TNAG-0628-FCO40-776-Effect-of-GATT-Multi-Fibre-Arrangement-on-Hong-Kong-negotiat-1977 — Page 74

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4. WE SHALL ALSO NEED ASSURANCES THAT THE FORM OF THE COMMISSION'

APPROACH DOES NOT RULE OUT ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATE

INCLUDING THE RESERVATIONS EXPRESSED IN THE COUNCIL THAT THE

COMMUNITY MUST BE FREE TO GO OUTSIDE THE M F A IF OTHER METHODS OF

ATTAINING ITS OBJECTIVES COME TO NOTHING.

5. COMMISSIONER D'AVIGNON MENTIONED THAT POSSIBILITY OF A JOURNEY

TO PARIS TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION DIRECTLY TO FRENCH MINISTERS.

WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT BRITISH MINISTERS WOULD WANT A SIMILAR

OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THEIR DOUBTS TO M D'AVIGNON, MR DELL WOULD

PROVISIONALLY BE AVAILABLE AT 1900 HOURS ON TUESDAY 19 JULY,

6. THE UK SEES THE PRESENT POSITION IN GENEVA AS SIMPLY A PHASE IN

THE RENEGOTIATION OF THE M F A. WE DO NOT SEE THERE IS

AN OVER-RIDING NEED FOR HASTE. WE WOULD ENVISAGE A FURTHER ROUND

OF THE TEXTILES COMMITTEE IN THE AUTUMN TO REVIEW PROGRESS

IN THE BILATERALS. WE WOULD THUS AVOID THE NEED FOR A QUOTE TAKE

IT UNQUOTE OR QUOTE LEAVE IT UNQUOTE SITUATION AT THE END OF

THE YEAR AND GIVE THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO TABLE FORMAL

AMENDMENTS TO THE PRESENT M F A IF NECESSARY,

7. ABOVE ALL, THE UK ASSUMES THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, FURTHER DISCUSSION IN C OREPER AND, IF NECESSARY, IN THE

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS. WE SEE NO NEED FOR MENDER STATES TO BE

PRESENTED WITH A FAIT ACCOMPLI

OVEN.

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC FILES

DISTRIBUTION

EID

HR e GD

ADDIMONAL

DISTRIBUTION

FRAME

COPIES

MIR PRAR CA MR HARRIS

CABINET

OFFICE

MR RIDLEY MR HUDSON MISS LOWNĄ MR PARRY

MR GRAY

MR WRIGHT

DEAT

OF INDUSTRY

MISS MACFARLANE

Deer OF

TRADE

2

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