Mrs Thatcher hopeful over poll

Mrs Thatcher, Leader of the Opposition, spoke of the need for Britain to remain within the European Community during a press conference at the National Assembly in Paris tonight at the end of a day of talks with French political leaders.

Britain should stay in for four reasons, she told journalists: because that promoted peace and security in Europe; because Britain had been in Europe two and a half years and it had worked; because it was in the interest of the Commonwealth that Britain should stay and the Commonwealth had said so; and because Britain was bound by an international treaty and should abide by it.

Paris, May 9.—Mrs Thatcher, who came to France at the invitation of M Chirac, the Prime Minister, said her talks had concentrated on foreign affairs and the EEC. She had great hopes for a positive result in the referendum.

She felt that no one blamed the Community for Britain's delicate economic situation and added that she did not know whether the country's inflationary crisis would lead to a parallel political crisis. She said:

“The question is what causes the inflation. Any level of inflation as great as that in Great Britain—and it is now running at about 22 per cent—is bound to cause serious problems. Beyond that I would not like to prophesy.”

Mrs Thatcher had lunch with M Chirac, who is also secetary-general of the Gaullist Party, to which the Conservatives are ideologically close, after meeting him and other party leaders.

She then went to the Elysée Palace for her first meeting with President Giscard d'Estaing. Their talks lasted about 45 minutes,