CONFIDENTIAL
MET THE COMMISSAIRE DE LA REPUBLIQUE AND MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF,
THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONSEIL GENERAL, ONE LEADING BUSINESSMAN,
A GEOLOGIST, A DEPARTMENTAL DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND A LOCAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF A CANADIAN REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT ORGANISATION.
THE COMMISSAIRE WAS APPARENTLY NONCOMMITTAL AND ADVISED THAT
RESETTLEMENT WOULD BE A POLITICAL ISSUE. STUMPF CLAIMED THAT
THE POLITICIANS AND OTHER CONTACTS WERE ENTHUSIASTIC PROVIDED
FUNDS WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO HELP GIVE REFUGEES A PROPER START.
STUMPF GAINED THE IMPRESSION THAT ResentmenT BY THE LOCAL
POPULATION MIGHT BE OVERCOME IF THE PROPOSAL WERE PROPERLY FUNDED,
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THE PROSPECT OF MORE HARD-WORKING MANPOWER
WAS ATTRACTIVE TO LOCAL BUSINESSMEN.
5. ON HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG STUMPF WENT VERY PUBLIC AND
ENCOURAGED SPECULATION THAT 5,000 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES MIGHT GO
TO FRENCH GUIANA WITHIN 6 MONTHS. THESE CLAIMS TOOK THE FRENCH
AUTHORITIES IN PARIS BY SURPRISE. THE FRENCH CONSULATE-GENERAL
IN HONG KONG RECEIVED A TELEGRAM FROM PARIS SAYING THAT STUMPF
HAD BEEN TOLD OF THEIR COMPLETE OPPOSITION TO HIS SCHEME. THE
EMBASSY IN PARIS APPROACHED THE DOM-TOMS ON 16 FEBRUARY (SEE 24)-PARIS TELNO 136) IN AN ATTEMPT TO:
(I)
ESTABLISH WHAT HAD BEEN SAID TO STUMPF IN CAYENNE:
(II) ESTABLISH HOW MATTERS CURRENTLY STOOD:
(III) ESTABLISH WHETHER THE IRRITATION THE FRENCH FELT AT
STUMPF'S EXTRAVAGANT PUBLIC CLAIMS IN HONG KONG HAD
TORPEDOED ANY CHANCE OF SUCCESS THAT THE PROPOSAL HAD.
6. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WHILE IT WILL OF COURSE BE VALUABLE
TO HAVE AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF ATTITUDES IN THE FRENCH TERRITORY
(NOT LEAST FOR HONG KONG IN HANDLING STUMPF IN THE FUTURE), WE
SHOULD NOT WISH TO PRESS TOO HARD FOR THE MOMENT THE IDEA OF
RESETTLEMENT IN FRENCH GUIANA. THE CHANCES ARE VERY SLIM, AND WE
SHOULD NOT WANT TO RISK ADDING TO THE IRRITATION WHICH STUMPF'S
HANDLING OF THE MATTER HAS ALREADY CAUSED. YOU WILL SEE FROM
HONG KONG TELNO 259 OF 22 FEBRUARY THAT HONG KONG FEEL TOO THERE
WOULD BE LITTLE POINT IN YOUR TAKING SOUNDINGS VERY FAR.
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COPIES TO:
MISS WILMSHURST LEGAL ADVISER HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE
CONFIDENTIAL