NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
W(B)L 51-7406
CONFIDENTIAL
the commercial considerations set out in
paragraph (a) above and there is, I think,
reason to believe that the shareholders would
now provide these.
6
Since the time available to us seems to be
so short I wonder whether there is any
justification for delaying further
consideration of our position until the return
of Mr. Whittaker (of ECGD) from Paris, or
indeed for us pursuing the matter there at all
On the information available to us his French
colleagues in COFACE have already made up
their minds. But if you consider that he
should take this up in Paris as planned I
must sound a note of warning.
SRATE COMSQUMERS
It would be
if these exchanges between
COFACE and ECGD became publicly known;∞ ·
they would be open to the construction that
we, having declined to assist, were trying to
frustrate a French deal. It would be even
more unfortunate and embarrassing if these
exchanges, which have so far been restricted
to strictly commercial considerations, were
widened to include discussions of the
political risk and this, I trust, will be
avoided at all costs.
I am copying this letter (with enclosures)
to/Michael Palliser in the Prime į inister's
Office for information-
in the Treasury
Dick Taverne
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