TNAG-0143-FCO40-179-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-States-of-America-1969 — Page 77

this time

in the view of officials at the BOT,

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28 MAR NO3

KK 6/306/11

är. Preston

Mr. #hitehead

49

U.S. Textiles Imports and Mr. Stans' European Tours

Kr. Magor telephoned from the Board of Trade to say that members of the Japanese Embassy,pain called had at the Board to enquire what line we should be taking in connection with the proposals that r. Stans was expected to make.

2.

They were told (and I gather that this correspond- ed to their own impression) that it looked as if the Americans were giving up the idea of voluntary restrau± realising it was impracticable, and that it now appeared that the approach would be to ask governments to go into a conference to discuss the extension of to non-cotton textiles of the LTA.

3. The visitors were given to understand that, if so approached, we should want to know exactly what the grounds were for such a proposal and that we would expect to say, eventually, that we were not to go into such a conference.

willing

4. I understand that the Japanese are aware that the U.K. is the last country which is to be visited by Mr. Stanɛ, and they will hope to be kept in touch, as far as possible, as to whether West Europeni governments seem likely to maintain a firm line.

5. Mr. Hughes of the Board of Trade is expected to be back from his visit to Benn and Brussels on Friday evening, so we should know on Monday what the thinking of the Germans and the EEC Commission is. The Beard may ask us next week to telegraph. IXXIKI@Frakk to West European capitals, including particularly Rome in the hope of making sure that they are going to be in line with us. There is a feeling within the Board that the Italiana - who attach such importance to their ex orts of woollens to the U.0.A. – may be the most inclined to waver.

6. Of course, the policy to be followed has not yet received the approval of Ministers. However, it certainly seems to be the view at official level in the Boar of Trade that we should be extremely uneo-operat- ive if asked to go into an "LTA - extension" conference. Mr. Magor evidentally hoped that we could speak on similar lines if the Japanese Embassy shop around in the FCO as a check on their interview at the BOT.

Copied to:-

(ii. D. G. Collings)

26 March, 1969 Commodities

Mr. McKel vie, Trade Policy Department Mr. Stewart, Hong Kong Department Mr. Milne.