CONFIDENTIAL
from
the world market. It has made proposals (still under discussion by the Community) in the first instance for the supply of food for Indo-China refugees, through UNHCR, worth about £2.6m. This aid would come either from the Vietnam allocation or
from both. The notional the Community's emergency reserve or UK share of this would be about £450,000. We cannot claw any of our money back and I do not see us gaining much international credit simply by quoting our participation in the Community scheme.
We should find £5m
7. Our showing at Geneva will be poor enough even if we offer
If we are to escape something like 5,000 new refugee places.
a criticism, we should declare substantial financial contribution immediately, i.e. at the Conference, even though we might
If we believe we actually produce the money in instalments.
might as are going to have to produce more later in 1979 we
the credit. well declare it at the Conference and thus get
I cannot
8. Our revised aid programme for 1979 is £790m. conceive of any more deserving recipients of aid than the Indo-Chinese refugees: it literally helps them to stay alive.
CC:
Lord Privy Seal
Mr Hurd
Mr Marten
PUS
Sir A Duff
Sir A Parsons
Mr Cortazzi
Mr Murray
Mr Fogarty ODA Mr
Hurrell ODA
SEAD
HK GD✓
UND
SAD
FRD
EID (E)
6 July 1979
CONFIDENTIAL
PPR BUM.
PAR Blaker