!
In short, GEC had been involved in these prospects for more than 18 months, and had expended considerable effort in contributing to make the possibility look more substantial, We would therefore be very concerned if NEI were to do any- thing to upset the delicate commercial discussions that were involved in this venture.
At the end of our discussion, Mr Thompson said that he personally entirely accepted the logic of what I was saying, though his staff were pressing that NEI should take some steps. I said that clearly it was open to NEI to contact Departments at whatever level they wished, but that we had very carefully considered our position vis-a-vis GEC already. To conclude on a more constructive note, I underlined that this, together with all the other problems associated with Government support, made the desirability of early and continuing contacts about his company's pursuit and priority for overseas projects clearly evident. He appeared to accept this as well.
In the course of discussion, he made several remarks about how NEI should respond if Fromo tome, for example, were to get in touch with them. Bearing in mind their behaviour in Greece, it is not yet certain that they will entirely play the game, and I thought it desirable to communicate a brief account of this conversation to Hong Kong and other capitals who might catch the ripples of any NEI lobbying. this is attached.
A copy of
Charpen
C B BENJAMIN US/PEP
19 August 1980