TNAG-0146-FCO40-182-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-States-of-America-1969 — Page 33

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MESSAGE TO HIM FROM THE PRIME MINISTER. MY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING

TELEGRAM SUGGESTS A POSSIBLE TEXT. IF IT WERE AGREED TO SEND

SUCH A MESSAGE, I WOULD PROPOSE HANDING IT TO MR. ROGERS AND

SHOWING HIM THE TEXT. THIS WOULD ENABLE ME TO EXPLAIN THAT OUR

CONCERN GOES MUCH WIDER THAN THE IMMEDIATE ISSUE OF TEXTILES

AND TO URGE THAT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS

GENERALLY, IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO

SEE THAT THE PRESIDENT IS NOT COMMITTED TO A LINE OF ACTION

FROM WHICH IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO WITHDRAW.

7. THE BEST TIMING WOULD PERHAPS BE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER

HONG KONG'S REPLY WITH THE OBJECT OF SOFTENING REACTION TO

HONG KONG'S IMPLIED REFUSAL TO NEGOTIATE COMPREHENSIVE RESTRAINTS

AND UNDERLINING THE POSSIBLE WAY OUT SUGGESTED IN THE REPLY.

F.C.O. PASS TO HONG KONG AND SAVING TO TOKYO AND UKMIS GENEVA.

MR. FREEMAN.

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

H.K.D.

COMMODITIES DEPT.

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION H.K. INTERNATIONAL TRADE.

AMERICAN DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL