Page "editorial" Paragraph 938

A brief for the negative

I disagree with Mr. Burnham's position on the Common Market ( Nov. 18 ) as a desirable organization for us to join.

For him to ignore the political consequences involved in an Atlantic Union of this kind is difficult to understand.

The pressure for our entry to the Common Market is mounting and we will proceed towards this amalgamated trade union by way of a purely `` economic thoroughfare '', or garden path, with the political ramifications kept neatly in the background.

The appeal is going to be to the pocketbook and may be very convincing to those who do not see its relation to political and legal, as well as economic, self-rule.

In entering this union we will be surrendering most, if not all, of our economic autonomy to international bodies such as the Atlantic Institute ( recently set up ) or the O.E.C.D., I.M.F. and others.

To think that we can merely relinquish our economic autonomy without giving up our political or legal autonomy is wishful thinking.