00 KINGSTON
GRS 300A
CYPHER CAT A
FM FCO 021739Z
CONFIDENTIAL
RECE VI
REGISTKY No. 50
5 MAY 1975
AKK18/25
TO IMMEDIATE KINGSTON (FOR S OF S) TELNO 228 OF 2 MAY
FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF DEPARTMENT WAS RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG TELNO 426 OF 2 MAY
TO FLASH FCO TELEGRAM NO 426 OF 2 MAY INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON PRIORITY COPENHAGEN AND OTTAWA ROUTINE MANILA.
FROM POLITICAL ADVISER.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
MAERSK SHIPPING LINE HAS JUST INFORMED US THAT THE CLARA MAERSK, C TYPE 14,000 TON CARGO LINER PICKED UP 3,000 VIET- NAMESE REFUGEES THIS AFTERNOON 100 MILES SOUTH OF SAIGON FROM SINKING SHIP, THE TRUONG XUAN'' (CALL SIGN XVLX). ACCORDING
TO LOCAL AGENTS, CLARA MAERSK IS DUE TO DOCK HONG KONG AFTER- NOON SUNDAY 4 MAY AND IS THEREAFTER BOUND FOR UNITED STATES. 2. AGENTS HAVE NO INFORMATION ON CONDITION OF REFUGEES AND VESSEL IS AT PRESENT TOO FAR FROM HONG KONG FOR US TO ARRANGE ANY NECESSARY MEDICAL OR OTHER EMERGENCY RELIEF. WASHINGTON MAY CARE TO ALERT APPROPRIATE U.S. AUTHORITIES, INCLUDING
INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE,
(A) IN CASE U.S. NAVAL VESSELS IN THE SAIGON AREA CAN OFFER
ASSISTANCE, AND
(B) IN HOPE THAT U.S. WILL ACCEPT PART OR WHOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ULTIMATE SETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES.
3. WE ARE CONSCIOUS THAT DOCKING OF CLARA MAERSK WILL CO-INCIDE WITH START OF ROYAL VISIT, BUT DIVERSION OF SHIP TO ANOTHER DESTINATION MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE AT THIS STAGE. IT MAY THEREFORE BE NECESSARY FOR US TO LAND, AND TO PROVIDE TRANSIT ACCOMMODATION FOR THE REFUGEES WHILE WE TRY TO ARRANGE FOR THEM TO BE SENT TO SOME COUNTRY WHICH IS WILLING TO GIVE THEM PERMANENT HOMES. IF WE ARE OBLIGED TO ACCOMMODATE THIS GROUP, WE MAY BE PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO TAKE MORE THEREAFTER. HOWEVER, GRATEFUL FOR URGENT VIEWS ON FEASIBILITY OF TRYING TO DIVERT VESSEL TO SOME OTHER (POSSIBLY U.S. CONTROLLED) PORT.
4. IT OCCURS TO US THAT CANADIANS MAY BE INTERESTED IN HELPING
US DEAL WITH THIS GROUP, IF WE LAND THEM. IF YOU AGREE, GRATEFUL
IF YOU WOULD INSTRUCT OUR HIGH COMMISSION ACCORDINGLY. WE
SHALL ALERT CANADIAN COMMISSIONER HERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
TOMORROW. HE HAS SHOWN HIMSELF SYMPATHETIC ALREADY IN THE CASE
OF OUR EXISTING 67.
5. PURPOSE OF THIS TELEGRAM IS TO GET FACTS OF SITUATION TO YOU
QUICKLY. WE SHALL TELEGRAPH FURTHER WITH CONSIDERED COMMENT
AFTER CONSULTING GOVERNOR.
CALLAGHAN
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