CONFIDENTIAL
2
BALANCE OF PREVIOUS QUOTA
7.
The commitment which I have just announced is in addition to those undertakings already made by the Government and the previous Government.
POSITIONS OF OTHER STATES
8.
A number of other States which will be attending the Geneva meeting have already announced that they will accept additional numbers of refugees as make further financial contributions. Others are still considering whether they will be able to do so, in order to be able to make appropriate announcements in Geneva.
REFUGEES RESCUED BY BRITISH VESSELS
9.
?
4
We shall continue to remind the Masters of British vessels of their obligations towards persons in distress at sea, and to consider on a case by case basis whether to accept for settlement in the United Kingdom refugees rescued at sea by British vessels.
But as Noble'
[hona Members aware, it is our view that the so-
called "first port of call" principle should apply in these cases. We hope that one of the results of the Geneva meeting will be to give further weight to this principle.
CONFIDENTIAL