TNAG-0237-FCO40-273-Trade-relations-between-EEC-and-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 64

CONFIDENTIAL

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6. I REMAIN CONVINCED THAT ERNST IS STILL USING SHOT-GUN TACTICS IN THE HOPE OF HITTING SOME NERVE OR OTHER AND RUSHING US, AND I CERTAINLY DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO JORDAN'S INITIAL ARGUMENT

6) IN PARA 9 OF GENEVA TELEGRAM NO. 25. HINDSIGHT ON OUR 1963

BENELUX ARTICLE 4 WOULD SUGGEST THAT, DESPITE ELABORATE OVERTURES, WE EVENTUALLY WENT AHEAD TOO FAST AND ARE NOW AT SOMETHING OF A DISADVANTAGE VIS-A-VIS THE COMMUNITY AS A RESULT. IN ANY CASE THE BENELUX WOULD BE THE LAST PEOPLE TO CRITICISE US FOR WANTING A COMPREHENSIVE, EVEN PEDANTIC, PRELIMINARY FACTUAL PRESENTATION. THEY THEMSELVES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SCRUPULOUSLY RESPECTFUL OF OUR Denpass

THIS REGARD,

IN

FCO PLEASE PASS TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG AND REPEAT TO UKMIS GENEVA BONN, PARIS, THE HAGUE AND ROME.

WE WILL PASS TO UKDEL E E C.

SIR J. BEITH

REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

HONG KONG DEPT.

COMMODITIES DEPT.

F.E.D.

AMERICAN DEPT.

W. EUR. DEPT.

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL TRADE

NNNNN

CONFIDENTIAL

COPIES TO:

MR. D.1. DUNNETT, 8.0.T.

>

MR. A.T. GREGORY, MINTECH.