BY TONY HUNT

LONDON - An ongoing conflict over the sale of British beef reflects sharpening tensions among the capitalist powers in Europe and is contributing to the crisis of the ruling Conservative Party in the United Kingdom. British Prime minister John Major announced May 21 that London would begin a policy of non-cooperation with the European Union (EU). Major's move followed a vote the previous day by seven EU members to block any easing of a worldwide ban on the export of British beef or beef products. The German government led the anti-British vote, joined by the representatives of Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.

Seeking to boost his electoral fortunes and ease divisions in the ruling Tory Party, Major formed a "war cabinet" to advance the new policy. London will veto all proposals that require unanimous votes in meetings of the EU, Major said. One minister said that at EU meetings "If we are there to talk about transport we will talk about beef. If fishing is on the table, we will talk about beef."

David Bostock, Britain's deputy EU ambassador implemented the new policy at a May 23 ministerial council meeting to approve measures on civil protection in man-made and natural disasters. "The British government is obliged to approach today's agenda in the wider context of the crisis on BSE," Bostock said. The statement meant London refused to endorse all three items which were due for unanimous approval.

Meanwhile, London opened a lawsuit against the ban in the European Court of justice on May 24. Right-wing Conservatives opposed to the EU were reported to be "delighted" at first by Major's move.

An easing of the ban had been predicted by London, which had received "prior assurances of support" that were not fulfilled, Major claimed. During a visit to London the previous week, French president Jacques Chirac had said Paris would support a partial lifting of the ban.

The policy of non-cooperation was greeted by a chauvinist anti-German campaign in sections of the British press. Labour leader, Tony Blair, gave qualified support to the government. Major was acting in the national interest, Blair said, according to London's Financial Times.

The ban had been imposed after London announced a possible link between BSE, a brain disease in cattle, and a similar rare but fatal disease in humans. In the wake of that announcement the beef market in Europe collapsed. In Germany, beef consumption fell initially by 70 percent, recovering to only 55 percent of its previous figure. The Daily Telegraph said that "some countries including Holland and Germany have been suspected of exploiting the crisis to boost their own beef exports." Meanwhile the German economy continues to be on the rocks, with nearly 4 million workers registered as unemployed and public sector workers staging warning strikes.

Before the EU vote, the UK government had agreed to a number of measures, including destroying some 80,000 head of cattle that could be infected with BSE - double the number previously planned. One German diplomat was cited in the Daily Telegraph as hinting that Bonn would only lift the ban if London slaughtered all herds in which BSE had occurred.

Within a few days Major's efforts appeared to be unraveling. The Sunday Telegraph reported May 26 that Major's "gamble of paralyzing the workings of the European Union may backfire." There were "deep ministerial divisions over the handling of the beef crisis" the paper said, between those who wanted "complete victory" in the "beef war" and those seeking an early solution. The Observer reported that right-wing ministers were ready to resign if Major retreated. The paper also reported opinion poll findings of 51 percent blaming Whitehall for the beef crisis, while a new grouping was being formed within the Conservative party to support British membership in the EU.

Arguing that Britain cannot leave the European Union, an editorial in the May 18 Economist said, "Leave aside the costs that withdrawal would impose on Britain's economy. Leave aside also the questions it would raise about Britain's role in the world. It is simply not practical politics."

Opponents of the EU, including James Goldsmith, a billionaire who has formed a new party calling for a referendum on Britain's membership, were living in "cloud-cuckoo land," commented Bryan Nicholson, the outgoing president of the Confederation of British Industry, in a May 21 speech.  
 
 
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