Sixty-two years ago today, on January 14, 1963 (December 19, 1962 lunar calendar), France banned Britain from entering the European Common Market. De Gaulle on January 14, 1963. French President Charles de Gaulle held a press conference in Paris to oppose Britain's entry into the Common Market Organization. De Gaulle's action shocked the members of the Common Market. De Gaulle feared that Britain's low food prices and cash subsidies to farmers would weaken the cohesion of the market. De Gaulle said that if Britain were allowed to join the Common Market, Europe could be swallowed up by the huge Atlantic Organization, which was administered by the United States. But de Gaulle's approach was opposed by other countries in the common market.