:
6
LAST
REF.
CYPHER CAT A
-
ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 176
CONFIDENTIAL
/NEUTRAL/
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
24 FEB 1969
ADDRESSED FCO TELEGRAM 176 OF 24 FEBRUARY RFI
WASHINGTON AND UKMIS GENEVA.
U.S. TEXTILE IMPORTS.
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Me. Carter.
How do we
2
Stand on this
Aur.
I NOTICE THAT I APPEAR TO BE RECEIVING ONLY SOME OF THE TELEGRAMS ON
THIS SUBJECT, WHICH IS OF MAJOR CONCERN TO HONG KONG.
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2. SINCE WASHINGTON REPORTED CONGRESSMAN MILLS' LATEST IDEA IN THEIR TELEGRAM 249 I HAVE SEEN ONLY WASHINGTON TELEGRAMS 360 AND 361 AND
RIDLEYS'S LETTER OF 4 FEBRUARY TO MCMAHON, BOT. THE LATTER REFERS TO
THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE ARGUMENTS IN WASHINGTON TELEGRAM 297. I HAVE
NOT SEEN THIS.
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3. I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THE CONSIDERED COMMENTS FORESHADOWED IN
PARA. 4 OF WASHINGTON TELEGRAM 249, NOR ANY INDICATION OF YOUR REACTION TO THE WASHINGTON REPORTS REFERRED TO ABOVE, TO MR MILLS' PROPOSAL ITSELF OR TO PRESIDENT NIXON'S REMARKS QUOTED IN WASHINGTON
TELEGRAM 361. HAVE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMEN IN LONDON FOLLOWED THE SUGGESTION IN PARA. 5 OF WASHINGTON TELEGRAM 360 ?
4. IN ADDITION TO OUR MAJOR INTEREST IN THIS SUBJECT GENERALLY AND
OUR CONCERN THAT OUR VIEWS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE FORMULATION
OF YOUR POLICY AND ATTITUDES, THERE IS THE POINT THAT IT IS CLEARLY DESIRABLE THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF YOUR THINKING ON THE SUBJECT
IN CASE AMERICAN OFFICIALS TURN UP HERE SEEKING TO HOLD 'EXPLORATORY
DISCUSSIONS'. WE ALSO NEED TO KNOW IN CASE THE AMERICAN CONSULATE
HERE RAISES THE SUBJECT WITH US.
5. THE AMERICANS SEEM TO BE TRYING TO GET EVERYONE JUMPY ABOUT WHAT
THEY MAY DO, PRESENTING 'VOLUNTARY' RESTRAINT AS PREFERABLE TO THE ALTERNATIVE OF IMPORT QUOTAS. I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT
THEY CAN BE SERIOUS ABOUT THE LATTER, WHOSE EFFECTS ON WORLD TRADE
COULD STRAIN THE GATT TO BREAKING POINT.
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งา
CONFIDENTIAL
16. I WONDER
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