EXTRACT FROM A RECORD OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, THE RT. HON. MALCOĻM FRASER, IN CANBERRA ON 1 JULY 1979
Mr. Fraser suggested that Britain and Australia should,
together with like-minded countries, try to agree a concerted
plan on refugees. The Prime Minister agreed,
Australia was
Britain's link with this part of the world. Mr. MacKellar hoped
Britain and Australia could seek to arrive at a common approach before the conference called for 20/21 July. The Prime Minister
said there was not much time but she would ask the Foreign
Secretary to consider the question urgently. Mr. MacKellar
suggested that the United States and Canada might also be
associated with a joint approach to the problem. He wondered whether France should be asked to participate?
a
Mr. Fraser, reverting to the question of/cutting of aid to
Vietnam, said the question could be argued two ways. Some felt
that if the West cut off aid, Vietnam would become the more
dependent on Russian aid. On the other hand, Vietnam perhaps
would not wish to become totally dependent on Russian aid and
therefore a total cut in Western aid might have a real effect.
condemnation
and
The Prime Minister commented that the whole issue of
refugees seemed to revolve round three points
of Vietnam; switching aid from Vietnam to refugees;
resettling refugees.
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