WHAT COULD BE DONE?
CONFIDENTIAL
This is
10. Short of drastic steps, in breach of our international
obligations, immediately to reduce imports (in no way justified
by the situation) any practicable action on the import front can
have no bearing on the immediate problem in Lancashire.
primarily the distress caused by unemployment; the closure of mills
as such remains a healthy sign that the industry is getting down
to its weight. Unemployment could be helped by measures either
to stimulate textile activity or to create new jobs.
}
CONCLUSION
11. The only quick way of helping Lancashire without an interna-
tional row or heavy penalties for our overseas trade generally might
be action on the domestic front. No practicable action on the
import front can reduce the present level of imports. Action to
contain imports would also raise real difficulties without neces-.
sarily meeting the real problems; though it might well have psycho- logical effects in Lancashire and possibly go some way to meeting what the BTEA are actually asking for.
Commodities Department
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
8 November 1971.
6.
CONFIDENTIAL