}
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VAI #
ROUTINE U K MISSION GENEVA TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
U.K MISSION GENEVA TELNO 33 TO HONG KONG 18 DECEMBER 1969
CONFIDENTIAL
[NEUTRAL]
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 33 OF 18 DECEMBER R F 1 F C O BRUSSELS (FOR DODGE) WASHINGTON (FOR HERMANN).
FOLLOWING FROM JORDAN.
COTTON TEXTILES COMMITTEE
Cofres for Iles Сорисо
(оста
·(m),0.5.
(3) E.E.C.
UKMIS IS REPORTING FULLY BY SAVING TELEGRAM COPIED TO YOU.
2. AT CLOSING SESSION 17 DECEMBER COMMITTEE ADOPTED COMMUNITY
DRAFT, WHICH ENVISAGES BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS IN NEAR FUTURE
IN WHICH IMPORTING COUNTRIES SHOULD ENDEAVOUR
(A) TO OFFER INCREASED EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES AND MORE FLEXIBLE CONDITIONS FOR OPERATION OF BILATERAL. ARRANGEMENTS,
(B) TO GIVE SPECIFIC INDICATIONS CONCERNING TREATMENT THEY WOULD GRANT TO EXPORTING COUNTRIES,
DURING ANY PERIOD OF EXTENSION OF C T.A. THESE CONSULTATIONS
WOULD ENTAIL NO COMMITMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE C T A, BUT WOULD BE BASED ON HYPOTHESIS OF THREE YEAR EXTENSION,
3. E E C. THIS GIVES US OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE FORMAL APPROACH
TO COMMISSION TO PROBE THEIR INTENTIONS WITH REGARD TO AN ARTICLE 4 AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND TO TEST THEIR SINCERITY, WITHOUT COMMITMENT ON OUR SIDE. I SUGGEST THAT PREPARATION OF BRIEFING MATERIAL BE PUT IN HAND SO THAT DODGE, ACCOMPANIED BY JONES AS HE WAS PRESENT THROUGHOUT C T'C MEETING, CAN TACKLE COMMISSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON BASIS OF PARAGRAPH2.
4. US A. I SUSPECT AND INFORMAL CHAT WITH NEHMER SUPPORTS THIS THAT US WILL REFUSE TO CONSIDER IMPROVEMENTS UNLESS WE ARE PREPARED TO TALK NON-COTTONS. NEVERTHELESS, SINCE THEY ACCEPTED COMMUNITY DRAFT WITHOUT RESERVATION, THEY HAVE ACCEPTED OBLIGATION TO TALK COTTONS, AND THEY HAVE THEMSELVES INSISTED THAT DISCUSSION OF FUTURE OF C T A SHOULD NOT BE LINKED WITH THAT OF NON-COTTON PROBLEM?'. SINCE IT IS PROBABLY IN OUR INTERESTS TO MAINTAIN FORMAL POSITION
CONFIDENTIAL
/THAT WE
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