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2. I AGREE THAT WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO FIRE OUR BIG GUNS PREMATURELY AND ALSO ON THE DESIRABILITY OF KEEPING IN LINE WITH THE OTHER COUNTRIES CONCERNED. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS WEEK'S DEVELOPMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE INDICATION OF JAPANESE THINKING REPORTED IN UK MISSION GENEVA TELNO. 536, I THINK WE SHOULD DIGEST. THE RESULTS OF THE TALKS IN GENEVA AND TOKYO BEFORE DECIDING UPON THE TIMING OF A MESSAGE. THE FINAL PREPARATION OF THE MESSAGE WOULD, HOWEVER, NO DOUBT TAKE A FEW DAYS AND WE MUST ALLOW, TIME FOR IT TO TAKE EFFECT ON THE PRESIDENT'S THINKING: HE HAS NOT, AS YOU KNOW, SHOWN MUCH FONDNESS FOR QUICK DECISION. WE MUST REACH HIM BEFORE HE COMMITS HIMSELF IRREVOCABLY TO THE STANS LINE (TO WHICH HE IS ALREADY AT LEAST PREDISPOSED). WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT TOO LONG: IF WE MISS OUR CHANCE IT WILL BE TOO LATE. I WOULD HOPE THEREFORE THAT WE COULD PUT CURSELVES IN A POSITION TO DELIVER A MESSAGE AT VERY SHORT NOTICE.
X264)
3. WE RECOGNISED (PARAGRAPH 3 OF UK MISSION GENEVA TELNO. 535) THAT H.M.G, HAVE AS YET MADE NO PROPOSAL TO IMPROVE GATT ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEALING WITH DISRUPTIVE IMPORTS AND REGRET THAT IN DRAFTING
A SQUARE BRACKET AROUND THIS PASSAGE IN MY TELEGRAM NO. 2715
GOT LEFT OUT.
SIR E TOMKINS
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[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
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CONFIDENTIAL AND GUARD