MY TELNO 2428
1. IN THE COURSE OF A CALL YESTERDAY ON TRAN (COMMISSION DGI) ON
OTHER MATTERS WE ASKED HIM HOW THE COMMISSION INTENDED TO PROCEED IN THE LIGHT OF THE LINE TAKEN BY THE GREEKS IN THE ASSOCIATION COMMIT~
TEE ON 24 APRIL.
2. TRAN HANDED OVER A COPY OF A TELEX MESSAGE HE HAD SENT TO THE
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GREEK TEXTILE INDUSTRY AFTER THAT MEETING (TEXT IN MIFT). IF THIS AND THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE PRODUCE NO CHANGE IN THE GREEK POSITION IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, TRAN INTENDS TO SEEK FROM THE COUNCIL A MANDATE TO OPEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE GREEKS
FOR THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF A SAFEGUARD CLAUSE IN THE ASSOCIATION
AGREEMENT. HE HAS COMMISSIONER DAVIGNON'S BACKING FOR THIS COURSE ALREADY BUT ANTICIPATES RESISTANCE FROM COMMISSIONER HAFERKAMP. (HE HOPED THAT WE MIGHT INTERCEDE ON HIS BEHALF THROUGH THE BRITISH CABINET). ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE GREEKS WOULD REJECT SUCH A PROPOSAL, THE COMMISSION WOULD LET IT BE KNOWN QUIETLY" TO THE COUNCIL THAT THE WAY WAS CLEAR FOR MEMBER STATES TO INTRODUCE
PROTECTIVE MEASURES.
3. IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS, TRAN SAID THAT THE ADVICE OF THE COMMIS- SION LEGAL SERVICES WAS THAT THE FORMAL PROPOSAL TO THE GREEKS TO RE- ESTABLISH A SAFEGUARD CLAUSE WOULD PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LEGAL COVER FOR THE COMMISSION AND THE MEMBER STATES. THE ARGUMENT (ON THE FACE OF IT LESS THAN CONVINCING) WAS THAT THE MERE INITIATION OF NEGOTIAT- IONS IN THIS SENSE WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF PUTTING THE RELEVANT PARTS OF THE ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT INTO SUSPENSE, THUS RELEASING THE COMMUNITY FROM THE OBLIGATION NOT TO RESORT TO SAFEGUARD MEAS-
URES.
MAITLAND
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