LAS 160
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED.
Hex 243/1.
RECEIVED IN HEA
INO. STRA
16 AUG 1979
DESK O K INDEX
PECISTRY Action Taken
••
1574A
See 1585
1361
FN F C O 1519462 AUG 79
TO ROUTINE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 460 OF 15 AUGUST
INFO HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA, UKMIS NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, OTTAWA, TOKYO AND PARIS.
IS OUR TELNO 457: MV RUDD BANK,
1. BANK LINE INFORMED US TODAY THAT MASTER NOW ESTIMATES THAT RUDD BANK WILL NOT LEAVE SHANGHAI UNTIL 22 AUGUST AT THE PARLIEST AND WILL NOT BE OUT OF CHINESE WATERS UNTIL 5 SEPTEMBER AT THE EARLIEST: BANK LINE ARE ALREADY EXPLORING SUBSEQUENT CHARTERING POSSIBILITIES, AND ARE KEEN TO DISEMBARK THE REFUGECS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THEY HAVE THEREFORE SENT THE FOLLOWING CABLE TO THE MASTER, .CARE OF THE CHINESE AGENTS IN SHANGHAI :
BEGINS
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY, PEKING, HAVE AGREED TO GIVE TEMPORARY ASYLUM TO ALL REFUGEES ABOARD RUDD BANK PENDING FINAL RESETTLEMENT,
CONFIRM WHEN REFUGEES DISEMBARKED AT SHANGHAI.
ENDS.
2. OWNERS BELIEVE THAT THIS MESSAGE WILL ENCOURAGE THE MASTER TO WORK MORE ACTIVELY TO HAVE THE REFUGEES LANDED (PARAGRAPH 4 OF TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE) AND WILL GIVE HIM MORE LEVERAGE WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN SHANGHAI, WHO WILL OF COURSE DE APLE TO HEAD IT BEFORE DELIVERY.
CARRINGTON
FILES
PS/IPS
SEAD
PS
UK & GD
UND
FED
EESU
NAM D
SAD
MAED
EID
TUOD
OID
JPD
NEWS D MVD
FS/MR HURD -PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
AR CONTAZZI.
MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
LORD NG LENNOX
HR DULLARD)
MR FERGUSSON
MA FECIWALL
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION BOAT PEOPLE
BESONICORD