GRS 199
TORITY
APHER CAT/A
FM HANOI 29058ZZ
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 2431.1
RECEIV
31 MAY 1978
95
REG STRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taxen
TO PRIORITY F.C.O. TELNO.78 OF 25 MAY
ChE
INFO ROUTINE TO PEKING MOSCOW WASHINGTON HONG KONG (POLAD). AND SAVING TO BANGKOK, VIENTIANE, UKDEL NATO (WITH COPY OF TUR)
MY TELNO.77: SINO-VIETNAMESE RELATIONS
1. THE PRIME MINISTER, PHAM VAN DONG, SUMMONED ME THIS AFTERNOON. FOR THE USUAL DISCUSSION HE HAS WITH EVERY NEW AMBASSADOR.
2.
ATTEMP
I ATTEMPTED TO DRAW HIM ON SINO-VIETNAMESE RELATIONS, HE RECALLED THE HELP VIETNAM HAD RECEIVED FROM BOTH THE SOVIET UNION AND CHINA DURING THE WAR, FOR WHICH THEY REMAINED PROFOUNDLY GRATE- FUL.
IN PEACE-TIME, VIETNAM CONTINUED THE SAME POLICY OF GOOD RELATIONS WITH BOTH COUNTRIES WHICH WAS "BASIC TO VIETNAMESE FOREIGN POLICY''. HE ADMITTED THAT RECENTLY THERE HAD BEEN DIFFICULTIES WITH CHINA, AMONGST WHICH WAS THE MATTER OF THE "'HOA'' (OVERSEAS CHINESE) PEOPLE. VIETNAM WAS ATTEMPTING TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THAT PROBLEM: THERE WERE COMPLICATIONS, BUT THEY WERE TRYING THEIR BEST TO BRING THE SITUATION BACK TO NORMAL.
3. PHAM VAN DONG WOULD NOT BE DRAWN FURTHER ON THE SPECIFICS
OF HOW VIETNAM PROPOSED TO PROCEED. IT IS INTERESTING THAT HE DESCRIBED THE REFUGEE PROBLEM AS BEING AMONGST OTHER DIFFICULT-
IES WITH CHINA.
FCO PASS SAVING TO NATO.
MARGETSON
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET]
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