GRPS 230 IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
RESTRICTED
MOLT IN K
TRY NO. 51
by
27 OCT 1976
Center & pa
24/10.
FM UKMIS GENEVA 251635Z
RESTRICTED
IMK/240/5081
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 342 OF 25 OCTOBER INFO IMMEDIATE TOKYO, ROUTINE WASHINGTON, OTTAWA
YOUR TELNO 550 TO TOKYO
LIST
174)
NEXT
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: MS MATHER
REF.
17:
1. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE UNHCR SECRETARIAT ALONG THE LINES OF PARA-
GRAPH 4 OF YOUR TUR.
2. THE SECRETARIAT KNEW THAT THESE REFUGEES HAD BEEN INTERVIEWED BY
US CONSULAR AUTHORITIES. THEY NOTED OUR INFORMATION THAT ADMISSION
INTO THE USA WAS NOW UNLIKELY. THEY HAD NOT HEARD THIS THROUGH THEIR
OWN CHANNELS. THEY BELIEVED THAT THE CANADIANS MAY ALREADY HAVE
INTERVIEWED THIS GROUP, BUT THEY WOULD SEEK IMMEDIATE TELEGRAPHIC CONFIRMATION FROM THEIR REPRESENTATIVE. THEY WOULD AT THE SAME TIME
ASK FOR A SITUATION REPORT AND SUGGEST THAT URGENT APPROACHES BE
MADE TO OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
3. THE SECRETARIAT WERE NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE USEFULNESS OF AN
APPROACH TO THE NICARAGUAN AUTHORITIES. IN THEIR EXPERIENCE,
APPROACHES TO THAT GOVERNMENT HAD ALWAYS. BEEN NON-STARTERS.
4. WE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY IN INJECTING A SENSE OF URGENCY INTO THE
SECRETARIAT. IN THEIR EXPERIENCE THE JAPANESE HAD ALWAYS GRANTED
FURTHER EXTENSTIONS TO THE 30 DAY PERIODS OF ASYLUM. THEY HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE JAPANESE WOULD ACT DIFFERENTLY IN THIS
CASE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY WERE NOW RECEIVING DAILY REPORTS OF NEW ARRIVALS OF BOAT PEOPLE IN FAR EASTERN PORTS TWO NEW
GROUPS ARRIVED IN JAPAN OVER THE WEEKEND. THIS RATE OF INCREASE IN THE PROBLEM TENDED TO PUSH THE PARTICULAR CASE OF THE MATHER
REFUGEES INTO THE BACKGROUND.
BOTTOMLEY
FILES:
SEAD
MTD
FED
LEGAL ADVISER
HKD
NEWS D
UND
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
NAD
MR CORTAZZI
MVD
MR MALE
RESTRICTED
COFIES TO:
MR MCDOWALL
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