CONFIDENTIAL
115540
MDHOAN 1329
POSSIBILITY OF AID BEING
CHANNELLED THROUGH UNHCR. PLEASE THEREFORE DELETE QUOTE WITH ENDORSEMENT OF OTHER GOVERNMENTS UNQUOTE AND QUOTE WOULD NOT EXCLUDE PARTICIPATION BY HMG UNQUOTE (PARA 4 OF TUR). IF PRESSED YOU WOULD HAVE TO DEPLOY THE LINE IN PAR-A 5 OF TUR.
(C) IF THE VIETNAMESE RAISE THE POSSIBILITY OF A VISIT TO HONG
KONG (YOUR TELNO 2843) WE SUGGEST YOU SIMPLY SAY THAT SUCH A VISIT COULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED (NEXT FOUR WORDS UNDERLINED) AT A LATER STAGE AND AS PART OF A (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) SATISFACTORY OVERALL PACKAGE.
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WE HAVE NOW ALSO RECEIVED YOUR TELNO 2857, ON WHICH WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS:
(A) VOLUNTARY/INVOLUNTARY RETURNS (PARA 2): WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO DISCUSS WITH THE VIETNAMESE THE INVOLUNTARY RETURN OF ANY OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ACCORDED REFUGEE STATUS. SUCH A PROPOSAL WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE INTERNATIONALLY AND WOULD ONLY SERVE TO CONFUSE AND COMPLICATE YOUR TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE. CLIFT SHOULD THEREFORE CONFINE HIMSELF TO YOUR (SHORT) LIST OF EXISTING VOLUNTARY CASES (SEE PARA 4 ABOVE).
(B)
UNHCR ROLE (PARA 3): THE TEAM SHOULD AVOID APPEARING TO COMMIT UNHCR TO ANY PARTICULAR ROLE AT THIS EARLY STAGE, WHEN WE CANNOT CLEARLY ENVISAGE THE DETAILS OF ANY PACKAGE WHICH MAY EMERGE. THEY COULD SAY, IF APPROPRIATE, THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE VIETNAMESE HAD RAISED SOME OF THESE MATTERS WITH UNHCR AND THAT WE TOO WOULD BE DOING SO.
(C) RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE (PARA 4): SEE PARA 2 ABOVE. WE UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WISH TO TAKE A SLIGHTLY MORE FORTHCOMING LINE, BUT FOR THE REASON GIVEN IN PARA 2 ABOVE, MUST ASK CLIFT TO CONFINE HIMSELF TO THE DEFENSIVE LINE PROPOSED IN YOUR TELNO 2794. THAT GIVES A CLEAR ENOUGH INDICATION THAT LIMITED AID IS A POSSIBILITY WE ARE PREPARED AT LEAST TO CONSIDER, AND SHOULD ENABLE THE VIETNAMESE, IF THEY WISH, TO SET OUT THEIR IDEAS. THESE ARE AFTER ALL EXPLORATORY TALKS: IF THE VIETNAMESE ARE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN AGREEMENT IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO FOLLOW UP QUICKLY WITH FURTHER DETAILED TALKS. BUT WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE STOCK AFTER THE INITIAL ROUND AND CONSULT MINISTERS BEFORE TAKING MATTERS FURTHER.
(D) STOPPING THE FLOW (PARA 6): WE AGREE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTROLLING DEPARTURES: YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS POINT QUITE CLEARLY IN THE TALKS.
8. MY TWO IFTS CONTAIN COMMENTS ON THE UNHCR MEETING IN
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