Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Close vote on treaty seen in Britain Date: Wed, 4 Nov 92 16:16:30 EST Message-ID: \SE A;WORLD \SS (WS) \HD Close vote on treaty seen in Britain \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT LONDON LONDON (AP) - His government in crisis and his credibility on the line, Prime Minister John Major is battling to a photo finish in a parliamentary vote on the European union treaty. On the eve of today's vote, a British Broadcasting Corp. tally showed rebels in Mr. Major's Conservative Party and opposition legislators had a four-vote lead in the 651-member House of Commons. Some 12 legislators were undecided. Mr. Major has staked his reputation on getting endorsement in principle for the Maastricht Treaty, which would create closer political and economic ties among the 12 European Community nations. The endorsement will not make or break the treaty in Britain. Mr. Major hopes a treaty-ratification bill will be before Parliament by December. If defeated today, he would likely call - and win - a vote of confidence. But many commentators feel his authority would be undermined and he might resign. "Our self-interest is inextricably bound up with the European Community," Mr. Major said yesterday during rowdy exchanges in the House of Commons, where his party has a 21-seat majority. Despite personal lobbying by Mr. Major, Conservative rebels maintained yesterday that at least 37 Conservative legislators would vote "no." An estimated 30-32 are needed for a government defeat. The opposition Labor Party has argued that the vote was for or against the government. The Conservative rebels are mainly right-wing loyalists of Mr. Major's predecessor, Margaret Thatcher. Lady Thatcher, now a member of the unelected upper House of Lords, argues that the treaty's provisions for a single European currency and joint foreign policy diminish national sovereignty. Mr. Major has also been hurt by six weeks of policy U-turns and hesitations, compounded by continuing economic recession. He has been forced to devalue the pound sterling, accept the resignation of a Cabinet minister he tried to defend, and back off plans to close more than half the country's coal mines. Opinion polls indicate he is the most unpopular leader since polling began in the 1940s. All 12 EC nations must ratify the treaty before it can come into effect. Denmark rejected it but plans to hold a second referendum next year. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM