TNAG-0153-FCO40-189-Exports-of-cotton-textiles-to-Canada-1969 — Page 85

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your telegram No. 639) though it seems unlikely

that the conversation would have got round to

possible action by the U.K. against Hong Kong if

there had not been some discussion of H.M.G.'s

objection to extension of the restraint agreemen

In the recollection of Whitehead who was present

this is what happened, and a those concerned (whom Shave been able to consult

Be

here maintain that the point was made absolutely

clear to Jordan. My own view, which I have

expressed to the Board of Trade, is that if such

an important statement was made to Jordan while

was in Londo:

don the least that we could have done

was to inform you in writing that it had been

made. Be that as it may the annoyance in the

Board of Trade which has resulted stems largel

from the fact that they maintain that, although

Jordan knew what their attitude was when he went

to Canada, he nevertheless permitted himself to

be edged into a position in which he became

committed to this week's talks, the object of

which, as seen by the Canadians and apparently

by Jordan also, was the negotiation of an

extension of the restraint agreement, plus the

inclusion of polyester/polynosic shirts in it.

2. This is past history and as I said to the

Board of Trade at the meeting on 13 August from

which F.C.0. telegrams Nos. 536 and 537 emerged

I saw no use in raking it over. What was

required, I felt, was that we should do better

in the future. The line we took at the meeting

on the substance of the issue was that, given

the fact that the Canadian team were already

almost on their way to Hong Kong, the important

thing was to send you such instructions as

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