CONFIDENTIAL
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MDHIAN 8457
VIGOROUSLY. MINISTER COMMENTED THAT WE HAD PUT IT REPEATEDLY, BUT SO FAR IN VAIN.
4.
WE HAVE ALSO SPOKEN TO AMBASSADOR LAFONTANT (YOUR TELNO 305). SHE IS UNIMPRESSIVE AND LACKS CONFIDENCE, AND DOES NOT HAVE A DETAILED GRASP OF THE VBP ISSUE. BUT SHE SEEMS NOT UNSYMPATHETIC TO OUR PREDICAMENT. SHE ALSO HAS DIRECT ACCESS TO THE PRESIDENT. GIVEN THE RIGHT HANDLING SHE MIGHT BE PERSUADED OF OUR CASE, AND CONVEY OUR ARGUMENTS DIRECT TO THE WHITE HOUSE WITHOUT UNHELPFUL STATE DEPARTMENT GLOSSES. SEEN FROM HERE, THERE IS GOOD REASON THEREFORE FOR HER TO MEET MR MAUDE AND SENIOR FCO OFFICIALS. 5. FROM THE ACCOUNTS ABOVE, AND IN TUR, THERE APPEARS TO BE LITTLE PRESENT PROSPECT OF A SHIFT IN THE US POSITION OF PRINCIPLE. HONG KONG TELNO 673 IS THEREFORE RIGHT IN SUGGESTING THAT THE REFERENCE IN THE DRAFT MESSAGE TO THE VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER TO A STRONG POSSIBILITY OF CHANGE IN THE US POSITION IS OPTIMISTIC.
6. WE HAVE JUST HEARD THAT THE SOLARZ LETTER (PATTISON'S TELELETTER TO GUY, SEAD, OF 17 FEBRUARY) WAS SENT TO PRESIDENT BUSH ON 23 FEBRUARY. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE TEXT, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT ARGUES THAT, IF THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE GENEVA PACKAGE ARE MET (NAMELY PRIORITY FOR VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION, FULL FUNDS FOR UNHCR TO PROMOTE IT, AND PROPER MONITORING). IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR THE US TO STICK TO THE 1 JANUARY DATE. THE LETTER IS SIGNED BY SIX
(RANKING MINORITY MEMBER CONGRESSMENT INCLUDING SOLARZ, LAMAR SMITH OF THE IMMIGRATION, REFUGEES AND INTERNATIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE),
WE HAMILTON FISH (R-NEW YORK) AND SENATOR KENNEDY. FISH, UNDERSTAND, IS SEEKING A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT TO DISCUSS IT.
ACLAND
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.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
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UND
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PS
PS/MR MAUDE
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PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
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