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about everybody else whom I saw before coming here, and again in November, that my priority task should he to do everything possible to ensure that we knew what was going on about this contract and that we got it.
4. Incidentally, since I have heard it said that there appears to have been a "complaint" about my bothering Philip Haddon-Cave, I feel I should put it on record that in pursuit of my brief I have had only three personal discussions with him on this subject, i.e., in July 1972 when I paid my first call, in November (five minutes on a street corner) when he returned from the first round with the Japanese in Tokyo, and in February in preparation for the March round. I also accompanied Bob Fell when he called in March. I have had two discussions four months apart with the Governor, and also accompanied Bob Fell to call on him another four months later. For the rest my information and assessments have been based on a miscellany of sources spread as wide as possible so as not to "lean" too heavily on anyone.
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5.
I recognise that circumstances may have changed in many ways since my original brief, and that it may now be the case that it is all being arranged off stage, although if this is so one if left wondering how much of a charade we are performing in the present expensive and agonising process of negotiation. My purpose in writing thus is not to complain about this, but merely to say that it would help me to know whether I am in fact being kept fully informed and am required still to try to assist the negotiating process (certainly the Group seem to be relying on my assistance), or whether there is so much going on that I do not know about and should not know about that anything that I may attempt to do may only get in the way.
6. Although we have come through this round (just concluded) well enough not to disqualify ourselves (I think), there are a number of tricky points to sort out, including the reconciliation of the Steering Group expectation that a "package" means one contract with one point to complain to and get redress from and the British Group's proposal to have two separate contracts (Civil and M. and E.) with no "joint and several" liability. I believe this can be overcome, and indeed by the end of some post meeting discussions the seeds of a solution acceptable to Philip Haddon-Cave at least had begun to emerge. But there will need to be some further lobbying and negotiating (or fixing) involving some current assessment of the local philosophy before we are anywhere near home and dry with even a part of the contract. I will not use this letter
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