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CAN BE CARRIED OUT WITHOUT HAVING TO RESORT TO THE USE OF FORCE. WE WOULD NEED TO DEPLOY TWO COMPANIES OF CSD STAFF AND ONE COMPANY OF THE PTU TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE MOVE AND BE READY TO REACT TO ANY ENSUING TROUBLE IN THE CAMP.
5. CLEARLY SUCH A MOVE WOULD PROVOKE A CHAIN REACTION IN THE OTHER CAMPS AND INTENSE MEDIA INTEREST IN THE WHOLE QUESTION OF REPATRIATION, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON PHOENIX HOUSE. SEEN FROM HERE THE INTERNATIONAL AND UNHCR REACTION TO ALL THIS ON THE DAY FOLLOWING THE GENEVA CONFERENCE IS LIKELY TO BE VERY STRONG INDEED. THE POSSIBILITY OF MOUNTING A SUCCESSFUL REPATRIATION EXERCISE FROM PHOENIX HOUSE IN 14 DAYS TIME WILL BE MUCH REDUCED AS A RESULT.
6.
FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW THE MOVE OF 14 ON 31 OCTOBER REMAINS BY FAR THE BEST OPTION. WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF CARRYING OUT THAT OPERATION EFFECTIVELY AND QUIETLY.
BY AVOIDING A MAJOR RUMPUS WE STAND A CHANCE OF MINIMIZING THE INTERNATIONAL, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE VIETNAMESE REACTION. A START WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE ON INVOLUNTARY REPATRIAT-
ION WHICH WILL GO DOWN WELL HERE.
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I SUGGEST SUCH AN OPERATION WOULD PROVIDE A MORE SOUND BASIS FOR FUTURE MOVES THAN ONE FRAUGHT WITH THE DIFFICULTIES I HAVE DESCRIBED ABOVE. AS TO TIMING IT IS CLEAR THAT WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE MAJOR TROUBLE WHEN WE MOVE FURTHER NUMBERS FROM
CHI MA WAN TO PHOENIX HOUSE. BUT I WOULD PREFER TO DEAL WITH THAT WHEN THE PRESENT, HIGHLY CHARGED ATMOSPHER SURROUNDING THE GENEVA CONFERENCE HAS HAD SOME TIME TO DIE DOWN AND THE
ROYAL VISIT IS OVER.
8.
I WOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL IF MY VIEWS COULD BE PUT TO
MINISTERS BEFORE A FINAL DECISION IS TAKEN.
FORD
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