7
CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 848
TO DELHI
21 JULY 1969
(MC)
SECAVED IN
HELGISTRYNo. 51
HIL 1969
CONFIDENTIAL.
EX
F.
76988
75
NEUTRAL.
ADDRESSED TO DELHI TELEGRAM NO. 849 OF 21 JULY AND TO PORT OF SPAIN, COLOMBO, LAGOS, NAIROBI, KINGSTON, KUALA LUMPUR, VALLETTA, SINGAPORE (HC), NICOSIA, PRETORIA, RAWALPINDI, CANBERRA, WELLINGTON, OTTAWA, KAMPALA, DAR ES SALAAM, GOVERNOR BRITISH HONDURAS (SECRET AND PERSONAL), GOVERNOR GIBRALTAR (SECRET AND PERSONAL) REPEATED FGR INFORMATION TO UKMIS GENEVA, UKDEL EEC BRUSSELS, UKDEL OECD PARIS, WASHINGTON, UKMIS NEW YORK, BOMBAY,
COTTON TEXTILES,
M.1.F.T. GIVES LATEST TEXT OF STATEMENT ON FUTURE COTTON
TEXTILES IMPORT POLICY TO BE MADE IN HOUSE BY PRESIDENT OF BOARD OF TRADE AT 3-38 P.M .ON TUESDAY, 22ND JULY, THIS TELEGRAM GIVES GENERAL GUIDANCE, THE TEXT OF THE STATEMENT SHOULD BE HANDED OVER TO GOVERNMENTS TO WHICH YOU ARE ACCREDITED, AT A SENIOR LEVEL, SHORTLY BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE. WITH PROVISO THAT PRESIDENT WAY USE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WORDING IN THE HOUSE. WE SHALL TELEGRAPH ANY LAST MINUTE CHANGES TOMORROW BUT POSSIBLY NOT BEFORE STATEMENT
IS DELIVERED. YOU SHOULD EMPHASISE THAT THE INFORMATION IN THE
STATEMENT IS CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL 4.39 P.M. BST ON 22 JULY.
2. WE REALISE THAT THE INITIAL REACTION OF MANY COMMONWEALTH
GOVERNMENTS TO THIS DECISION WILL BE UNFAVOURABLE, MINISTERS HAVE
TAKEN A FIRM DECISION TO REPLACE THE QUOTAS BY A TARIFF ON 1ST JANUARY, 1972, BUT THE TERMS OF THE STATEMENT SPEAK OF SECURING ITS ACCEPTANCE (UNDERLINE ACCEPTANCE) BY THOSE GOVERNMENTS IN THE
COMMONWEALTH PREFERENCE AREA WHICH HAVE TRADE AGREEMENT RIGHTS TO
DUTY-FREE ENTRY. ZHE TIMING OF THE PROPOSED CHANGE WILL GIVE AMPLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NECESSARY DISCUSSIONS WITH THOSE COUNTRIES.
CONFIDENTIAL
13.