CONFIDENTIAL
72
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TO DUBLIN
TELEGRAM NUMBER. 81
21
JULY
1969 (OD)
CONFIDENTIAL
NEUTRAL
MY TELEGRAM NO. 841 TO DELHI GIVES THE TEXT OF A STATEMENT TO BE MADE IN THE HOUSE BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE TOMORROW 22 JULY AT 15.30 HOURS. A COPY OF THIS SHOULD BE HANDED TO THE IRISH
AUTHORITIES BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE, STRESSING THAT IT IS CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL 16.30 HOURS BST ON 22 JULY.
2..IF THE IRISH ASK ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE NEW POLICY ON THEM, YOU SHOULD SAY THAT IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION TO IMPOSE A DUTY ON IMPORTS ORIGINATING IN THE IRISH REPUBLIC. THIS WILL OF COURSE ENTAIL A MODIFICATION OF THE ORIGIN RULES TO PREVENT THE COMMONWEALTH FROM USING THE IRISH REPUBLIC AS A BACK DOOR FOR FREE ENTRY INTO THIS COUNTRY, BUT WE IMAGINE THAT THE IRISH WILL BE PREPARED TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS ON THIS MATTER IN RETURN FOR THE SUBSTANTIAL PREFERENCE WHICH THE INTRODUCTION OF A TARIFF ON IMPORTS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH WOULD GIVE THEM.
3..WE WOULD HOPE TO EXTEND THE QUOTA ON IMPORTS OF IRISH YARN FOR A YEAR FROM THE END OF 1970, BUT YOU SHOULD AVOID BEING DRAWN ON THIS AT THE PRESENT TIME.
STEWART
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION
COMMODITIES DEPT
CONFIDENTIAL
95
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