CONFIDENTIAL
TT WASHINGTON
FA 243/548/2
GRS
305
CONFIDENTIAL
TELELETTER
FROM ST NASH, SEAD, FCO
FILE REFERENCE FA 243/548/2
116
20409 1
-
3/2
FIKK 243/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
к
KJ4/6
02 JUL 1985
DESK OFFICER
DATED 22 MAY 85
INDEX
FOLLOWING FOR S J GOMERSALL ESQ, WASHINGTON
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: SCORRI REPORT
1. IN RESPONSE TO YOUR TELEPHONE ENQUIRY OF 20 MAY, WE HAVE
CONSIDERED WHAT ACTION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE WITH THE AMERICANS
AT THIS STAGE.
2.
THE NEXT STAGE IN THE SCORRI PROCESS IS FOR HMG IE THE HOME
OFFICE TOGETHER WITH OURSELVES TO PUT TOGETHER A CONSIDERED
RESPONSE IE WHITE PAPER. THIS SHOULD BE READY WITHIN TWO MONTHS
OF PUBLICATION OF THE REPORT BUT WE THINK IT IS UNLIKELY THAT
THIS DEADLINE WILL BE MET. WE AND THE HOME OFFICE WILL NEED TO
CLEAR OUR LINES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL ESPECIALLY ON THE QUESTION
OF HOW MANY REFUGEES WE SHOULD ACCEPT FROM HONG KONG IN ORDER
TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE MORE.
TO THIS END THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS WRITTEN TO THE HOME
SECRETARY RECOMMENDING THAT WE ACCEPT NOT ONLY THE 400-500 FAMILY
REUNION CASES MENTIONED BY SCORRI, BUT ALSO THAT WE ACCEPT A
COMMITMENT TO A CONTINUING OFF-TAKE OF SOME 500 A YEAR BY THE UK.
WE ARGUE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE A GESTURE OF THIS DIMENSION IN ORDER
TO PUT REAL PRESSURE ON OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO HELP
FURTHER.
3. REGARDING THE 400-500 FAMILY REUNION CASES, THE SIGNALS WE
HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE HOME OFFICE ARE RELATIVELY FAVOURABLE. ON
THE QUESTION OF A CONTINUING COMMITMENT, I THINK WE SHALL HAVE
MORE DIFFICULTIES.
4. THE ABOVE IS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION. WHEN
TALKING FORMALLY TO THE AMERICANS YOU SHOULD LIMIT YOURSELF TO
SAYING THAT IN ADVANCE OF A CONSIDERED GOVERNMENT REPLY TO THE
REPORT WE CANNOT SAY WHAT OUR RESPONSE TO SCORRI'S
RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE.
YOU MAY, HOWEVER, WHEN SPEAKING
1
CONFIDENTIAL
late