CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG TELNO 661 TO FCO
~3~
IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. MEMBERS COULD NOT JUST TELL THEM NEG- OTIATIONS HAD BEEN ADJOURNED, AND REFUSE TO GIVE DETAILS, IF THERE WAS A RISK THAT YOU WOULD REFUSE TO AUTHORISE ANY NON-COTTON RESTRAINT AT ALL. IF THIS HAPPENED, AND SURCHARGES WERE IMPOSED, KILLING THE TRADE (AS THEY WOULD); TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND THE PUBLIC WOULD REALISE THAT INFORMATION HAD BEEN WITHHELD AND THEY HAD HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO ENDEAVOUR TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME. ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE BOARD WOULD THEN BE LOST,
FCO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY TO OTTAWA.
}
MR. BLACKWELL
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION
HONG KONG DEPT
FAR EASTERN DEPT
CONFIDENTIAL
HK Refs and 2018 textur
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL TRADE