DRAFT TELEGRAM TO HONG KONG
Your tele.rams Yos.177, 224, and 246
Swedish Textile Negotiations
1. We note from your second telegram under reference that you have
now arranged with the Swedes that the consultations shall commence
in Hong Kong when the Swedish Delegation arrive on 20th April. 2. Baron de Geer called at the Board of Trade on 20th March and
stated that the Swedish objective in these consultations would be
to obtain an extension of the existing arrangements or a further period of one year. According to him, the Swedes did not intend
to press for restraints on any further items. The statistics which
you have requested would be available to our Embassy in Stockholm
early this week.
3. We have considered the questions raised by paragraphs 2 and 6
of your first selegram under reference. In respect of the items
already subject to restraint, we confirm that you have authority to
inf
conclude new restraint arrangements for the year beginning 1st July
1969 on the assumption that the Swedes confirm that this is their
objective and t at the relevant statistics and supporting arguments
promised this week are acce_table bot to us and to you as
justification, When these statistics are available, we shall
examine them and let you have our comments as quickly as possible,
4. In these circumstances, we shall not wish to be represented
at the consultations in Tong Kong but would wish to be informed
by you of their progress, as is your normal practice.
5. If, however, the Swedes seek an extension of the restraint
arrangements to other non-cotton textile goods not currently under
restraint, we should have to give careful consideration both to the
strength of their request and to your assessment of your own interests
before we can a ree. We should be grateful, therefore, if you would refer any such proposals to us before agreeing any commitments to
the Swedes.