IMMEDIATE
GPS 400
CYPHER/CAT A & BY BAG
FM FCO 231915Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
26 JUL 1976
1KK 243/548/1
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 577 OF 23 JULY
TOP COPY
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON UKMIS GENEVA RANGOON TOKYO ROUTINE
PEKING KUALA LUMPUR
INFO SAVING HANOI.
MY TELNO 574.
LAS.
RES
NEXT
REF.
93
89)
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
1. THE U.S. EMBASSY, ON TELEPHONED INSTRUCTIONS FROM CARLIN, DEPUTY CO-ORDINATOR FOR REFUGEE AND MIGRATION AFFAIRS IN THE STATE
DEPARTMENT, HAVE ASKED THAT THE QUOTE AVA UNQUOTE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SAIL FOR YOKOHAMA IN THE ABSENCE OF ASSURANCES
THAT ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT WILL BE PREPARED TO ADMIT THE REFUGEES, INSTEAD THE AMERICANS HAVE REPEATED THEIR VIEW THAT YOU SHOULD ADMIT THE REFUGEES TEMPORARILY SO THAT THEY AND, HOPEFULLY, OTHER. GOVERNMENTS, IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE UNHCR, MAY MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR RESETTLEMENT. (THE U.S. OFFER TO GIVE FAVOURABLE CONSIDERATION TO TAKING 39 REFUGEES STILL STANDS). THE AMERICANS ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT IT YOU DO NOT ADMIT THE REFUGEES TEMPORARILY OTHER SHIPS WILL REFUSE TO PICK UP REFUGEES AT SEA FOR FEAR THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LAND THEM AT THEIR NEXT PORT OF CALL.
2. WE HAVE EXPLAINED TO THE U.S. EMBASSY THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST YOUR ALLOWING THE REFUGEES TO LAND UNLESS YOU RECEIVE FIRM UNDERTAKI NGS THAT THEY WILL BE AFFORDED ENTRY INTO OTHER COUNTRIES (YOUR TELEGRAM NOS 702 AND 717, PARAGRAPH 5). HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF THE CLOSE AMERICAN CONCERN IN THE FATE OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND OF THE FACT THAT THEY ALONE HAVE SHOWN THEMSELVES WILLING TO CONSIDER TAKING SOME OF THE QUOTE AVA UNQUOTE REFUGEES,
CONFIDENTIAL
/WE DECIDED