CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY BRUSSELS TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
PRIORITY BRUSSELS TEL. NO. 25 TO HONG KONG 15 JULY 1970.
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 25 OF 15 JULY REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO UKMIS GENEVA (FOR JONES) AND SAVING TO F
THE HAGUE PARIS ROME AND UKDEL EEC.
FROM DODGE.
71
RECEIVED IN
UKDEL EEC TELEGRAM NO. 319 TO F C O REF.
COTTON TEXTILES : HK/EEC,
.NEXT
REF.
69
72
7
REGISTRY No. 51 SAJUL 1970
HRK6/6
ERNST HIMSELF HAS NOW USED THE EXPRESSION **FIRST ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PARTICULAR TALKS WHICH MIGHT TAKE PLACE ON 29/33 JULY.
BECAUSE OF THIS, AND BECAUSE OF HIS PROMISES TO SUPPLY US BEFOREHAND WITH ALL AVAILABLE RELEVANT BASIC STATISTICS PLUS A MORE
PRECISE DRAFT OFFER UNDER ARTICLE 4, I CONSIDER THAT IT WOULD BE UNWISE FOR US TO RESPOND NEGATIVELY TO THE COMMISSION'S SUGGESTION EVEN IF THE QUESTION OF JUSTIFICATION'' DOES REMAIN SOMEWHAT UNRESOLVED, AND THE STATISTICS DO PROVE TO BE NEAGRE, LATE IN ARRIVING, AND COMPOSED ENTIRELY OF TRADE FIGURES: +A FORTIORI+ IF A NEW DRAFT OFFER ACTUALLY REVEALS, FOR EXAMPLE, DETAILS OF SPECIFIC
SENSITIVE SECTORS.
IN MY VIEW, THEREFORE, WE SHOULD ONLY DECLINE TO MEET THE COMMISSION ON 29/33 JULY IF YOUR DEPARTMENTAL COMMITMENTS NOW MAKE YOUR OWN PARTICIPATION ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. EVEN SO, YOU MIGHT
STILL CONSIDER JONES GOING IT ALONE.
ERNST HAS CLEARLY POINTED UP THE DIFFERENCE IN THE EYES OF THE
COMMUNITY BETWEEN THE OPENING OF NEGOTIATIONS AND THE ACTUAL
CONCLUSION OF AN AGREEMENT.
IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE WOULD FIND IT VERY HARD TO WIN
SYMPATHY AMONG THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBER STATES IF WE WERE TO REMAIN OBDURATE ON THE QUESTION OF PRE-NEGOTIATION JUSTIFICATION FOR RESTRAINT ON AN EEC (UNDERLINE NEXT TWO WORDS) ACCORD-TYPE BASIS, ESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF OUR BENELUX AGREEMENT.
/THE COMMUNITY'S
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.