THE COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS ENDED THEIR CONFERENCE IN ACCRA, GHANA, SEPTEMBER 14, WITH A JOINT STATEMENT EXPRESSING GRAVE CONCERN OVER POSSIBLE RESULTS OF BRITAIN'S APPLICATION TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN COMMON MARKET. THROUGHOUT THE THREE-DAY TALKS, THE FIRST SUCH CONFERENCE HELD IN AFRICA, THERE WAS STEADY CRITICISM - ESPECIALLY FROM AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND - OF THE BRITISH MOVE TO LINK WITH THE COMMON MARKET.

ALL COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS, EXCEPT BRITAIN, VOICED FEARS ABOUT CONSEQUENCES TO THEIR TRADE OF BRITAIN JOINING THE SIX. BRITISH CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER SELWYN LLOYD REITERATED BRITISH ASSURANCES CONCERNING COMMONWEALTH INTERESTS. HE SAID BRITAIN FULLY RECOGNISED THE DOUBT, SCEPTICISM AND ANXIETY EXISTING IN THE COMMONWEALTH ON THIS ISSUE.

MR. LLOYD SAID THERE WERE SIGNS THAT BRITAIN MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROTECT COMMONWEALTH INTERESTS. STARTING NEXT WEEK, THERE WOULD BE TALKS TO GET COMMONWEALTH VIEWS ON THE LINE BRITAIN SHOULD TAKE ON COMMONWEALTH INTERESTS AT THE COMING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COMMON MARKET NATIONS.