2
4.
To change the subject:
our delegation to the ECAFE conference in Bangkok returned yesterday. One of them had an interesting conversation about preferences with a Mr. Götz Schoffer (he says) of the European Commission, who gave our man to understand that the UK reaction to the idea of excluding Hong· Kong ab initio had driven the Commission off the idea; and that they were moving back to exclusion of particular products from Hong Kong. We'll be reporting officially on this very shortly. We are grateful for your efforts anyway. I think you'd agree that this success (if our informant proves reliable) is an un- expected bonus. (not that we care for their second position either).
R. Goldsmith, Esq., Board of Trade,
1, Victoria Street, London S.W. 1, ENGLAND.
DHJ/ml
AT
c.c. W.S. Carter, Esq. C.V.0.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
D.M. Sellers, Esq., London Office.
Yours sincerely,
(D.H. Jordan)