GRS 190
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IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
FM UKMIS GENEVA 1512192
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DESKBY 151338Z
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اما
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 208 OF 15 JULY INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG AND RANGOON INFO ROUTINE PEKING INFO SAVING HANOI
YOUR TELNO 134: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO UNHCR'S OFFICE ABOUT THIS REPORT. THEIR PRESS OFFICE GAVE THIS INFORMATION TO REUTERS BEFORE THE CALL REPORTED IN MY TELNO 207. REUTERS HAD TELEPHONED THE UNHCR FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF A REPORT PICKED UP BY THEIR SYDNEY OFFICE,
2. UNHCR'S OFFICE MADE TWO FURTHER POINTS:
(A) UNHCR TODAY SENT A TELEGRAM TO THE UNDP RESREP IN RANGOON ASKING HIM TO APPROACH THE BURMESE AUTHORITIES ABOUT ACCEPTING
THE REFUGEES,
38
D) REFERENCE PARAGRAPH 2A OF YOUR TUR: ACCORDING TO THE UNHCR'S INTERPRETATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, A MERCHANT VESSEL CAN NO LONGER BE REGARDED AS A FLOATING PIECE OF TERRITORY OF THE COUNTRY WHOSE FLAG IT FLIES. MOREOVER, THE MASTER IS NOT AN AGENT OF THAT COUNTRY AND IS NOT EMPOWERED TO GRANT TEMPORARY ASYLUM ON BOARD. THE 1910 BRUSSELS CONVENTION REQUIRES HIM TO PICK UP PEOPLE IN DISTRESS ON THE HIGH SEAS, BUT THE QUESTION OF ASYLUM CAN ONLY BE SORTED OUT AT THE SHIP'S FIRST PORT OF CALL. IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF YOU COULD LET ME KNOW
REFUGEES TO BE A BURMESE RESPONSIBILITY.
FCO PLEASE PASS SAVING TO HANOI
WHY YOU CONSIDER THESE
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED
BOTTOMLEY
FILES HKD (3)
MR CORTAZZI
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
SEAD
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NEWS DEPT
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