concerned. But he had found agreement to give full
consideration to the US case and to continue discussion.
In three cases (he would not say which) he had received
indications that they would help and support the US action.
He stressed that the visits were preliminaries and not
intended to be negotiations.
would continue. He appealed to other countries not to
let the situation get to the point or causing damage to
relations. He was putting as much a political and social
case as an economic one. The US intended to convene a
GATT Conference. Would Hong Kong come to it?
After he had left the dialogue
I intervened to recall the discussions in London where
there had been a full exchange of views and said that Mr. Stans
would remember that during this discussion the UK side had
said that on the evidence available to them they had been
unable to agree that the economic case for action was
established and that in the circumstances they could not see
what useful purpose was likely to be served by a GATT
Conference on this problem. Mr. Stans would know however
that the UK was always ready to discuss problems of mutual
interest and such discussions habitually took place through
the usual diplomatic and other channels. As regards the
GATT, the UK was responsible for looking after Hong Kong's
interests there (Sir J. Cowperthwaite interjected that Hong
Kong could not attend a GATT Conference unless the UK was
there also).
- 1 2
/ Mr.
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