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TO PRIORITY UKREP BRUSSELS TELEGRAM NUMBER 712 OF 22 MAY. 1973 YOUR TELEGRAM 2635: HONG KONG - EEC TEXTILES.
1. IT WAS EVIDENT FROM DISCUSSIONS WHICH RIDLEY AND MISS LOWNE HAD WITH OUR PARTNERS IN BRUSSELS ON 17 AND 18 MAY THAT THERE WAS NO ANXIETY TO DISCUSS A HONG KONG MANDATE, MOREOVER (MY TELEGRAT NUMBER
DI TO HONG KONG SAVING TO YOU) BENELUX ARE NOW INTERESTED IN SOME KIND OF INFORMAL ARRANGEMENT, IT SEEMS TO US THAT IN CALLING A MEETING ON 28 MAY THE COMMISSION (ERNST) IS TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH A MEASURE WITCH WOULD PREJUDICE ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE ISSUES IN THE DISCUSSIONS FOR THE GATT TEXTILES AGREEMENT,
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2. YOU WILL BE AWARE THAT THIS MATTER IS TO BE DISCUSSED HERE INTERDEPARTMENTALLY NEXT WEEK, WE SHALL NOT THEREFORE BE ABLE TO SEND YOU INSTRUCTIONS BY 28 MAY. MOREOVER, MAY 28 IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY HERE, IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE SHALL HAVE TO INSTRUCT YOU TO STAND FIRM ON EVERY ASPECT NOT YET AGREED SUCH AS EXTENT AND JUSTIFICATION FOR SENSITIVE LIST, BASE PERIOD, GROWTH, PERIOD OF AGREEMENT, COUNTRIES TO WHICH AGREEMENT APPLIES AND SO ON.
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FOR THESE REASONS WE SHOULD PE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD PRESS FOR A POSTPONEMENT. IN OUR VIEW, IT WOULD BE MORE SENSIBLE TO DROP THE SUBJECT ALTOGETHER UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT IS ESTABLISHED THAT OTHER MEMBER STATES SHARE THE COMMISSION'S VIEWS,
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