CONFIDENTIAL
НКВ 2+3/9
14 JU! 1989
120423
MDHIAN 3098
TOP COP Q DIST ?
T
97
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI
TO DESKBY 140001Z HONG KONG
TELNO 66
OF 13113OZ JULY 89
AND TO DESKBY FCO 140001Z
HONG KONG TELNO 2351
23517 VBP REPATRIATION
WE WERE NOT CALLED OUT FOR TUR UNTIL 13102OZ AND I SAW DECYPHERED COPY AT 131045Z. THAT IS 1745 LOCAL TIME.
1.
I HAVE TRIED CALLING MFA TO TALK ABOUT PARA 4 OF TUR BUT IT SEEMS EVERYONE HAS GONE HOME. I CAN GET NO FRESH NEWS TO YOU TO MEET YOUR DESKBY TIME OF 14010OZ BRQA
2.
WE HAVE NOT YET AGREED OUR ''AGREED MINUTE'' AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS. VIETNAMESE HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS REQUIRED BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH RETURNS. IF I NOW PRESS THEM TO ACCEPT 17 JULY REGARDLESS THEN THEY WILL SURELY BE TEMPTED TO USE OUR OBVIOUS DESIRE TO PROCEED QUICKLY TO EXTRACT CONCESSIONS ABOUT MONEY.
IF I ALSO HAVE TO GO TO THEM TO LIMIT SCOPE OF AGREED MINUTE TO
FIRST 23 RPT 23 RETURNEES ONLY THEN WE SHALL BE IN A REAL BUGGERS MUDDLE.
3. I WELL UNDERSTAND HONG KONG'S PROBLEMS WITH GIVING ADVANCE WARNING FOR CHARTER OF AIRCRAFT BUT I SUGGEST THAT WE ACCEPT IF NECESSARY A DELAY OF A FEW DAYS IN RETURNING FIRST BATCH IN THE
INTEREST OF PRESERVING A SENSIBLE NEGOTIATING POSTURE WITH THE
VIETNAMESE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THIS WHOLE SUBJECT RIGHT.
IF YOU DISAGREE AND WISH ME NEVERTHELESS TO GET COMMITMENT
TO PARA 4 OF TUR THEN LET ME KNOW 14010OZ.
4.
PARTRIDGE
FCO PASS DESKBY 140001Z HONG KONG
YYYY