POMPIDOU BRINGS HIS REFERENDUM TO CHEQUERS

CORRESPONDENT PRESIDENT Pompidou's decision to call a referendum on the enlargement of the Common Market is proving an acute embarrassment to the Tory governIt is certain to be discussed today and on Sunday at Chequers when the French President holds talks with Tory premier Edward Heath.

What is also incensing the Tories is that they had no notice of Pompids referendum decision.

Though Pompidou has his own demagogic reasons for calling with rene Tories determination to go into the market regardless of the hostility of the majority of people in Britain.

The other three applicant countries Norway, Denmark and Ireland-are all staging some form of national referendum before entry. Pompidou's action serves to emphasize that the Tory plan has no mass support beyond a small group of monopolists and their political supporters.

It will be the first time Pompidou has used this classic Bonapartist device since he took office in 1969.

His predecessor, General de Gaulle, tried it once too often after the May-June events, 1968. His referendum produced a huge 'No' vote and the General resigned.

It will have the support of the French farmers who stand to gain huge British subsidy payments if the enlargement takes place.

The Communist Party has said it will oppose the referendum, but its opposition is formal and the party has made no call for the bringing down of the Gaullist regime.

Present at the Chequers talks this weekend will be Home Secretary Reginald Maudling, Defence Secretary Lord Carrington, Chancellor of the Exchequer Anthony Barber, Common Market negotiator Geoffrey Rippon, Secretary for Trade and Industry John Davies and Environment Minister Peter Walker.

At a grand luncheon on Sunday, the Tories will be joined by Mr and Mrs Harold Wilson and the Liberal leader eremy Thorpe.