5
CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
24 May 1983
D.M.D. Thomas, Esq., CMG,
British Embassy, Washington.
My Dear Derall,
VIETNAM REFUGEES: US VIEWS
1. Many thanks for your letter of 20 May which I am asking Alan Donald to reply to in substance after consulting the Home Office. As you may imagine, this matter is dealt with mainly on the Asian political side of the FCO.
2.
Meanwhile, however, you might like to see the enclosed copy of a minute I wrote after my attendance at the Ditchley Conference on Refugees. You will note that my impression of Ambassador Douglas' personality coincides with yours. I should perhaps add, however, that Sir Jack Cater of the Hong Kong Office in London was also at the Conference, and gave all concerned, including Douglas, a very strong message that Hong Kong had done as much as it reasonably could to help with the Vietnam refugee problem and that, indeed, Hong Kong had a right to look to the rest of the international community to take some of the existing burden off her hands.
3.
If Douglas shows signs of wanting to come to London after the Election, do let me know and we will try to arrange a decent programme for him. I think he saw the Head of SEAD in November 1982, but that when he was in the UK earlier this month it did not prove possible (though I think only for logistic reasons) to arrange for him to see Lord Belstead.
Your!
ever,
James.
W.J. Adams
c.c. Mr. Donald
Mr. Williams, UND
Mrs. S. Littler, Home Office.
CONFIDENTIAL
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