TNAG-0244-FCO40-280-Exports-of-textiles-from-Hong-Kong-to-USA-1970 — Page 183

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FLASH WASHINGTON

TELEGRAM NO. CRECA 55

Hd. Commodities Dope victor

Itd. Hong Kong Depen

Hd EP depr.:

Hd. T.P. Depr

[ sent to [sunt

Вот

ים

;

TO: BOARD OF TRADE

20 FEBRUARY, 1978.

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY NO.51

27FEB 1970

1/20/27/71+1

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO BOARD OF TRADE TELEGRAM NUMBER CREDA 55 OF 28 FEBRUARY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO UKMIS GENEVA, HONG KONG AND TOKYO. FOR MACMAHON FROM RIDLEY.

YOUR CREDA 55 (NOT TO ALL): PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE TO MR NIXON ON NON-COTTON TEXTILES.

2.

AS WE SEE IT THE PURPOSE I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE AMBASSADOR. OF THE MESSAGE REMAINS TO TRY TO GET THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF TO QUESTION THE POLICIES WHICH HIS ADVISERS HAVE PERSUADED HIM TO ENDORSE. COMING AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S REFERENCES TO NON-COTTON TEXTILES DURING THE JANUARY TALKS IT IS LIABLE MERELY TO BE PASSED DOWN THE LINE TO THE STAFF, WHO HAVE HEARD MOST OF THE ARGUMENTS DEFORE, UNLESS IT IS ARRESTING ENOUGH TO YOUR DRAFT NOTE HAY ENGAGE THE PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL INTEREST.

BE RATHER TOO IMPERSONAL TO ACHIEVE THIS.

3. WE ACCORDINGLY SUGGEST IN M.1.F.T. A SOMEWHAT EXTENDED VERSION OF THE COVERING LETTER WHICH WE HOPE WOULD STAND SOME

IT COULD PROBABLY CHANCE OF BEING STUDIED BY THE PRESIDENT.

STAND BY ITSELF, BUT MY SECOND 1.F.T. SUGGESTS SOME AMENDMENTS TO YOUR DRAFT NOTE.

4. IN BOTH DOCUMENTS WE SUGGEST INDICATING A READINESS TO EXAMINE POSSIBLE CHANGES IN G.A.T.T. PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH DISRUPTIVE IMPORTS. MERELY TO URGE THE AMERICANS TO REFER THE NON-COTTON TEXTILE PROBLEM TO G.A.T.T., EVEN IF WE HOLD OUT THE PROSPECT OF SOME ACTION ON IMMEDIATE CASES OF DIFFICULTY, WOULD, I AM SURE, NOT SHIFT THEM FROM THEIR PRESENT COURSE. PROBABLY THEY WOULD ASSUME THE PROPOSAL TO BE A TIME- WASTING DEVICE. AT BEST THEY WOULD CLAIM (NOT ENTIRELY WITHOUT REASON) THAT AD HOC RELIEF FOR IMMEDIATE DIFFICULTIES

/ WOULD LEAVE