CONFIDENTIAL
GR 333
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 190859Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO ROUTINE F.C.O TELNO.720 OF 19 JULY,
RY
19 JULW77
14KK 12/6161/1
INFO PARIS, BRUSSELS (FOR BURGESS), UKMIS GENEVA (FOR MILLS), UKREP BRUSSELS, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
PARIS TELNO.691 TO YOU.
FRENCH TEXTILE RESTRICTIONS.
F
ale
(139)
1. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE EFFORTS MADE ON OUR BEHALF IN PARIS,
2. DUE IN PART TO THESE EFFORTS, WE ASSUME, AND ALSO TO THE CLEARING OF INITIAL CONFUSION AND NERVOUSNESS ON THE PART OF THE TRADE, A NEW CHECK ON EXPORTERS REVEALS THAT EARLIER PROBLEMS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AS FAR AS GOODS SHIPPED BEFORE 23 JUNE ARE
CONCERNED,
3. THE REMAINING UNCERTAINTIES ARE, HOWEVER, STILL AFFECTING LATER ORDERS TO AN UNQUANTIFIABLE BUT SUBSTANTIAL EXTENT. AND WE HAVE SEEN MESSAGES FROM FRENCH IMPORTERS STOPPING SHIPMENTS NOT ONLY OF SHIRTS, BLOUSES AND TEE SHIRTS BUT ALSO OF SUITS AND DRESSES DESPITE ASSURANCES RELAYED BY BURGESS FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN TRADE THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESTRAINTS ON THESE ITEMS (J.O OF 30 JUNE) HONG KONG WAS NOT CONSIDERED AS BEING IN ZONE 1 AND WAS, THEREFORE, NOT AFFECTED.
4. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE UNABLE TO QUOTE SPECIFIC CASES TO YOU BECAUSE, ACCORDING TO OUR EXPORTERS, THE FRENCH FIRMS INVOLVED HAVE ASKED THAT THIS NOT BE DONE. THEY APPEAR CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE OFFICIAL CONSEQUENCES. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, HOWEVER,
ONE IS GALERIES LAFAYETTE.
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