CYPHER CAT A
PRIORITY WASHINGTON
CONFIDENTIAL
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24;
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
PRIORITY WASHINGTON TELNO 64 TO HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL.
5 OCTOBER 1969
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 64 OF 5 OCTOBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND UKMIS GENEVA (BOTH PLEASE PASS COPY TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES). FOR FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY FIRST
THING MONDAY.
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 781 OF 4 OCTOBER TO F.C.0.: U.S. APPROACH
ON TEXTILES.
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOUR ANSWER BE IN WRITING. WE THINK IT VITAL THAT THERE SHOULD EXIST AN AUTHENTIC TEXT RATHER THAN A REPORTED VERSION OF WHAT WAS SAID BOTH FOR COMMUNICATION TO SCATTERED U.S. OFFICIALS (WHILE SOME ARE IN GENEVA OTHERS SUCH AS TRESIZE WILL BE IN TOKYO) AND FOR HANDING TO OFFICIALS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTS IF HONG KONG'S REPLY IS MISREPRESENTED DURING
GENEVA MEETINGS.
2. IN LINE WITH OUR STRATEGY OF GUIDING THE AMERICANS TOWARDS THE 'SELECTIVE APPROACH'' WE ARE IN FAVOUR OF REWORDING THE PROPOSAL IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 14 AS AN INVITATION TO SPEND A DAY DISCUSSING ANY SPECIFIC MAN-MADE OR WOOLLEN ITEMS THAT THE AMERICANS BELIEVE TO BE CAUSING OR THREATENING SERIOUS INJURY. YOU COULD OF COURSE GO ON TO EXPRESS WILLINGNESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MAY UNDERTAKING TO DISCUSS ANY OTHER MATTER WITHOUT COMMITMENT. 3. WE SHOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BASIC REFUSAL IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 4 EXPRESSED RATHER LESS ELUNTLY, TO AVOID GIVING THE PROTECTIONISTS A CHANCE TO CLAIM THAT NO SUPPLYING COUNTRY WILL YIELD AN INCH AND THAT THERE IS NO PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE TO UNILATERAL ACTION. WE HAVE IN MIND SOME SUCH WORDING AS ''SEES NO JUSTIFICATION IN THE CASE PRESENTED BY THE U.S. CONSUL-GENERAL FOR ENTERING" IN PLACE OF "IS NOT PREPARED TO ENTER." PERHAPS IT COULD BE
.../COMBINED..
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51 - 6OCT 1969
HKKG/D0X/
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