3
2.90
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY WASHINGTON
TEL NUMBER 3158
RESTRICTED 2517462.
NEUTRAL.
RESTRICTED
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
DATE 25 OCTOBER 1973
ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO 3158 OF 25 OCTOBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO UKDEL CEC BRUSSELS UKMIS GENEVA TDO NEW YORK AND SAVING TO TOKYO AND OTTAWA. 4.1.P.T.: TRADE TALKS AND TEXTILES.
IN A DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMERCIAL MINISTER LAST WEEK FLANIGAN POINTED TO THE LOW LEVEL OF IMPORTS OF JAPANESE TEXTILES INTO BRITAIN AND EUROPE AND ASKED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT HPORT RESTRICTIONS, MINISTER AGREED TO PROVIDE A FACTUAL NOTE, 2. IN VIEW OF FLANIGAN'S NOTE IN THE FORTHCOMING NEGOTIATIONS HE SHOULD LIKE TO GIVE HIM A REASONABLY FULL ACCOUNT OF OUR OWN ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE JAPANESE ON TEXTILES, SHOWING THE DERIVATIO1 OF THE RESTRICTIONS AND EXPLAINING OUR POLICY OF NEGOTIATING THEIR REMOVAL ON A RECIPROCAL BASIS. THIS MAY HELP TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE THE FAMILIAR LINE OF ARGUMENT, WITCH FLANIGAN MAY WELL HAVE IMBIBED, ABOUT THE U.S. BEING THE ONLY OPEN MARKET FOR TEXTILES, PARTICULARLY FROM JAPAN. IT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD COMMENT BRIEFLY ON THE LEVEL OF TEXTILE IMPORTS INTO THE E,C.C. AND EFTA IF THERE ARE USEFUL FACTS WHICH CAN BE BROUGHT OUT. WE COULD SUGGEST THAT QUESTIONS ON OTHER GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES BE ADDRESSED TO THEM DIRECT.
3. WE HAVE SOME BACKGROUND MATERIAL ON THIS SUBJECT BUT IT IS INCOMPLETE AND WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD PROVIDE THE MATERIAL FOR THE REPLY, PREFERABLY BY 30 OCTOBER.
4. ADVANCE COPY TO EDWARDS, DEPT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY.
FCO PASS UKDEL EEC BRUSSELS UKMIS GENEVA AND SAVING TO TOKYO.
MR FREEMAN
REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION
COMMODITIES DEPT.
F.5.0.
AMERICAN DEPT.
HONG KONG DEPT.
NNNNN
RESTRICTED
28.9
Part
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AKIL 6/12