DEFAWTMENT OF TRADE
1 VICTORIA STREET LONDON STAI ONT
Telephone
650/5 i
SEAD
B
Bryan Cartledge Esq
10 Downing Street
LONDON SW
From the Secretary of State
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED
Ford Powy Secul
B Rw Blocker B Pos Sur A Pouser The lortags.
Moder
Nu
Ahn Leavy Sur 1 Smetair Sindour UWD., itK+D.,
30 May 1979
PROTETED, EESA,
NID
Dear Bryan,
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
Pas
Thank you for sending me, today, a copy of your letter 29 May to 39 Steven Wall in the FCO in which you recorded the decisions reached at the Prime Minister's meeting yesterday. The Secretary of State, wh has, as you know, responsibility for our relations with the shipping industry, has asked me to pass on his comments on the second conclusi of the meeting.
sea.
The Secretary of State is concerned that in consideration of this difficult and sensitive issue nothing should be said publicly which would throw into doubt the obligations of Masters of British Ships under international law to render assistance to persons in danger at
Ships' Masters need clear guidance when faced with a dilemma such as whether the plight of refugees is so extreme that they should be picked up or merely given additional supplies to enable them to survive a bit longer. Hitherto our advice to the shipping industry has been of a prestical nature so that the Ships' hasters can inform the right quarters, including the UN High Commission for Refugees, of the details of the rescue in order that arrangements can be made in advance for providing asylur. Hitherto the Masters have alwers had the confidence of knowing, that, in the event of difficulty, the government would in the last resort, whilst giving no guarantees o7- the problem of settlements Lu the United Kingdom, provide asylum. Ships' Macters this has meant that one area of uncertainty has been
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