FA 021/20
CONFIDENTIAL
Red to me
J26.4
(1872) Mr Williamson
82267!!
HKK 2431 - dove need to do anything further
CALL ON MINISTER OF SHAME
IP, BY MR RICHARD HOLEROCKE
IN THE FOREIGN AND CURATIVE MED OUT FOR SRIDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 1979 follow
AT 12 NOON
DESK OFFICER
INDEX Present
Action Token
Mr Peter Blaker MP
по
828.1
Mr HA H Cortazzi, DUSS
Mr A M Simons, Head, South-East
Asian Department
The Thai Frontier
up on paral??
8226111
Mr Richard Holbrooke, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, Department of State
Miss Priscilla Clapp, Director
for East Asia Department of State
Mr Bronson McKinley, US Embassy
Dee (1875
1. Mir Holbrooke recalled that previous discussion with Mr Cortazzi
had concerned Indo-China and ASEAN. There was an identity of strategic interests and views between the American and British
sides. Both sides had also been pursuing similar tactics.
2. The situation in South-East Asia was critical and there was
need for improvement in advice given to the Thais if tension were to be reduced. The humanitarian need was most urgent. After the
5 November Pledging Conference in New York elements of a policy to deal with the situation were in place, but implementation was difficult. The river route to Phnom Penh was being opened up and the Americans continued to advocate the establishment of a land route,
although the Vietnamese were unlikely to agree to this.
3. The Thai/Cambodian frontier posed grave dangers in view of the press of Cambodians to cross it. The Thais had moved 35,000 people to SaKeow, but 300,000 more were gathered at the frontier, and preparations by the Thai Government and the international community to receive them were inadequate. Politically the border was an accident waiting to happen; there were too many refugees and among them were Khmer Rouge soldiers.
4. Mr Holbrooke was glad that the British had supported
General Kriangsak's proposal for an observer presence on the Thai side of the frontier. The need was to get beyond the Perez de Cuellar fact-finding mission which Dr Waldheim had agreed to send. The highest imperative was to stop the frontier situation sparking off
1 CONFIDENTIAL
12