TNAG-0165-FCO40-201-Export-of-textiles-to-Norway-and-Sweden-1969 — Page 143

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 387

TOP COPY

TO HONG KONG

10 JUNE 1969.

(HKK 6/531/1)

148)

CONFIDENTIAL /NEUTRAL/

ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 387 OF 10 JUNE

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO STOCKHOLM

SWEDISH TEXTILE NEGOTIATIONS.

WE REGRET DELAY IN COMMENTING ON PROPOSED NEGOTIATING POSITION 183) IN YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS 339 AND 446. SWEDISH REQUESTS FOR CONTINUED

AND ADDITIONAL RESTRAINTS RAISE WIDE AND COMPLICATED ISSUES OF

POLICY ON WHICH THERE IS ROOM FOR CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCE OF VIEW.

A DECISION ON THESE IS PARTICULARY DIFFICULT AT THE PRESENT TIME

AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE TO SUBMIT TO MINISTERS.

2. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AND IN VIEW OF THE IMMINENCE OF YOUR

TALKS WITH THE SWEDES WE ARE UNABLE TO AGREE TO YOUR PROPOSED

NEGOTIATING INSTRUCTIONS AND MUST ASK YOU TO HOLD THE POSITION IN.

ORDER TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE POLICY ISSUES TO BE PROPERLY EXPLORED

BETWEEN US OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. FOR THIS PURPOSE WE THINK

YOU SHOULD:-

(A)

EXAMINE MOST CRITICALLY WITH THE SWEDES EACH OF THE CASES THEY

HAVE PUT FORWARD ON NON-COTTON TEXTILES, BOTH FOR CONTINUED RESTRAINTS AND NEW RESTRAINTS.

(B) IF AFTER THIS EXAMINATION YOU FEEL THAT EXISTING RESTRAINTS

SHOULD BE CONTINUED ON ANORAKS AND KNITWEAR YOU SHOULD SEEK TO LIMIT THE PERIOD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, PREFERABLY TO NOT MORE THAN 3 OR 4 MONTHS: BUT IN THE LAST RESORT YOU COULD CONCEDE EXTENSION FOR A FURTHER YEAR.

(C) AS REGARDS NEW ITEMS YOU SHOULD NOT CONCEDE RESTRAINT BUT OFFER RENEWED ISSUE OF EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS WITH TRIGGER POINTS FOR FURTHER CONSULTATIONS WHEN TRADE REACHES LEVELS EQUIVALENT

TO RESTRAINT LEVELS YOU WERE CONTEMPLATING.

3.

WE APPRECIATE AND REGRET POSITION IN WHICH THIS WILL PLACE YOU.

YOU MAY WISH TO RECONSIDER DECISION ABOUT JORDAN VISITING LONDON

BEFORE GOING TO STOCKHOLM.

STEWART

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

HONG KONG DEPT.

LAST

REF.

९.१

NEXT

REF.

WESTERN EUROPEAN DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

COMMODITIES DEPT.

глия (148/9/151

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