RESTRICTED
FM LIMA 21192OZ APR 83
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG
RESTRICTED
ва нии 243/2 THAT 243/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY.....
2 SAPR 1983
53
INFO ROUTINE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 01 OF 21 APRIL
49
DESK OFFICER..
INDEX
ΡΑ
YOUR TELNO 01 TO ASUNCION: POSSIBLE RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE
REFUGEES IN SOUTH AMERICA
1. THE PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT IS MAKING A BIG EFFORT TO COLONISE AND
OPEN UP FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION VAST AREAS OF JUNGLE IN THE EAST
OF THE COUNTRY. IF THEY HAD THE RIGHT SKILLS AND COULD ADAPT TO THE HARSH CLINATE, VIETNAMESE WOULD THEORETICALLY BE ABLE TO SETTLE IN THESE AREAS. BUT OVER 10 PERCENT OF THE WORKING POPULATION OF PERU
IS CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED AND NEARLY 50 PERCENT ARE OFFICIALLY UNDER-
EMPLOYED.
2. THE COUNTRY IS COPING WITH DAUNTING ECONOMIC PROBLEMS INVOLVING
SEVERE SPENDING CUTS. PERU IS ALSO SUFFERING SIMULTANEOUSLY FROM
DROUGHT IN THE SOUTH AND FLOODS IN THE NORTH WHICH ARE STRETCHING
ADMINISTRATIVE CAPABILITY TO THE LIMIT. THE ECONOMICS MINISTER
RECENTLY SAID THAT 1983 WOULD BE THE WORST YEAR FOR PERU IN THIS
CENTURY.
3. NEITHER JOBS NOR PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION HAVE BEEN FOUND FOR 200
CUDAN REFUGEES WHO ARRIVED OVER TWO YEARS AGO. UNLESS THEREFOPE THE
VIETNAMESE WERE ALLOWED TO SETTLE IN THE JUNGLE AND ALL THE SETTLE-
MENTCOSTS MET FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES, I DO NOT THINK THAT THE
PERUVIANS WOULD RESPOND FAVOURABLY TO A VISIT BY STUMPF. THE CUBAN
EXPERIENCE HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE PERUVIAN ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINE
CANNOT COPE SATISFACTORILY WITH EVEN A HANDFUL OF REFUGEES. THEY
WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE ABLE TO TEACH VIETNAMESE TO ADAPT TO FERUVIAN
CONDITIONS.
4. WE HAVE NO TRACE OF THE 1901 PAPERS REFERRED TO IN PARA 3 OF TUR.
WALLACE
BOAT PEOPLE
LIMITED SEAD
HRIS D
SAMD
PS
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/PUS
MR WRIGHT
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD MR ADAMS
UND
FED
PUSD
NEWS D
MR URE
MAED
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
RESTRICTED
REGE
Action Taka