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CONFIDENTIAL
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ORLIGATIONS THAT WE WANT. WE MADE IT CLEAR IN THE RECORD OF THE
DISCUSSIONS AND PRIVATELY THAT THIS IS WHAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO
MEAN FOR US.
5. WE SUGGEST THAT IN DEALING WITH ANY PRESS ENQUIRIES AT YOUR END YOU TAKE THE LINE
(1) THAT, AS THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT INDICATED OUR DECISION NECESSITATES DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES OF WHICH INDIA IS ONE TO WHOM WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS UNDER TRADE AGREEMENTS
(11) THAT IN RESPECT OF ALL THESE OBLIGATIONS IT IS NOT TO BE EXPECTED THAT MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS PRESENTED BY THEM CAN BE REACHED QUICKLY, NOR DOES THE TIMETABLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR DECISIONS REQUIRE THIS
(111) THAT IT WAS NOT TO BE EXPECTED THAT THE DISCUSSIONS THIS WEEK WITH INDIA WOULD GO BEYOND A FULL EXPOSITION BY EACH SIDE OF ITS POINT OF VIEW AND THAT IT WAS TO BE EXPECTED THAT THIS FIRST. MEETING WOULD NEED TO BE FOLLOWED BY FURTHER MEETINGS LATER.
6. WE SHALL TAKE THIS LINE, WITH APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS OF EMPHASIS,
IN DEALING WITH PRESS ENQUIRIES HERE.
7. INDIANS HAVE TOLD US PRIVATELY THAT IF FORCED ULTIMATELY TO ACCEPT THE TARIFF, THEY WILL INSIST ON EXEMPTION FOR HANDLOOM PRODUCTS.
SIR M. JAMES
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION
COMMODITIES DEPT. SOUTH ASIAN DEPT.
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CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO :
MR. C.M. SANDERS, BOT. MR. A.V. CAREY, MINTECH.