TNAG-0152-FCO40-188-Exports-of-cotton-textiles-to-Canada-1969 — Page 8

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG TELNO

639 TO FCO -3-

6.

IT IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO SAY AFTERWARDS, PARTICULARLY IF

ONE WAS NOT THERE, THAT ONE THINKS SUCH TALKS COULD HAVE BEEN

HANDLED BETTER, BUT ONLY THE MAN ON THE SPOT CAN JUDGE THE

SITUATION HE FACES, JORDAN JUDGED THAT IT WAS NECESSARY, TO

AVOID PRECIPITATE ACTION BY THE CANADIANS AND IN THE LIGHT OF

DS

THE PRESSURE ON THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE THEIR POLICY TOWARB

STANS, THAT SOME INDICATION OF WILLINGNESS TO MEET THEIR POINT

OF VIEW SHOULD BE GIVEN. HE HAD EMPHASISED THAT HE HAD NO AUTHORITY

TO NEGOTIATE AND UNDERTOOK MERELY TO PRESENT A PROPOSAL TO ME,

WHILE ALSO EMPHASISING THAT HE COULD GIVE NO GUARANTEE THAT IT

WOULD BE ACCEPTED.

7. I UNDERSTAND FROM SELLERS THAT IT IS NOW BEING SUGGESTED

IN LONDON THAT I SHOULD BE REFUSED AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE ON

ANY NON-COTTON RESTRAINTS (1.E. INCLUDING THE EXISTING POLYESTER/

COTTON RESTRAINTS) UNTIL THE QUESTION OF U.K. POLICY WITH REGARD

TO INTERNATIONAL MOVES FOR RESTRAINT ON M.M.F. ITEMS HAS BEEN

TO MINISTERS. I AM BOUND TO SAY THAT THIS SEEMS TO ME WHOLLY

UNREASONABLE. IN JUNE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE EXISTING POLICY

STANDS (AFTER IT HAD BEEN CALLED IN QUESTION JUST BEFORE THE

SWEDISH NEGOTIATIONS) AND YOU HAVE GIVEN ME NO INDICATION THAT

THIS POLICY WAS UNDER REVIEW AGAIN.

CERTAINLY JORDAN HAD NO

SUCH INDICATION, BUT RATHER TO THE CONTRARY, BEFORE HE WENT

TO OTTAWA,

/8. IF

CONFIDENTIAL