CONFIDENTIAL
There would be undesirable implications in East/West
relations, in that the USSR would support Vietnam and
China would exploit the opportunity to side with the West.
14.
The disadvantages currently outweigh the
advantages.
While nevertheless it would be tempting
to seize the few options open to us to demonstrate that
the scale of the refugee problem deserves more
international attention than it has hitherto been given,
we should allow more time for our initiative for a
special conference to work. In any case, given the other
implications which resort to the Security Council would
have, our American and French permanent member friends
would expect us at least to consult them before proceeding.
CONFIDENTIAL