Le
SHE REACTED NEGATIVELY TO THE IDEA OF LOOKING AGAIN AT THE INDICATIVE CEILINGS. IT HAD BEEN A POINT OF PRINCIPLE FOR THE PORTUGUESE THAT IF THEY ACCEPTED QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS ALL IMPORTS SHOULD BE DUTY FREE. IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE TO
PRO DSE TO THEIR INDUSTRY THAT THERE SHOULD BE INDICATIVE CEILINGS FOR DUTY FREE IMPORTS BELOW THE AGREED QUANTITATIVE LEVELS, THEIR INDUSTRY WOULD REJECT THE WHOLE IDEA OF QUANTITATIVE RESTRICT- IONS. I URGED HERE NEVERTHELESS TO KEEP THIS IDEA IN MIND AS
A POSSIBLE INGREDIENT IN A COMPROMISE.
5.
FERREIRA AGAIN CONFIRMED THAT HER UNDERSTANDING OF THE JURID-
IF A COMPROMISE PROVED ICAL POSITION IS THE SAME AS OURS.
POSSIBLE, THE PORTUGUESE WOULD WANT THE COMMISSION TO EMBODY AN AGREED EXCHANGE OF NOTES MODIFYING THE APRIL AGREEMENT. THEY WOULD NOT WANT THE EXISTING TEXT OF THAT AGREEMENT TINKERED WITH.
6.
DR FERREIRA WAS GRATEFUL FOR MISS LACKEY'S OFFER TO COME OUT NEXT WEEK. BUT SHE WAS HERSELF GOING TO BRUSSELS ON 28 MAY FOR
JUNE. THE JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING AND WOULD NOT BE BACK UNTIL 1 IT MIGHT BE BETTER FOR MISS LACKEY TO THINK OF COMING OUT IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 5 JUNE, IF THAT WERE POSSIBLE, ASSUMING A FAVOURABLE OUTCOME TO THE PORTUGUESE MEETING ON 2 JUNE.
GOULDING
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