PS/LPS
. CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 24311
REDENO IN A
IND
2 1 JUN 1979
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PS/M Blaker
BS/PUS
Mr Cortazzi
-SEAD
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W
12g
Intuition in
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Jsib
INDO-CHINA REFUGEES
PROBLEM
по
86.6 H Legal
HKGD -UND
Legal Advisers
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1 We need to respond quickly to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' proposal that Britain should accept a new quota of 10,000 Indo-China refugees as part of the international pledging Hartling is seeking during his consultations for an
Geneva international conference (UKMIS New York telegram No 199).
2. The Home Secretary has concluded that we cannot agree to any extra quota except conceivably a modest one to include any refugees rescued by British ships (Home Office letter of 18 June).
RECOMMENDATION
3. The Lord Privy Seal should discuss the attached draft letter to the Prime Minister with the Home Secretary, if possible to-day, stressing the need for Britain to make a sizeable offer to UNHCR if
our lead in pressing for an international conference is to remain credible. If Mr Whitelaw agrees to support us, the letter should to to No 10 without delay.
BACKGROUND
4. The Home Secretary's main concern is the open-ended commitment to take refugees rescued by British ships, because the first port of call principle (which never had the force of international law) has collapsed. In fact a sizeable collection of Western countries have declared that they will accept refugees which their flag ships rescued at sea:-
Australia
Belgium
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Canada
France
Germany
CONFIDENTIAL
Sweden
USA
/It is impossible