CONFIDENTIAL
•4.
<
MESSAGE TO HIM FROM THE PRIME MINISTER. MY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING
TELEGRAM SUGGESTS A POSSIBLE TEXT. IF IT WERE AGREED TO SEND
SUCH A MESSAGE, I WOULD PROPOSE HANDING IT TO MR. ROGERS AND
SHOWING HIM THE TEXT. THIS WOULD ENABLE ME TO EXPLAIN THAT OUR
CONCERN GOES MUCH WIDER THAN THE IMMEDIATE ISSUE OF TEXTILES
AND TO URGE THAT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS
GENERALLY, IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO
SEE THAT THE PRESIDENT IS NOT COMMITTED TO A LINE OF ACTION
FROM WHICH IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO WITHDRAW.
7. THE BEST TIMING WOULD PERHAPS BE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER
HONG KONG'S REPLY WITH THE OBJECT OF SOFTENING REACTION TO
HONG KONG'S IMPLIED REFUSAL TO NEGOTIATE COMPREHENSIVE RESTRAINTS
AND UNDERLINING THE POSSIBLE WAY OUT SUGGESTED IN THE REPLY.
F.C.O. PASS TO HONG KONG AND SAVING TO TOKYO AND UKMIS GENEVA.
MR. FREEMAN.
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION
H.K.D.
COMMODITIES DEPT.
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION H.K. INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
AMERICAN DEPT.
CONFIDENTIAL