OUT TO HONG KONG TELNO 249 OF 17 APRIL UNIT 2 CYPHER/CATA WOOLSTON
OUT TO TOKYO
CYPHER/CAT A
ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 249
TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG
17 APRIL 1969
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 249 OF 17 APRIL
AND TO TOKYO.
FOLLOWING BRUSSELS TELEGRAM REPEATED FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
COMMISSION DISCUSSIONS WITH MR. STANS
TEXTILES.
I HAVE RECEIVED FROM A COMMISSION SOURCE THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT
OF THE CONVERSTATIONS WITH MR. STANS ON 14 APRIL REGARDING POSSIBLE
MOVES IN THE TEXTILE FIELD.
2. THE AMERICANS TOOK THE LINE THAT THEY WERE CONCERED TO PURSUE A LIBERAL TRADE POLICY, WITH ONLY THIS ONE LITTLE STEP BACKWARDS IN RESPECT OF TEXTILES. THEY WOULD LIKE A G.A.T.T. MEETING IN EARLY JUNE TO DISCUSS EXTENSION OF THE LTA. IF OTHER COUNTRIES WERE NOT PREPARED TO HELP OVER THIS, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GET ANYTHING FORM THE AMERICANS IN OTHER FIELDS E.G. A NEW TRADE NEGOTIATING AUTHORITY, ACTION ON ASP, OR ACTION ON PRATO WOOLLENS AND MANDATORY QUANTITIVE RESTRICTIONS WOULD BE IMPOSED ON TEXTILES.
3.
THE AMERICANS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WERE PRINCIPALLY WORRIED ABOUT ASIAN RATHER THAN EUROPEAN SUPPLIES OF TEXTILES: AND MADE OUT THAT THEY WOULD NOT TOUCH THE COMMUNITY'S EXPORTS.
IN REPLY THE COMMISSION TOOK THE LINE THAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR
MUCH MORE FROM THE AMERICANS BEFORE TAKING A POSITION ON THE PROPOSAL FOR A G.A.T.T. MEETING, THEY MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT THEY DISLIKED THE WHOLE IDEA AND THAT THE INFORMATION THEY HAD SO FAR RECEIVED FROM THE AMERICANS WAS QUITE INSUFFICIENT TO JUSTIFY A MEETING.