TNAG-0147-FCO40-183-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-States-of-America-1969 — Page 65

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policies of the U.S. and U.K. Governments differed.

The

U.S. Government went out of its way to help the small

businessman, and he did not accept that the small company

was by definition or implication inefficient.

66.

Mr. Jordan noted that the Production Index

having 1957 1959 as a 100 base, stood at 151.3 for

textiles and at 149.9 for apparel in 1968. The latest

figures showed continuing increases both for textiles and

apparels. With production up 50% over 10 years, there

seemed to be general well being in the textile industry

and surely any company that could not achieve some success

in those sort of conditions should be allowed to go to

the wall and did not deserve protection. Mr. Nehmer

said that convincing proof of inefficiency could only

come when textile imports were under restraint and this

excuse for inefficiency was removed.

67.

Mr. Stewart thought that the figures showed the

best sales/profit experience since the 1950's. Mr. Nehmer

asked why if the experience of the U.S. textile industry

had been so good there was such agitation for restraints

on imports?

68.

Mr. Jordan quoted the production indices for

various individual items all of which showed significant

increases. He wondered whether these figures showed that

rather than domestic production being forced out of the

/market

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