2014 нского
CONFIDENTIAL
22108
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GRS 219
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 161800Z MAY 80
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM HUMBER 394 OF 16, MAY.
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
AND INFO BRUSSELS (FOR EURGESS)
AND INFO GENEVÄ (FOR CHAN)
AND INFO WASHINGTON (FOR CROMSOME)
YOUR TEL NO 644: SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN
1. WE SHARE YOUR CONCERN TO AVOID UNNECESSARY FRICTION
WITH CHINA, PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF THEIR KNOWN OPPOSITION
TO SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN.
2. THE DIFFICULTY IS THAT THE FINAL DECISION ON THE EXACT
NATURE OF SANCTIONS TO BE APPLIED BY EC MEMBERS HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN AND RESTS WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS' MERTING ON
17 MAY. IF, HOWEVER, THE NINE THINK THAT RE-EXPORTS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO AUTHORISE YOU TO EXCLUDE
RE-EXPORTS THROUGH HONG KONG FROM PROVISIONS INTENDED TO APPLY
EQUALLY TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE NING. ALTHOUGH NOT AN EXACT
PARALLEL, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE ITALIANS HAVE GREAT ·
DIFFICULTY WITH THE PROBLEM OF SWISS GOODS IN TRANSIT ACROSS
ITALY. FIGURES AVAILABLE TO US SUGGEST MOREOVER THAT
CHINESE RE-EXPORTS ARE ONLY A FAIRLY SMALL PROPORTION OF TOTAL
RS-EXPORTS TO IRAN THROUGH HONG KONG.
3. WE SHOULD THEREFORE PREFER YOU TO DELAY SUBMISSION OF THE ENABLING PROVISIONS TO EXCO UNTIL WE HAVE HAD TIME TO CONSIDER
WHATEVER DECISION IS TAKEN BY THE NINE. AT THAT STAGE YE
COULD ALSO CONSIDER WHAT IF ANYTHING NEED BE SAID. TO THE
CHINESE.
CARRINGTON
DEPARTMENTAL DISTN
MED
FED
CONFIDENTIAL
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