GR 210A . PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
FM WASHINGTON 032355Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY NO, 50
- 5 MAY 1975
ડેટ
TOP COPY
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 31 OF 3 MAY INFO PRIORITY FCO ROUTINE BANGKOK, PEKING, MANILA.
FOR POLITICAL ADVISER.
MY TELNO. 30: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
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1. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH US ABOUT THE GROUP 13 OF 58 REFUGEES (YOUR TELNO. 421 TO FCO, PARA 2), WHOSE PERMISSION
TO STAY IN HONG KONG WILL, THEY UNDERSTAND, EXPIRE ON 5 MAY.
2. AS YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE HEARD FROM US CONSULATE GENERAL, THE TASK FORCE FACE GREAT DIFFICULTY IN GETTING THE GROUP PROCESSED IN TIME TO MEET THE PRESENT DEADLINE BECAUSE OF CONGRESSIONAL
PRESSURES. THEY EXPECT TO SCRT OUT THE DOMESTIC ISSUES INVOLVED WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK AND WOULD BE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD
AGREE TO EXTEND THE REFUGEES' TRANSIT TIME FOR A FURTHER 7 DAYS
FROM 5 MAY.
3. WE APPRECIATE THAT THE PRESSURES ON YOU ARE ALSO HEAVY, BUT HOPE
THAT YOU CAN GRANT THE EXTENSION AS AN EXCEPTIONAL MEASURE. YOUR REPLY SHOULD PLEASE BE CHANNELLED THROUGH THE CONSULATE GENERAL.
4. WE HAVE PASSED ON TO THE TASK FORCE THE SUBSTANCE OF PARAS. 1 AND 2 OF YOUR TELNO. 426 TO FCO (NOT TO BANGKOK OR PEKING), STRESS- ING YOUR HOPE THAT THE US WOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
ULTIMATE SETTLEMENT OF THE TRUONG XUAN'S PASSENGERS. TASK FORCE, WHO HAD SO FAR RECEIVED ONLY RADIO REPORTS, NOTED THE DETAILS AND
UNDERTOOK TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER URGENTLY.
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