35
36
Mr Wilford
Sir
Ford
Monson
Disewared.
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 51
1972
никофия
afl
ہے
Mr Logan
IMPORTS OF COTTON TEXTILES FROM HONG KONG
1. In his telegram No 72 Sir Murray MacLehose has reported
the outcome of the discussion in the Textiles Advisory Board.
B In his telegram No 73 to Mr Wilford (this telegram has not
been distributed outside the FCO) Sir Murray MacLehose has
suggested that if the DTI were prepared to go half way to
the Hong Kong position "there is a fair chance that the matter
could be disposed of". He has asked for "an improved offer"
within a week.
2. I cannot pretend that it is going to be at all easy to
move the DTI any further towards the Hong Kong position.
-
• However, after consulting Mr Hale, I recommend with his
agreement that Mr Royle discuss the problem with Sir John
Eden as soon as a mutually convenient date can be fixed.
The suggestion is that we should seek the assistance of the
DTI in reaching a compromise position on the lines proposed
by Sir Murray MacLehose. There is however one aspect of
such an approach to which Mr Hale has drawn my attention.
On the assumption that the DTI accept a compromise which
would perhaps be based more on the need to get agreement
rather than the justification for such an agreement this
might make relations between Mr Haddon-Cave and the Textiles
Advisory Board even more difficult than they are already;
we might also be making greater difficulties for ourselves
when the time comes to negotiate with Hong Kong on cotton
textiles in conjunction with our partners in the Community.
CONFIDENTIAL
13.