TNAG-0145-FCO40-181-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-States-of-America-1969 — Page 127

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.45 30 MAY 1969

Mcc 13/393/2.

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

171

29th May, 1969.

You will have had a report of the mecting between Mr. Stans and his party and officials of the Hong Kong Government led by John Cowperthwaite on 17th May, and so will know that at one point Stans showed considerable irritation at cross-questioning by John about points arising from his opening stutement of the American case. Indeed I gather that after the meeting Stans expressed privately his displeasure not at the substance of the Hong Kong case (I suspect that he was rather expecting this) but at the manner of its presentation.

1 need hardly say that we entirely support the line which John Cowperthwaite took in casting doubts on the validity of the U.. case on economic grounds and in pointing out te political and economic problems which the American proposals could create for llong Kong. But we are rather worried by the danger that Stans' annoyance with the way he considers he was treated in Hong Kong could be reflected in decisions by the U.S. Department of Commerce in all sorts of fields which might be adverse to long Kong's interests.

If you or John Freeman, to whom I am copying this letter, receive evidence to siggest that this may be the case, I should be grateful if you would let me know in order that we can consider whether there is anything we can usefully do to remedy the

situation.

Since John Cowperthwaite is arriving here today we will mention the matter also to him.

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No.51.

20 JUN 1969

накър HKN6/204/1

(A.N. Galsworthy)

181

PIRGCIAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Sir David Trench, GCMG., NC.