GRS 100 A
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FM UKMIS GENEVA 211833Z
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RESTRICTED
By
150
22 SEP 1976
51
EXT
NKK 243/548/1
MEF.
152
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 278 OF 21 SEPTEMBER 1976. INFO IMMEDIATE TOKYO, HONG KONG SINGAPORE, INFO ROUTINE OTTAWA, KUALA LUMPAR, PARIS, JAKARTA, MANILA, AND WASHINGTON.
YOUR TEL 188: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES:
MS. MATHER.
1. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE UNHCR OFFICE ALONG THE LINES OF PARA 2
OF YOUR T.U.R.
2. THEY, IN REPLY, HAVE POINTED OUT THAT IT IS THE JAPANESE
AUTHORITIES WHO HAVE ASKED FOR A GUARANTEE FROM HMG RATHER THAN
FROM THE UNHCR. IF HM EMBASSY IN TOKYO CAN PERSUADE THE JAPANESE
TO ACCEPT AN ASSURANCE FROM THE UNHCR, THE LATTER WOULD BE WILLING TO PROVIDE ONE. HOWEVER, THE UNHCR HAVE STRESSED THAT THEIR
ASSURANCE WOULD BE LIMITED TO SAYING THAT THEY WOULD BE FULLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE REFUGEES IN JAPAN AND THAT THEY WOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO FIND RESETTLEMENT
OPPORTUNITIES ELSEWHERE. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS THE UNHCR ARE IN
NO POSITION TO GUARANTES (UNDERLINED) THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
FIND PERMANENT HOMES FOR THE REFUGEES. THE ASSURANCE THEY GAVE
TO HONG KONG IN RESPECT OF THE AVA REFUGEES DID NOT CONTAIN SUCH
A GUARANTEE.
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