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OUT TO HONG KONG TEL NO 388 OF 18/6 UNIT 11 CYPHER/CAT A MARSDEN
IMMEDIATE
* OK undralis fussoms (Tariffa.
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LAST
RE:
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NUMBER 388
TO GOV HONG KONG
10 JUNE 1969.
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 388 OF 10 JUNE
FOR GOVERNOR FROM CARTER.
I DEEPLY REGRET THE DIFFICULT POSITION IN WHICH THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING TELEGRAM ON SWEDISH TEXTILE NEGOTIATIONS WILL PLACE YOU. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT A WHOLE RANGE OF POLICY ISSUES RAISED BY VOLUNTARY RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS IN NON-COTTON TEXTILES HAS NOW COME TO A HEAD AND WE HAVE BEEN QUITE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THEM AT HIGH OFFICIAL LEVEL IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE SATISFACTORY TO HONG KONG'S INTERESTS. THE ISSUES WILL HAVE TO BE PRESENTED TO MINISTERS, BUT IT WOULD BE QUITE UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT THIS BEFORE 16 JUNE. IN ANY CASE I AM STRONGLY OF THE VIEW THAT THEY SHOULD NOT AND CANNOT BE PUT TO MINISTERS WITHOUT PRIOR AND DETAILED CONSULTATION WITH YOU. MEANWHILE THE HOLDING OPERATION SET OUT IN OUR I.P.T. IS THE BEST WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE.
2. IT WOULD I THINK BE HELPFUL IF JORDAN COULD COME TO LONDON FOR DISCUSSIONS ON THURSDAY AND/OR FRIDAY, IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO INJECT A LITTLE MORE REALISM INTO THE PROPOSED NEGOTIATING POSITION AND IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO DISCUSS WAYS IN WHICH CONSULTATION WITH YOU ON THE POLICY ISSUES WHICH ARE TO BE PRESENTED TO MINISTERS MIGHT PROCEED.
3. I DERIVE A LITTLY COMFORT FROM THE PROSPECT THAT ISSUES WHICH HAVE BEEN PLAGUING US FOR MORE THAN A YEAR ARE AT LAST TO BE FACED,
STEWART