CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY
NEW DELHI
ΤΟ
TELNO 1701
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
HK Poles.
U.x. Textile Tariff file.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
12 SEPTEMBER 1969.
180)
/NEUTRAL/
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELEGRAM NO. 1701 OF
INFORMATION TO BOMBAY.
COTTON TEXTILES.
12 SEPTEMBER REPEATED FOR
RECEIVED IN
IREGISTRY No. 51
16 SEP 1969
HICK 6/548/8
ON 8 SEPTEMBER A NUMBER OF REPORTS APPEARED IN INDIAN PRESS TO
EFFECT THAT INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER IN LONDON HAD BEEN INFORMED
BY BRITISH AUTHORITIES THAT H M G'S DECISION TO IMPOSE A TARIFF ON
COTTON TEXTILE IMPORTS FROM COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES QUOTE STAYS UN-
QUOTE. REPORTS ADD THAT MINISTRY OF FOREIGN TRADE HAS NOT ABANDONED
HOPE AND IS STILL CONFIDENT THAT A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION CAN BE
FOUND.
2. WE HAVE TRACED THE REPORTS BACK TO A QUOTE COMPLETELY RELIABLE
UNQUOTE SOURCE IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN TRADE. ACCORDING TO
ONE INFORMANT WHO IS USUALLY DEPENDABLE THE SOURCE WAS THE MINISTER
HIMSELF. IT MAY BE THAT THESE REPORTS HAVE ARISEN FROM RETURN TO
DELHI OF OUTGOING HIGH COMMISSIONER IN LONDON, THOUGH WE HAVE NO.
FIRM EVIDENCE ABOUT THIS.
3. TODAYS QUOTE STATESMAN UNQUOTE CARRIES AN ITEM FROM ITS LONDON
CORRESPONDENT, DUTTA RAY, ALLEGING THAT BOARD OF TRADE REGARDS
THE DECISION TO ABOLISH QUOTAS AS FINAL AND NOT NEGOTIABLE, BUT
ADMITS THAT THERE MAY BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FLEXIBILITY AS REGARDS
TARIFF DUTIES. FULL TEXT IN MIFT.
14. THIS
CONFIDENTIAL