Mr Simons
Mr Murray
CC:
FED HK&G D MAED
UND
CONFIDENTIAL
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VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: MV RUDD BANK
PROBLEM
1.
Despite the Chinese offer of temporary or permanent asylum, it is now almost certain that the Rudd Bank will arrive in Japan with the 119 refugees on board. Japan is hesitant about
accepting them. In the event of difficulties in Japan, should we be ready to give a guarantee of eventual resettlement in the United Kingdom?
RECOMMENDATION
2. I recommend that although a final decision is not immediately necessary, No 10 Downing Street should be warned of the possible
need for an urgent decision over the weekend, and be advised that we would hope for a positive decision. I submit a draft Letter from the Private Secretary to the Lord Privy Seal. HK&GD, FED,
MAED and UND concur.
ARGUMENT
3.
·
Although we are continuing to exert such pressure as we can on the refugees to accept the Chinese offer of asylum, the Rudd Bank will now almost certainly arrive in Yokohama on Sunday or Monday, 2 or 3 September, with 119 refugees still on board. We warned the Japanese Government of this possibility on 20 August, recalling Mr Sonoda's categorical commitment in his keynote speech to the Geneva meeting on refugees and displaced persons. At senior official level, the Japanese have shown themselves hesitant,
CONFIDENTIAL
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