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Her Lambert EV. 245'
Mr E Heath (Commodities Department)
COTTON TEXTILES: MOVE FROM QUOTAS TO TARIFFS
1.
The Governors/Administrators of all the seven territories dealt with in West Indian Department should in my view be consulted at least in the form "I should be grateful to be informed whether any special difficulties are foreseen if it becomes necessary to terminate the agreement in respect of the territory under your administration."
2.
This question should be preceded by a simple state- ment of the proposal to switch from quotas to tariffs and the consequences. The relevant consequences are the need for either a waiver or termination. If the switch is to be effective from the proposed date ie 1/1/72, either assurances must be obtained before 30 June 1971 that a waiver can be obtained or notice of termination must be given by that date. Termination would be effective in respect of the dependency as well as of the UK.
3.
I hope it would not be thought necessary to wait for a decision whether or not to give notice of termination before approaching the Governments of the dependent territories. Even now we are later in consulting them than may seem to them reasonable if, in any case, the agreement has a real significance for them.
20 May 1971
A MCM Webster
West Indian Department
Copied to:
Arabian Department
Atlantic and Indian Ocean Department
Pacific and Dependent Territories Department
South West Pacific Department
Hong Kong Department
Caribbean Department
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