COMFT UINTAL
16. For 1979, we have pledged so far £3.5 million to the UNHCR
general programme (this programme now includes assistance to refugees
in Thailand). This was, however, based on a UNHCR total estimated
budget for 1979 of some US$88 million. Because of the continuing
nature of existing programme, and taking into account new refugee
situations which have arisen, the UNHCR general programme budget
has had to be revised upwards to US$115 million. ODM are sympathet-
ically considering making an additional contribution commensurate
with the increase and the level of our earlier pledge.
Government assistance to British voluntary agencies
17. Apart from ODM assistance to voluntary organizations working in
Thailand, the Home Office are also providing about £1 million in
this financial year to British voluntary agencies who are coping with
the reception and resettlement of refugees admitted to Britain.
In the next financial year the Government's grant to them is expected
to be about £1 million.
Vietnam/Cambodia/China
18.
Vietnamese relations with the Pol Pot regime had been strained.
The Cambodians had managed to inflict unacceptable losses in frontier
hostilities against the Vietnamese, who evidently determined to put
an end to the nuisance and establish their own agents in Phnom Penh.
The
19. The Vietnamese invasion followed their joining CMEA and signature
of a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with the Russians.
Vietnamese have become increasingly beholden to the Russians for aid
and political support since Vietnam's relations with China have
deteriorated, partly as a consequence of the way the Vietnamese have
hounded their country's Chinese minority Tension on the
•
/Sino-Vietnam
CORET TYGNOT AT