RESTRICTED
FROM THE VIETNAM ALLOCATION FOR REFUGEES THROUGH UNHCR UNLESS
COMMISSION PROPOSALS IN COM(79)448 WERE APPROVED AS A WHOLE. AFTER
SOME DISCUSSION THEY DID HOWEVER AGREE TO SEPARATE CONSIDERATION
OF THE FINANCIAL AID PROPOSALS IN 14(B) AND (C) ON PAGE 7 OF THE
COMMISSION DOCUMENT. THIS COVERS 12 MEUA IN CASH TO UNHCR AND 4
MEUA IN RESERVE FOR POSSIBLE RELIEF OPERATIONS IN CAMBODIA
4. THE CHAIRMAN SUGGESTED DECIDING THE IMPUTATION OF THE 98, 200 TONNES OF RICE BY THE BUDGETARY PROCEDURE (QUALIFIED MAJORITY).
WE SAID THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE. THE COUNCIL HAD NOT SO FAR CHANGED
ITS DECISION ON THE OVERALL SIZE OF THE 1979 CEPEALS FOOD AID
PROGRAMME. SUCH A CHANGE WAS A POLICY NOT A BUDGETARY DECISION, IN
ADDITION THE PRESENT ISSUE WAS THE POLITICALLY SENSITIVE ONE OF
WHETHER OR NOT TO REDUCE THE VIETNAM ALLOCATION TO FEED THE
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. THAT WAS NOT THE SORT OF DECISION TO TAKE
BY QUALIFIED MAJORITY. THE SUGGESTION OF A VOTE ON THAT ISSUE WAS
DISCARDED. IN ANY CASE THE GERMANS AND OURSELVES WOULD HAVE
CONSTITUTED A BLOCKING MINORITY.
5. THE COUNCIL HAD ACCEPTED CHEYSSON'S CONDITION THAT THE COMMISS-
ION COULD PROCEED IF NO DECISION ON IMPUTATION WERE REACHED. THE
COMMISSION AND THE FRENCH SAID THE COUNCIL HAD HAD FOOD AID IN MIND
WHEN IT. SO AGREED. FINANCIAL AID TO UNHCR AND FOR CAMBODIA WAS
DIFFERENT. THE COMMISSION COULD NOT FIND THE MONEY SOMEWHERE WHILE
WAITING FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ON IMPUTATION AS IT COULD WITH FOOD:
AID ALL DELEGATIONS EXCEPT THE GERMANS COULD AGREE TO VIREMENT
躁
OF 14 MEUA FROM THE SURPLUS IN THE MAGHREB/MASHRA PART OF THE
BUDGET TO THE EMERGENCY AID RESERVE TO PROVIDE 12 MEUA CASH FOR UNHCR AND A 4 MEUA RESERVE FOR RELIEF OPERATIONS IN CAMBODIA
WHEN A SUITABLE INTERMEDIARY COULD BE FOUND. THE GERMANS AGREED TO
A PRESIDENCY SUGGESTION THAT THIS WAS A BUDGETARY QUESTION AND SHOULD
PE SETTLED BY WRITTEN PROCEDURE, IF NECESSARY BY QUALIFIED MAJORITY.
THE WRITTEN PROCEDURE EXPIRES AT 14.08Z TOMORROW 26 JULY,
6. THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF THE DRAFT SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS
OF THE 24 JULY COUNCIL ON THIS POINT. THE TEXT WILL AS USUAL BE
FINALISED BY THE ANTICI GROUP. THE TAPES WILL BE USED TO VERIFY THE REFERENCES IN THE CHAIRMAN'S SUMMING UP TO (A) THE NEED FOR, A
COMMISSION PROPOSAL BEFORE THE COUNCIL DISCUSSES THE FUTURE OF AID
170 VIETNAM
2
RESTRICTED