growing there which is worse than the one we've got here. And also I think we should have stayed with the Commonwealth. It took years to build what was once an Empire and is now the Commonwealth and I think it would be more outward looking if we lined up completely with them. Because I think Europe is mainly clapped out as far as development goes. Okay?
Roger Moate, MP I believe in the nationhood of Britain and 1 do not wish to see it submerged in the United States of Europe. Sir Cyril Black Well, the big issue with me is the question of the loss of the sovereign independence of this country. I'm in favour of retaining the full freedom for the country to be governed by Queen, Parliament and people and it's intolerable to me to be subject to a Parliament which, under the Treaty of Rome, will be set up in Brussels.
Terry Pitt I think there is a far better chance of building socialism in Westminster and then through links throughout the world than through Brussels. I do not believe that a narrow European trading bloc can be the central interest of any socialist.
Kingsley Amis My objections are all political. I don't understand the economic part of it all except that anything that British management is largely for must have something wrong with it. On the political side — it seems to me unnecessary to have a political union, but this is undoubtedly what's intended. It's unnecessary because you could have a customs union and defence treaties, as you have always been able to have, without any Union.
Sir John Winnifrith Because I consider the EEC to be a materialistic self-centred society.
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