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"THE RIGHT COURSE IS TO INTRODUCE ETC. THERE WAS NO
INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN THIS STATEMENT AND MR. CROSLAND'S
SUBSEQUENT STATEMENT THAT HE WOULD NOW INITIATE DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED.
4. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN TRADE SAID THAT THEY WERE VERY WORRIED
ABOUT THIS ISSUE, WHICH IN THE LOK SABHA PRESENT EXCITABLE
MOOD COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS TROUBLE. THEY REQUESTED AN EARLY
WRITTEN ASSURANCE THAT IT WAS OUR INTENTION IN THE FORTHCOMING
CONSULTATIONS TO DISCUSS THE PRINCIPLE OF THE PROPOSED TARIFF
AND NOT MERELY THE DETAILS OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
5. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT INDIAN PUBLIC OPINION IS SERIOUSLY
DISTURBED ON THIS ISSUE WHICH
TAKEN TOGETHER WITH CURRENT PRESS
COMMENT ON THE DUNCAN REPORT AND ON OUR PROPOSED ENTRY INTO THE
COMMON MARKET, IS REGARDED AS EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE TURNING OUR
BACKS ON THE COMMONWEALTH. WHILE INDIAN MINISTERS HAVE SO FAR
REACTED WITH REASONABLE RESTRAINT, THERE SEEMS TO BE A REAL,
DANGER THAT THEY MAY BE FORCED INTO PUBLIC DECLARATIONS ABOUT
RETALIATORY MEASURES FROM WHICH THEY WOULD LATER FIND IT DIFFICULT
TO WITHDRAW.
6. AS SEEN FROM HERE, IT SEEMS NECESSARY ON BOTH PRESENTATIONAL
AND LEGAL GROUNDS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE READY TO HAVE
GENUINE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ON THIS ISSUE
(1.E. AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH 4 ABOVE). I THEREFORE STRONGLY
ADVISE THAT I SHOULD BE AUTHORISED TO GIVE THE INDIANS AN ASSURANCE
TO THIS EFFECT, IN AS CATEGORICAL TERMS AS POSSIBLE. IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO HAVE THE EXACT FORM OF WORDS THAT I MAY USE, BEARING
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