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new tariff would become effective and that this must depend
on circumstances at the time including both our own economic
position and India's. In announcing the decision to
Parliament however the President of the Board of Trade could
say that when the time came to determine the level of aid to
India in 1972/73, any adverse effects on her exports arising
from the imposition of the tariff would be taken into account
against the background of her general aid requirements at the
time.
3. The President of the Board of Trade was invited to
consult the Foreign, and Commonwealth Secretary, the Chancellor
of the Exechequer and the Minister of Overseas Development
about the terms of timing of his statement.
4. Our present information is that the President intends
to make his statement in Parliament on Tuesday next 22 July.
In Cabinet the Secretary of State made the point that we
would like to give Commonwealth governments concerned a
few days notice of the announcement but I gather that the
general view was that only a few hours" notice should be
given. We hope to be able to telegraph the text of the
proposed announcement and guidance to posts on Monday
21 July.
5.
I have obtained privately a draft (copy attached)
of the President's statement in the form in which I
understand it was put up to the President yesterday evening.
I do not know his reactions to it but it would be useful
if we could consider what amendments we would wish to make
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