RESTRICTED
3. THE MFA HAVE REPLIED THAT IN VIEW OF THE INCREASING NUMBER OF REFUGEES IN JAPAN AWAITING RESETTLEMENT THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE HAVE HARDENED THEIR POSITION AND THAT IN THE CASE OF THE ''MATHER'' A GUARANTEE FROM UNHCR WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE AND THAT AN UNDERTAKING FROM A THIRD COUNTRY IS NECESSARY INCLUDING AN ASSURANCE THAT THE REFUGEES WILL LEAVE JAPAN WITHIN 30 DAYS.
4. THE DUTCH IN PROVIDING ASSURANCES DID SO BY TAKING ''FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESETTLEMENT'' BUT SPECIFICALLY AVOIDING ANY MENTION OF ACCEPTING THE REFUGEES INTO THE NETHERLANDS. ACCORDING TO THE DUTCH THE JAPANESE DID NOT LIKE THIS BUT THEY ACCEPTED IT, IN PRACTICE THE DUTCH EMBASSY HAS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REFUGEES FROM THE DUTCH VESSEL ''KELLETIA'' WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ENTIRELY BY THE LOCAL UNHCR OFFICE WHO
HAVE PAID ALL EXPENSES, HOWEVER THE NEW 30 DAY RULE (PARA 4 OF
OUR TEL 849 REFERS) SEEMS AT LEAST PARTLY DESIGNED TO PREVENT A REPETITION OF THE DUTCH FORMULA BEING USED. THE LOCAL UNHCR OFFICE INSISTS THAT THE JAPANESE WILL PERMIT THE REFUGEES TO REMAIN AS LONG AS THEY HAVE APPLICATIONS FOR RESETTLEMENT PENDING, BUT WE HAVE POINTED OUT TO THEM THAT EVEN SO DISCRETION WOULD APPEAR TO REMAIN ENTIRELY IN THE HANDS OF THE JAPANESE.
WILFORD
FILES
COPIES TO:
SEAD
FED
MR.EDMONDS MR. BURROWS
MR.MCDOWALL, HO LUNAR HOUSE,
CROYDON.
HKD
UND
NAD
}
MVD
MTD
NEWS D
LEGAL ADVISERS
PE/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS MR.CORTAZZI
MR.MALE MR.WEIR
N
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