*
CYPHER/CAT.A
IMEDIATE DELHI TELNO.1469
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
119
Rexhee lovacie
TC FOREIGN AND COMTIONWEALTH OFFICE
7 AUGUST, 1969
Ale
[EUTRAE]
ADDSD TO F.C.0. TELNO. 1469 OF 7/8/69. REPTD FOR INFMN TO
BOMBAY AND RAWALPINDI.
COTTON TEXTILES
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY N.51
- 8 AUG 1969
HICK6/548/8
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN TRADE AND COMMERCE TODAY TOLD COUNSELLOR
(COMMERCIAL) THAT THEY WERE VERY DISTURBED AT THE INDIAN HIGH
COMMISIONER'S REPORT ON HIS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT OF BOARD OF
TRADE. THIS APPEARED TO INDICATE THAT H.M.G. HAD MADE UP THEIR
MINDS ON THIS SUBJECT SO FIRMLY THAT CONSULTATIONS WOULD NOT BE
MEANINGFUL. A DECISION PRESENTED TO INDIAN GOVERNMENT AS IN EFFECT
IRREVERSABLE WOULD IN THEIR VIEW BE IN VIOLATION OF ARTICLES 1 AND
15 OF THE TRADE AGREEMENT OF 1939 AND OF OTHER INTERNATIONAL
OBLIGATIONS.
2. THEY CONFESSED THAT THEY HAD NOT YET SUBMITTED THE INDIAN
HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT TO THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE,
BECAUSE IF THEY DID SO HE WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY FEEL COMPELLED
TO MAKE A STILL STRONGER STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT THAN HIS RECENT
ONE IN THE RAJYA SABHA (MYTEL NO. 1385). UNFORTUNATELY, HOWEVER,
THE TENOR OF THE MEETING WITH THE HIGH COMMISSIONER WAS ALREADY
KNOWN HERE FROM PRESS REPORTS AND A DEBATE ON THE COTTON TEXTILE
TARIFF COULD BE EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE IN THE LOWER HOUSE AT
ANY TIME.
3. COUNSELLOR (COMMERCIAL) DREW ATTENTION TO THE WORDING OF THE
PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT, NAMELY THAT H.M.G.'S DECISION WAS THAT
/THE RIGHT
CONFIDENTIAL