THE POUNDS STERLING 30 MILLION GAP. SIR SIDNEY GORDON REMAINS ADAMANT THAT BALFOUR BEATTY HAVE LOADED THE PRICE, SINCE CLF STILL BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE INDEED COMPARING APPLES WITH APPLES, DESPITE OUR DISCUSSIONS. HE ALSO IS PRESSING AS HE IS OPPOSED TO KADOORIE/STONES - FOR US TO BREAK OUR PRICE INTO HEADING EQUIVALENT TO THOSE THEY HAVE REVEALED TO US.
G
5. WE HSALL HAVE TO EXPLORE URGENTLY NEXT WEEK WITH MANUFACTURERS
HOW WE CAN (1) REDUCE OUR PRICE (WHICH I REMAIN CONVINCED IS NECESSARY) AND (2) COAX CLP'S PRICE UPWARDS.
6. I SUGGEST THAT YOU SET UP IMMEDIATELY FOR NEXT WEEK MEETINGS
WITH BICC, GEC AND NEI AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. I RECOMMEND PIPKIN/HOLLAND FOR BICC, DUNCAN MACDONALD/HARRY BELL FOR NEI
(RATHER THAN WOODESON) AND SIR KENNETH BOND/ALAN VEALE FOR GEC. I AM HOPING TO SEE K AND D ON MONDAY. I ASSUME YOU ARE STILL PLANNING A ROUND-UP, MONDAY 3:00 PM, WITH TEAM LEADERS. (COULD KESTEN REMIND THEM IN UK 7). PERHAPS WE COULD MEET BREIFLY BEFOREHAND.
7. ON TIMING, WE SHALL HAVE TO CONSIDER NOT ONLY WHEN BUT WHETHER YOU COME OUT, BEARING IN MIND THE NEED TO GET KADCORIE AT LEAST TO ACQUIESCE IN A VISIT (IF WE THINK IT DESIRABLE) WITHOUT GIVING AWAY OUR NEGOTIATING POSITION. COULD YOU CONSIDER WHETHER YOU COULD CONCEIVABLY BE AVAILABLE FOR A FEW DAYS LATER IN NOVEMBER, ALBEIT AT GREAT INCONVENIENCE, IF WE NEED EXTRA TIME IN
THE UK ?
8. PLEASE COPY BENJAMIN: KESTEN.
MARCH
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