8
CONFIDENTIAL
Vir. Ver.14/aouth Asian Reference HKK
НКК 6/28
19
Mr. Vezeker, (South Asian Department)
Vereker
Mr. Murray, (Hong Kong Department)
Please refer to Toms letter of 12 September to John McKelvie concerning the Indian representations on unmanufactured tobacco.
2. I understand that the proposed talks with the Indians on cotton textiles are unlikely to start before November and I feel that there is some merit in attempt- ing to dispose of this issue before these talks com-
mence.
3. I therefore attach a revised version of the B.O.T.5 draft aide-memoire and would be grateful for your early comments.
(P. Hurden)
Trade Policy Department
22 September, 1969
The letter of reassurance which the High Commissioner was authorised to deliver to the Indians
decision with regard to the cotton textiles tariff has succeeded in taking the heat out of the Indian protests for the moment, and I understand that talks about all aspects of the decision may take place between the Indians and the Board of Trade in October or November (at all events before the tariff is due to be introduced in January 1972). In view of this I agree with this re-draft. One point which does occur to me, although I am far from being an expert on the subject, is to enquire whether it might be possible at roughly the same time as we convey this decision about unmanufactured tobacco to the Indians, for us to say anything relatively helpful about hand loomed silks (Maynard's letter ECO 6/39 of 8 August to T. O'Leary, which we copied to Preston). This would seem to depend partly on VMA's timetable and partly on whether the promised Indian memorandum has yet been received. If not, then I recognise that this idea would be a non-starter but hope that we could bear it in mind for future action when appropriate.
P.Vereker.
(P.W.M. Vereker)
South Asian Department
24 September, 1969
Stole Miss Mustell (BoT). No progress has been made on
a the therefore fell..
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the hand boom with problem Where would be no point in raising ist at this stage.
ያኢ
freed
revised draft. Aide-Memoire
724/9
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