TNAG-0172-FCO40-208-United-Kingdom-Productivity-and-Efficiency-Study-effect-on-H-1969 — Page 54

CONFIDENTIAL

1

new tariff would become effective and that this must depend

on circumstances at the time including both our own economic

position and India's. In announcing the decision to

Parliament however the President of the Board of Trade could

say that when the time came to determine the level of aid to

India in 1972/73, any adverse effects on her exports arising

from the imposition of the tariff would be taken into account

against the background of her general aid requirements at the

time.

3. The President of the Board of Trade was invited to

consult the Foreign, and Commonwealth Secretary, the Chancellor

of the Exechequer and the Minister of Overseas Development

about the terms of timing of his statement.

4. Our present information is that the President intends

to make his statement in Parliament on Tuesday next 22 July.

In Cabinet the Secretary of State made the point that we

would like to give Commonwealth governments concerned a

few days notice of the announcement but I gather that the

general view was that only a few hours" notice should be

given. We hope to be able to telegraph the text of the

proposed announcement and guidance to posts on Monday

21 July.

5.

I have obtained privately a draft (copy attached)

of the President's statement in the form in which I

understand it was put up to the President yesterday evening.

I do not know his reactions to it but it would be useful

if we could consider what amendments we would wish to make

2

CONFIDENTIAL