به فرد بود صد های مالی شده بود
CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO DESKBY 15083OZ FCO
TELNO 2178
OF 15040OZ AUGUST 89
CONFIDENTIAL
HK B
243 19
2203
026564
MDHIAN 2160
TOP COPY O DIST
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
HONG KONG TELNO 2719: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1. I NOTE THE ARGUMENTS IN TUR FOR GETTING ON WITH REPATRIATION OF NON-VOLUNTEERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN SEPTEMBER. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE SUGGESTION IN PARAS 7 AND 8 THAT IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO USE A DEGREE OF PHYSICAL COERCION POSES A VERY
SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR US HERE.
2. WE HAVE ASSURED THE AMERICANS FREQUENTLY AND AT ALL LEVELS OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS THAT THERE WOULD BE NO QUESTION OF FORCIBLE REPATRIATION (EG SIR G HOWE TO BAKER IN PARIS ON 14 JUNE: QUOTE WE WERE NOT FORCING PEOPLE TO RETURN BUT WERE USING ALL THE ARGUMENTS AT OUR COMMAND TO PERSUADE THEM THAT THE ONLY CHOICE WAS TO GO BACK UNQUOTE PARIS TELNO 938 AND THE PUS TO AMBASSADOR CATTO ON 11 JULY: QUOTE WE WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT FORCIBLE REPATRIATION
UNQUOTE FCO TELNO 1288 TO WASHINGTON). THE AMBASSADOR AND I HAVE TAKEN A SIMILAR LINE WITH EAGLEBURGER, KIMMITT, SELIN AND OTHERS IN THE ADMINISTRATION, IN PRIVATE DISCUSSION WITH CONGRESSMEN.
·
AND
ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE DIFFERING DEFINITIONS OF WHAT CONSTITUTES QUOTE FORCIBLE REPATRIATION UNQUOTE, THE AMERICANS WILL CERTAINLY HAVE TAKEN IT FROM OUR ASSURANCES THAT WE WOULD NOT INTEND TO USE ANY KIND OF PHYSICAL PRESSURE IN THE REPATRIATION PROCESS. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF WE HAD TO RESORT TO THE MEASURES DESCRIBED IN PARAS 7 AND 8 OF TUR THE AMERICANS WOULD REGARD THIS AS A BREACH OF OUR ASSURANCES IN THIS RESPECT, AND WE COULD EXPECT A VERY SHARP REACTION WHEN NEWS LEAKED (AS IT SURELY WOULD).
4. I RECOGNISE ALL THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY HONG KONG. BUT WE SHOULD BE UNDER NO ILLUSION ABOUT THE OUTCRY WE WOULD FACE HERE. IT WOULD AT THE LEAST BRING TO AN END ANY AMERICAN HELP IN TRYING TO DEFINE THE QUOTE GREY AREA UNQUOTE BETWEEN VOLUNTARY AND FORCIBLE REPATRIATION.
FALL
YYYY