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8. The conference proposed by the Prime Minister had two objectives:
to help those who got out of Vietnam and to regulate the flow. And
the world had to be made aware of Vietnamese policies. The British
Government had spoken in the strongest terms in Hanoi and had made
representations to the Soviet Union and East European countries. We
were making a major effort to mobilise world opinion. Mr Blaker said
there was a dilemma in our call for a conference: it might appear that
we were seeking to stop people leaving. This would be incompatible with
our policy on human rights, for example, with respect to the Soviet
Union. We wished simply to regulate the flow. He would visit the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Hartling, in Geneva
on 18 June. The Government also intended to involve the UN Secretary-
General. On support from the aid budget for the voluntary agencies,
Mr Blaker said that the aid review was still not complete.
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9 Rev Jackson suggested that the outflow might be diminished by an
increased Western aid programme to Vietnam: the development of the
New Economic Zones in the South was.necessary to produce food for the
North, and could make the conditions there more tolerable.
}
10. Mr Blaker agreed that there was an anti-Chinese element in
Vietnamese policies, which, by forcing collectivisation in South
Vietnam, was exacerbating Vietnam's food production problems, and thus
increasing the outflow. Mrs Pearce did not believe that the whole
ethnic Chinese community would leave, but feared that those who could
not afford to do so might be sent to extermination camps. The West
was having its bluff called on human rights: if we could not absorb
the refugees, the Vietnamese could try to blame us for whatever steps
they took against those who were left in Vietnam. Britain must give a lead to the world community rather than drag her feet over accepting refugees rescued by British ships. The voluntary organisations could
do more: even without an appeal the Ockenden Venture had been offered
homes for 450 of the Sibonga refugees. They might also be able to give
greater help in Hong Kong.
11. Mr Cumber wondered how tolerant the average Briton was. Immediate
reactions were sympathetic, but in his experience they soon dissipated.
Sir Leslie Kirkley agreed that there might be a need to campaign to maintain public sympathy.
CONFIDENTIAL
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