CONFIDENTIAL
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NICAL FOR
Dear David
纛
Reg. Min 15/
BOARD OF TRADE
1 VICTORIA STREET
LONDON S.W.I
8th October 1969
please copy to Mr. Carter (HKD)
w.reg. to para 5.
UNCTAD Preferences
JMCK 4/10/69
Many thanks for your letter of 3rd October. The tactics which we propose to take at the next meeting of the OECD Group are described in the attached copy of a draft paper which is
being circulated by the PCO. You may find it useful as additional briefing.
2. It is interesting to know the views that Deniau has expregge about the Community's line in the absence of an American offer. I should be rather surprised if the Community now went back on the very firm line that di Martino took at the Group's last meeting. But we have taken account of what you have told us in paragraph 6 of the attached note by changing " The EEC on the other hand, are adamant that their own lists must go forward" to read "The EEC were adamant at the Paris meeting... I shall certainly be speaking to di Martino and to the represent- atives of the Six and, as at the last meeting, Wintermans is arranging a private meeting between the representatives of the EEC, U.S.A., U.K., and Japan before the Group meets. At present I do not think I need ask you to speak specifically to the Commission but I should be interested to have what ever informatio you can obtain on two points.
"
3. The first is whether it is true that a meeting I think of the Council of Ministers on about 18th October will be asked to decide whether the Community should implement their preferences if possible in concert with other European donors if the Americans prove unable to clarify their position this month. A number of people at the Paris meeting said they understood that the Commission are taking this line but I find it difficult to believe in view of the categorical denial which Hughes and Goldsmith received in the Hague when they asked a hypothetical question in July.
4. The second point is what the Community intentions may be on non cotton textiles. It is not altogether surprising that they have already decided to exclude cotton textiles and this in fact makes it easier for us to maintain our exclusion of this product. Our main problem is now to obtain agreement here to maintain offers on non cotton textiles. Until the Americans clarify their offers in this sector the Community will no doubt say that they cannot decide whether to maintain their own offers. D. H. A. Hannay Esq.,
United Kingdom Del. to the European Communities, 28 rue Joseph II,
BRUSSELS 4
/5.
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