DRAFT MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THORWALD STOLTENBERG,
UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
I thought that I should let you know urgently the outcome of my recent visit to Washington.
I am afraid that I drew a blank with both Secretary of State Baker and President Bush. Neither was prepared to show any flexibility in the length of the moratorium before mandatory repatriation begins. Indeed, they made clear that their acceptance of involuntary repatriation was politically impossible. I believe therefore that our best hope now is to persuade them to step aside and stop blocking action by the rest of us.
I very much hope, of course, that your own efforts to persuade the Americans and the Vietnamese to rally to the Steering Committee consensus will succeed. However, it would be wise for us to start considering how to make progress if the Americans refuse to budge. I wonder if you would be prepared to visit London next week to compare notes and to discuss the way ahead. In view of the forthcoming sailing season, I am sure that we must move fast if we are to tackle the problem effectively and preserve the CPA and, with it, first asylum.