TNAG-0206-FCO40-242-Construction-of-a-cross-harbour-tunnel--under-Hong-Kong-harb-1969 — Page 113

TTEE OF PR

COUNC

UNCIL FO

TRADE

As regards paragraph 6 of your letter, there is no reason why the discussions between the French authorities and E.C.G.D. should become publicly known. But even if they do I would not foresee grave consequences. It is well known that it is general practice

for credit insurers and Government Departments to discuss credit terms under the Berne Union and O.E.C.D. arrangements. These discussions took the normal form of a business interchange between credit insurers on a reciprocal and confidential basis. The only objective was to exchange information and no attempt was made to dissuade the French from covering the contract or to influence their decision on the terms they might impose. The political risks were not mentioned at all.

I am copying this to Dick Taverne and Palliser.

Yours sincerely,

Welbed

BROWN