MIGHT LET YOU KNOW IF HE FELT UNDER UNREASONABLE PRESSURE ON
THIS POINT.
4. IT SEEMED TO CEGB, BALFOURS AND OURSELVES (BEFORE SEEING PARA 3 OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE) THAT THE RIGHT WAY TO HANDLE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS WAS THAT THEY SHOULD BE SENT FORMALLY BY CLP TO BALFOURS, COPY TO CEGB GUILDFORD, AND BB SHOULD REPLY VIA GUILD- FORD (WHO MIGHT ADD COMMENTS). BB WOULD ESTABLISH SUITABLE MECHANISMS TO NOTIFY US OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, CLEARING THOSE WHICH WERE DIFFICULT. IN SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION WITH VALENTINE HE DOUBTED WHETHER THERE WOULD IN FACT BE ADVANTAGE IN AN 'ADVANCE GUARD', AS SUGGESTED IN YOUR PARA 3, SINCE MOST QUESTIONS OF THIS NATURE COULD ADEQUATELY BE COMMUNICATED IN WRITING AND WOULD REQUIRE SOME CONSIDERATION AT BB HQ. WE NATURALLY HOPE TO CLEAR UP THE GREAT MAJORITY BEFORE THE
TECHNICAL VISIT.
5. I STRESSED TO VALENTINE THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO THEM FOR A FREE EXTENSION OF THE VALIDITY DATE: ANY SUGGESTION OF PRICE IMPLICATIONS WOULD BE SUICIDAL. HE REALISES THIS, AND IS IN TOUCH WITH THEIR SUB-
CONTRACTORS.
6. I NOTE YOUR PARA 4, AND WILL RAISE IT WITH HAVELOCK NEXT WEEK.
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