CONFIDENTIAL FROM HANOI
152267
MDHIAN 0686
HAL
Have
1
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM HANOI
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 730
OF 2805OOZ DECEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
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question legs,
YOUR TELNO 2540 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. I HAVE WRITTEN PERSONALLY TODAY TO VU KHOAN SEEKING EARLY MEETINGS ON THE NEXT REPATRATIONS AND SEPARTELY ON THE POSSIBILTY OF ASSISTANCE.
2. I NOTE THE DECISION TO DELAY THE NEXT FLIGHT UNTIL AFTER THE SC3. I DO NOT THINK THAT IN PRACTICE THIS WILL LOSE US ANY GROUND. THE UNHCR HAD ALREADY OBTAINED VIETNAMESE AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE TO VOLUNTEER FLIGHTS ON 10 AND 16 JANUARY. IT WOULD THEREFORE HAVE BEEN IMPRACTICAL TO HAVE A NON-VOLUNTEER FLIGHT BEFORE THE SC3.
3. I NOTE ALSO YOUR REFERENCE TO VIETNAMESE PROCRASTINATION.
I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE UNWISE TO GIVE CURRENCY TO THIS VIEW. IT WAS WE AFTER ALL WHO PROCRASTINATED FROM JUNE TO DECEMBER WHILE CLAIMING DUBIOUSLY IN PUBLIC THAT WE WERE NIGOTIATING WITH THE VIETNAMESE AND IMPLYING THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE PROVING DIFFICULT. THE VIETNAMESE ARE NOT NOW PROCRASTINATING. I BELIEVE THEY ARE DIGESTING THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FIRST FLIGHT AND OF THE OFFER OF ASSISTANCE. IT DOES NOT OF COURSE HELP THEIR DIGESTION THAT THEY HAVE YET TO SEE THE MONEY WHICH I HAVE ASSURED THEM WAS PAID INTO MIDLAND BANK FOR THEM ON 8 DECEMBER NOR THAT I HAVE STILL BEEN UNABLE TO TELL THEM WHAT MINISTERS AND OTHERES SAID IN THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE ON 19 DECEMBER. THEY ARE STILL INTERESTED AS INDEED I AM. (MY TELNO 715 REFERS).
DAVIES
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