(
109)
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A AND BY BAG
GRPS 200
6
FM F C O 211820Z
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 228100Z
R
CONFIDENTIAL
LCEIVED
TRY No. 52
22 MAY 1975
NICK 18/25
LAST
REF.
116 (117)
125
KEXT
RCF.
129
เ
TOP COPY
(HK)
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 411 OF 21 MAY 1975, AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING, CANBERRA INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA, SINGAPORE (SAIGON UNIT) UKMIS NEW YORK, INFO SAVING BONN, ROME, WASHINGTON, OTTAWA, VELLINGTON, DUBLIN, THE HAGUE, LUXEMBOURG, OSLO, PARIS, BRUSSELS YOUR TELS NO3 564 AND 506 (NOT TO ALL): VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. YOUR TELNO 504. WE ARE PURSUING PARA 5 WITH THE HOME OFFICE. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL MEANWHILE IF YOU WOULD SEND LATEST INFORMATION (ON LINES OF YOUR PARAS 1-3) FOR ALL OTHER OF THE TWENTY GOVERNMENTS YOU HAVE APPROACHED.
2. YOUR TELNO 506. IN VIEW OF MR WHITLAM'S KNOWN PREFERENCE, WE ARE INCLINED TO ACCEPT SOME INVOLVEMENT OF THE UNHCR IN FINDING HOMES IN AUSTRALIA FOR SOME OF THE REFUGEES, SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, AND THOSE OF PEKING, WE FEEL THE TIME IS APPROACHING WHEN WE SHOULD RECOMMEND A HIGH LEVEL APPROACH TO HIM ON THIS BASIS. ON (A) OF CANBERRA TELNO 443 (NOT TO ALL) WE CAN REPLY THAT THE HEAD OF SOUTH EAST ASIA DEPT ASKED MADAME MINH, A PRG REPRESENTATIVE IN PARIS, ABOUT THE RETURN OF EVACUEES WHEN SHE CALLED AT THE F CO ON 7 MAY. MADAME MINH REPLIED THAT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE P R G'S WELL KNOWN POLICY, THE GOVERNMENT WANTED REFUGEES TO RETURN. EVEN THOSE WHO FOUGHT ON THE WRONG SIDE WOULD BE WELCOME PROVIDED THEY REFORMED AND REPENTED. WE DO NOT THINK ANY FURTHER APPROACH TO THE SAIGON GOVERNMENT WOULD ADD ANYTHING TO THIS PUBLIC POSITION: NOR DO WE CONSIDER THESE GENERAL ASSURANCES RULE OUT THE RISK OF PUNISHMENT FOR RETURNEES WHO MAY HAVE COMMITTED OFFENCES IN THE EYES OF THE PR G. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS, HAVE YOU ANY INFORMATION ON ) OF CANBERRA TEL UNDER REFERENCE, ON WHICH PLEASE ALSO SEE OUR TELNO 396 (TO HONG KONG ONLY)?
CONFIDENTIAL
/ 3. (FOR