CYPHER/CAT A
Textile Trail...
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 479
CONFIDENTIAL
TO HONG KONG
24 JULY 1969 (MCC 13/10)
FOR TRADE COMMISSIONER.
COTTON TEXTILES: MY IPT.
FOLLOWING IS THE GENERAL GUIDANCE ISSUED TO COMMONWEALTH POSTS, EXCLUDING HONG KONG, CONCERNED WITH UK IMPORTS OF COTTON TEXTILES: M.1.F.T. GIVES LATEST TEXT OF STATEMENT ON FUTURE COTTON TEXTILES IMPORT POLICY TO BE MADE IN HOUSE BY PRESIDENT OF BOARD OF TRADE AT 3-39 P.M. ON TUESDAY, 22ND JULY. THIS TELEGRAM GIVES GENERAL GUIDANCE. THE TEXT OF THE STATEMENT SHOULD BE HANDED OVER TO GOVERNMENTS TO WHICH YOU ARE ACCREDITED, AT A SENIOR LEVEL, SHORTLY BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE. WITH PROVISO THAT PRESIDENT MAY USE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WORDING IN THE HOUSE. WE SHALL TELEGRAPH ANY LAST MINUTE CHANGES TOMORROW BUT POSSIBLY NOT BEFORE STATEMENT IS DELIVERED. YOU SHOULD EMPHASISE THAT THE INFORMATION IN THE STATEMENT IS CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL 4.30 P.M. BST ON 22 JULY.
2. WE REALISE THAT THE INITIAL REACTION OF MANY COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENTS TO THIS DECISION WILL BE UNFAVOURABLE. MINISTERS HAVE TAKEN A FIRM DECISION TO REPLACE THE QUOTAS BY A TARIFF ON 1ST JANUARY, 1972, BUT THE TERMS OF THE STATEMENT SPEAK OF SECURING ITS ACCEPTANCE (UNDERLINE ACCEPTANCE) BY THOSE GOVERNMENTS IN THE COMMONWEALTH PREFERENCE AREA WHICH HAVE TRADE AGREEMENT RIGHTS TO DUTY-FREE ENTRY. THE TIMING OF THE PROPOSED CHANGE WILL GIVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NECESSARY DISCUSSIONS WITH THOSE COUNTRIES,
CONFIDENTIAL
/3. AS
R
STRYEZ
HICK 6/548/8
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