*of
RESTRICTED
UKDEL 0.E.C.D. Telno. 50 Saving to FCO
-5-
was to make the prospective period very likely to be some 13 years, with an inclusion of a gradual phosing-out, the feeling of the Group was lukewarm. The 10 year period was recffimed along with the need for suitable review provisions before it clapsed. Thore was no other suggestion of a longer period beyond a suggestion by Mlle. Guyot (France) that the Group should consider, at least in the individual capitals, possibility of, say, a 2 year extension to the 10 year period, but simply as a leaver for obtaining something from the developing countrics in eventual discussions
with them.
(a) Safeguard Mechanisms
the
Discussion was short and confused. The general feeling was that the exercise of escape clauses or other safeguard mechanisms by developed donor countries should' definitely not be under rigid control or supervision by the developing countries and prior consultation in the event* resort mechanism was not favoured either. Belgium and the to such
U.S. argued for safeguard provisions which were fairly loose and gencral in their scope and application. France argued that the UNCTAD might well be preferable to the GATT as a forum for consultation with developing countries when safeguards were invoked as it possessed less of a legal flavour than the latter institutions. Perhaps the UNCTAD Manufactures Committee, who had little to do, night usefully do this job.
Next Mooting
8.
The next meeting of the Group will begin on the afternoon of Wednesday 24 September. The main heads of the agenda will be any new developments in the position of donor countries and the preparation of a report by the Group to the 0.E.C.D. Trade
The 0.3.C.D. Committee in the light of any such developments. Secretrist is to consider what it can do by way of preliminary out linc drafting for a paper to go to the Trade Cormittee. Delegates to this next meeting are to come ready for it to be an open-ended one, i.e. carrying on the following week beginn- ing Monday 29 September and for as long as necessary that week. Experts on various subjects like primary products are supposed to be on cell in capitals during the meeting in case the Group decidos, as it may well, to split up into small w. rking parties to try and reach some kind of solution
/General Impression
RESTRICTED