I don't know. I always felt that Giles was pretty dismissive and unwilling to hear them out. I don't think that Giles is responsible for Fred in any way, but the way it came off was that Giles has become quite intractable... it fits with some of his earlier decisions, so I don't see his reaction as being out of character for him. Plus, I htink his decision made sense from his point of view. That said, the call was brief and that gives rise to the impression that Giles never so much as considered doing anything, and let's not forget that Illyria was not just a danger to Fred, but to the world at that point. "Saving" Fred looked as though it might have greater consequences than just one girl from Texas. Giles, however, seemed quick to dismiss any prospect of doing anything, and I never had the impression that he'd even heard the entire argument making Fred's case before dismissing it. (Albeit, of course, there's nothing in the text to prove that, but it was the subjective impression I had.)