1.
LV CONFERENCE BUILDING
0.05

2.
LV MR. COHEN ARRIVES
0.11

3.
SV NORWEGIAN DELEGATE ARRIVES - MR. TRYGVE LIE
0.16

4.
CU HERR KDEISKY (AUSTRIA) ARRIVES
0.22

5.
SV MR. JAY (UK) ARRIVES
0.28

6.
SV MR. WAHLEN (SWITZERLAND) TALKING
0.32

7.
SV UK DELEGATES AT CONFERENCE TABLE
0.38

8.
SV DANISH DELEGATES, INCLUDING MR. HAEKKERUP
0.46

9.
SV PRESIDENT OF MEETING M. BOCK (AUSTRIA) TAKES SEAT
0.52

10.
GV DELEGATE SEATED AT CONFERENCE TABLE
1.04



Initials JM/V/WH/EEH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MEETING IN GENEVA TODAY (MONDAY), THE EFTA MINISTERIAL COUNCIL EXPRESSED WARM SATISFACTION WITH BRITAIN'S DECISION TO REDUCE ITS EMERGENCY IMPORT SURCHARGE FROM 15 TO 10 PER CENT. THE REDUCTION WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT, ON 26TH APRIL. EFTA'S SECRETARY GENERAL, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL MEETING, DR. FRITZ BOCK, AUSTRIA'S MINISTER OF TRADE AND RECONSTRUCTION TOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S DECISION HAD ENDED A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE IN THE ORGANISATION.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE REDUCTION WAS MADE AT THE MEETING BY MR. GEORGE BROWN, BRITAIN'S ECONOMICS MINISTER, AND BY THE BRITISH CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, MR. CALLAGHAN IN LONDON.

(THE IMPORT SURCHARGE CAUSED A GREAT STORM IN EUROPE WHEN IT WAS IMPOSED BY THE NEW BRITISH LABOUR ADMINISTRATION ON OCTOBER 26 - ONLY 10 DAYS AFTER THEY HAD TAKEN OFFICE. BY THE TIME THE FIVE PER CENT REDUCTION TAKES EFFECT, IT WILL HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR SIX MONTHS. THE NEXT MEETING OF EFTA TAKES PLACE IN VIENNA ON MAY 24-25.)