as anyone can think of. But I think we should accept the strong
likelihood that at that point we will still not have American support,
or at best only for such a narrow category that there will be even fewer
occupants of it than we think likely at present. By then there will
probably be several thousand more people in the camps, and the demand in
Hong Kong (and here) for decisive action will be formidable.
5. I think that at that stage there would be much to be said for going
ahead straightaway with a rapid programme of compulsory repatriation.
simply see no alternative to this. Anything the Americans agree to is
not going to enable us to move more than a fraction of the numbers
needed. We need to move tens of thousands. This may require further
discussions with the Vietnamese (I would be grateful for advice from
officials on this point). This course would involve the certainty that
some force would be used. We should make clear that only such force
would be used as international law permits for the expulsion of illegal
immigrants (advice would be welcome on what this is).
We would
6. I recognize that this is not a comfortable proposition.
need to take it head on, having done all we could in the meantime to
prepare the ground. We would have some powerful arguments:
"These are not refugees but illegal immigrants.
"We have explored all possible alternatives to repatriation, and
noone has come up with one.
"We have ensured that there will be independent monitoring of their
conditions after their return.
I
"But at the moment these unhappy people are rotting in awful
conditions in the camps; and no civilized and humane Government can
allow this to continue."