---AMERICAN INITIATIVE ON REFUGEES
For official use only
US COORDINATOR FOR REFUGEE AFFAIRS EUGENE DOUGLAS HAS WRITTEN TO MINISTER, CEIC STATING THAT QUOTE MAJOR PROVIDERS OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE NEED TO MEET REGULARLY AT AN APPROPRIATE SENIOR LEVEL TO COMPARE NOTES, TO REVIEW CRITICALLY AND COMPREHEN- SIVELY THE REFUGEE PROBLEM AND TO EXPLORE POSSIBLE LONG TERM SOLUTIONS UNQUOTE. SUBSEQUENT PARTS OF THE LETTER SUGGEST THAT THE FIRST PRIORITY OF THE AMERICAN INITIATIVE IS TO FORMULATE AN INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY TO CONTROL THE SE ASIAN REFUGEE SITUATION WITHIN NEXT TWO YEARS. US WOULD WISH TO ENSURE CDN RESETTLEMENT POLICY LIKEWISE FOCUSES ON INDOCHINA OVER VARIOUS RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS IN OTHER REGIONS. THE AMERICANS HAVE ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE FIRST MTG OF THE QUOTE CONSULTATIVE GROUP UNQUOTE PROPOSED TO INCLUDE USA, AUSTRALIA, FRANCE, JAPAN AND CDA BE HELD AUG 1-3 IN HONOLULU. DEPT IS NOW IN PROCESS OF DEVELOPING POLICY ON MATTER
AND AS FIRST STEP WOULD ASK ACTION ADDRESSEES TO APPROACH APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES AND ASCERTAIN IF THEY HAVE BEEN CONSULTED BY AMERICANS (JAPANESE EMBASSY AIREADY QUERIED OUR VIEWS).IF SUCH
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