CONFIDENTIAL
4
practical alternative to accepting this liability, as a counter-
part to the smooth operation of the first port of call principle
and in the interests of avoiding losses to shipowners. Once
disembarkation had taken place, attempts would still be made,
through UNHCR, to reduce the demands for "last resort" asylum
in the UK, but it might eventually be necessary to accept
such cases as additional to the UK quota.
9. If the flow of refugees could be moderated by "orderly
departure" or otherwise, the incidence of ships cases should
decrease sharply. The provision of international processing
centres (paragraph 8, Note) could also help in the way indicated
but this would cause problems in connection with the contractual
law of deviation from normal routes.
Search and Rescue
10.
From a humanitarian point of view, it would seem impossible
to reject proposals to conduct search and rescue operations.
They do, however, raise serious problems of finance and resettle-
ment, and paragraph 9 proposes that States whose nationals mount
such operations must themselves accept responsibility (on a last
resort basis) for resettlement.
Flags of Convenience
10. The paper refers at various points to the position of Flag
of Convenience states and the problems they may pose for the
better regulation of maritime aspects of the refugees' situation.
No separate section exists on this factor, however, for two
CONFIDENTIAL
/reasons: