PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM UKMIS GENEVA 250855Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No.51
25TIL19/2
HKK 6/8
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TEL NO 4 OF 25 FEBRUARY 1972
TOP COPT
INFO ROUTINE FCO, TOKYO, BRUSSELS (FOR DODGE), WASHINGTON (FOR BARROW) AND UKDEL BRUSSELS.
FROM PEARSON FOR C AND 1.
GATT COTTON TEXTILES COMMITTEE.
1.
SECRETARIAT AT DESK LEVEL NOW SAY THAT CTC MEETING WILL BE DEFERRED CERTAINLY UNTIL AFTER MARCH AND VERY PROBABLY UNTIL AFTER
APRIL:
2.
SECRETARIAT SOURCE (WHICH SHOULD PLEASE BE PROTECTED)
HAS EXPLAINED IN CONFIDENCE THAT
3.
(A) JAPANESE HAVE SAID THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DECIDE
ABOUT GATT TEXTILES STUDY PROPOSAL UNTIL CERTAIN DOMESTIC LEGISLATION HAS BEEN PASSED, AND THAT OWING TO PARLIAMENTARY LOG-JAM, PASSAGE IS UNLIKELY UNTIL APRIL
OR EARLY MAY:
(3) LONG HOLDS FIRMLY THAT CTC MEETING BEFORE JAPANESE
DECISION IS UNDESIRABLE AS RISKING APPEARANCE OF
PRESSURISING JAPANESE:
(C)
MASON
SECRETARIAT ALSO RECOGNISE DIFFICULTY OF CONSIDERING
LONG-TERM COTTON REVIEW ITEM IN CTC AGENDA BEFORE
TEXTILES STUDY PROPOSAL HAS BEEN PUT FORMALLY TO GATT.
FCO PASS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
FILES
SD
COMMODITIES D
EID (1) EID (2)
FFFFF
/REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE 54 PALL MALL
SIR L MONSON
MR WILFORD MR KEEBLE
CONFIDENTIAL