CONFIDENTIAL.
HKK 121/616/;:
GR 1250
IMMEDIATE
DESK BY FCO 120930Z
DESK BY UKMIS GENEVA 129900Z
CYPHER/CAT A
FM UKREP BRUSSELS 092004Z
CONFIDENTIAL
FRAME EXTERNAL
10
RjPq
en
404
DESK BY FCO 122938Z
DESKBY UKMIS GENEVA 1229802
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELEGRAM NUMBER 7663 OF 9 DECEMBER INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
COMMITTEE OF PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES (AMBASSADORS)
9 DECEMBER: TEXTILES
SUMMARY
1. COMMISSIONER DAVIGNON REPORTED ON THE CONCLUSION OF THE BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS AND OUTLINED THE DECISION THAT THE DECEMBER COUNCIL WOULD INVITED TO TAKE. HE ALSO OFFERED AN EXPLANATION OF THE COMMISS- ION'S TACTICS AT GENEVA.
DISCUSSION
2. A WRITTEN REPORT ON THE CONCLUSION OF NEGOTATIONS WAS DISTRIBUTED TOGETHER WITH A DRAFT PROTOCOL EXTENDING THE MFA, WITH AN ANNEX (COPIES BY BAG AND BY HAND OF CT AND CRE1 REPRESENTATIVES). DAVI GN- ON'S LENGTHY COMMENTARY FELL INTO TWO HALVES. ON THE EXTERNAL VOLET, THE COMMISSION HAD NOTED CERTAIN MISUNDERSTANDINGS AMONG MEMBER STATES ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN GENEVA. THE COMMISSION NEEDED TO BE CONFIDENT IN ITS PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL THAT IT WAS POLITICALLY FEASIBLE TO EXTEND THE MFA AND THAT THE PROTOCOL INTENDED TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE BOTH TO THE COM MUNITY AND TO THE OTHER GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED IN BOTH SUPPLYING AND IMPORTING COUNTRIES. TO PERMIT AMBIGUITY ON THIS SCORE COULD BE TO/GIVE
CONFIDENTIAL