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IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO FRANCE) AND VARNED THEY MIGHT SPEAK UP ALONE AT THE TEXTILES COMMITTEE MEETING. WHEN THE MEETING TOOK PLACE, HOWEVER, A RIVAL TEXT, WHICH WOULD HAVE MET NONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S PREOCCUPATIONS, WAS CIRCULATED BY BRAZIL AND INDIA. THE CANADIANS INDICATED THAT NEITHER
OF THE TEXTS ON OFFER VAS ACCEPTABLE TO THEM, THE FRENCH CARRIED OUT THEIR THREAT TO SPEAK UNILATERALLY IN THE FACE OF STRONG PUBLIC OPPOSITION FROM THE COMMISSION, THE TEXTILES COMMITTEE WAS ADJOURNED WITH NO DATE FIXED FOR A NEW NEETING,
17. WE HOPE DISCUSSION AT THE COUNCIL WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE WAY FORWARD IN THIS SITUATION. THE COMMUNITY WOULD SEEM
HOW TO HAVE MO ALTERNATIVE DUT TO PREPARE FOR NECOTIATIONS AS SOON
B POSSIBLE FOR BILATERAL AGREEMENTS WITH THE MAIN SUPPLIERS.
BUT GIVEN THE RELUCTANCE OF MANY PRODUCING COUNTRIES TO AGREE
TO CONCLUSIONS OF THE TEXTILES COMMITTEE WHICH WOULD HAVE
ALLOWED THE COMMUNITY TO USE FLEXIBILITY, INCLUDING CERTAIN DEPARTURES FROM MFA RULES, IN THE BILATERALS, THE HOPES FOR A
SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME CANNOT BE GREAT. THE COMMUNITY MUST BE
PREPARED, AS AGREED IN ITS MANDATE, TO CONSIDER OTHER COURSES OF
ACTION, INCLUDING AMENDING THE TEXT OF THE MFA OR USING GATT ARTICLE XIX, IF THE DILATERALS FAIL TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S
OBJECTIVES AS SET OUT IN THE MANDATE.
13. THERE IS ALSO LIKELY TO DE SERIOUS RECRIMINATION OVER
THE FRENCH ACTION (SEE PARA 16 ABOVE). IN THE SENSE THAT THE GATT TEXTILES COMMITTEE IS AN INTERNATIONAL NECOTIATION, THE FRENCH ACTION DREACHES ARTICLE 113 OF THE TREATY OF
VHICH PROVIDES FOR THE COMMISSION TO BE SOLE SPOKESMAN IN
SUCH CASES. TO COUNTER THIS, THE FRENCH ARE LIKELY TO ARGUE THAT:
(A) THE COMMISSION EXCEEDED THE MANDATE GIVEN IT BY THE COUNCIL IN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE ITS RESPONSIBILITIES IN ACCEPTING THE
TEXT THEY WANTED.
(B)
SINCE FRANCE, LIKE OTHER HENDER STATES, HAS RESIDUAL GATT RIGHTS, SHE IS PERFECTLY ENTITLED TO SPEAK UP IN A GATT FORUM.
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