نے الله نه
2
further with the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary. If
they could reach agreement on his proposals the Committee
endorsed them. If agreement could not be reached, the
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry should raise
the matter in Cabinet.
5. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster opposes
any use of the EEC argument as a basis for the imposition
of restrictions on the Commonwealth at this time.
6. A decision is urgent because the affirmative
resolution on the tariff order is to be debated next week,
probably on 1 December, and it will be difficult, if not
impossible, to avoid dealing at that time with the question
of quotas.
Recommendation
7.
The issue is essentially whether we are to go back
on the statements made to India and Hong Kong. I therefore
recommend that if Mr Davies raises the question, the
Secretary of State should say that we cannot simply go
back on these statements. The right solution is to state
on 1 December that we shall proceed as planned, relying
on tariff protection only and being ready to give further
protection, as we are entitled to do, if trade is
CONFIDENTIAL
/disrupted.