ATIVL
CYP
WCNFO 827/18
CYPHER/CAT A
ilv. Murray. Питом
5 do nd recall
"R"
112
Creda No. 216./m 2 12 y
M14 America ap
RECCIY RICISTRY Nors
11 SEP 1969.
інка
6/901/1
GROUPS.350A
11/9
може
EPA TVB Am Mcke Hong Kong dept FED
Commodities De
NO CUBES MADE
COP
110
ROUTINE WASHINGTON
TO BOARD OF TRADE
110
TELEGRAM NUMBER CREDA 324
9 SEPTEMBER, 1969.
#EXT
REF.
CONFIDENTIAL.
PERSONAL FOR CAREY FROM RIDLEY (MIDGLEY IS ON LEAVE), YOUR CREDA NO. 216.
ORDINARILY EXCHANGES OF VIEWS WITH THE AMERICANS ON TOPICs or CURRENT INTEREST ARE WORTH HAVING, EVEN IF THERE IS NOT MUCH NEW TO BE SAID. BUT IN THE PRESENT SITUATION I AM INCLINED TO THINK THAT IT COULD GIVE COMFORT TO STANS, NCMMER AND THEIR FELLOW PROTECTION- ISTS IF YOU APPEARED ACTIVELY TO BE SEEKING TALKS. AS FAR AS WE KNOW THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, WITH THE CONSENT (BUT PROBABLY NOT. THE FULL COMMITMENT) OF THE PRESIDENT, ARE STILL HOPING SOMEHOW TO BULLY CR CAJOLE THE ASIATIC TEXTILE EXPORTING COUNTRIES INTO COMPREHENSIVE RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS WITHOUT BRINGING DOWN ON THE U.S. THE WIDER CONSEQUENCES OF WHICH WE AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS HAVE WARNED THEM. THEY WILL NO DOUBT HAVE ANOTHER GO AT THE JAPANESE DURING THE FACT-FINDING DISCUSSIONS HERE NEXT WEEK AND MAY WELL FEEL GELISED, IF ONLY FOR THE SAKE OF DOMESTIC APPEARANCES, ALSO TO RAISK THE MATTER IN THE CATT COTTON TEXTILES COMMITTEE. BUT THEY MUST BY NOW BE FINDING THE GOING VERY HEAVY. WHILST THEY WILL STILL NOT EASILY BE DISCOURAGED I THINX THAT ANYTHING WHICH THEY COULD (HOWEVER WISHFULLY) TAKE AS ENCCURAGE- KENT WOULD BE VERY WELCOME TO THEM.
3. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CAN BE IN NO DOUBT ABOUT H.M.G.'S POSITION ON BEHALF OF DOTH THE U.K. AND HONG KONG. WE WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO STRENGTHEN THAT IMPRESSION BY REPEATING IT, AND MIGHT POSSIBLY IRRITATE BY OVER-EMPHASIS THOSE IN THE ADMINISTRATION WHO SYMPATHISE WITH OUR ARGUMENTS. EXPLORATORY TALKS ON ANY OTHER BASIS, ON THE OTHER HAND, WOULD RUN THE RISK OF BEING INTERPRETED (OR TWISTED) BY PEOPLE LIKE NEHMER AS A SIGN THAT H.M.G. WERE CONTEMPLATING COMING TO TERMS. IN AHM Nice Gu