SECRET
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 28123OZ MEXICO CITY
TELNO 126
OF 281130Z MAY 92
AND TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
SECRET
HKA
020 14
520
CM
49
045165
MDHOAN 5029
Hatc
H
Du Haki 20/v.
M
28h
WASHINGTON STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR AND MINISTER
FROM PRIVATE SECRETARY TO PRIVATE SECRETARY
YOUR TELNO 184: HAITIAN BOAT PEOPLE
1. STEPHEN WALL ALSO RECORDED BAKER'S PRIVATE REQUEST (TEXT OF HIS LETTER IN MIFT). MY 2ND IFT CONTAINS DRAFT PS REPLY.
MR LENNOX-BOYD HAS SEEN AND APPROVED THE TEXT. HE ALSO HAD THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS:
A. THE TCI GOVERNMENT WOULD FEEL VERY MISUSED WERE WE TO ACCEDE TO THIS REQUEST. IT WOULD BE LIKELY TO CAUSE A VERY STRONG REACTION IN THE TCI AND CIVIL UNREST COULD NOT BE RULED OUT SEMI COLON
B. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DEFEND IN PARLIAMENT. WE WOULD BE ACCUSED OF ACTING AS AGENTS OF US POLICY IN HAITI, AGAINST THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR DTS, WHEN THE US ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO HELP US OVER BOAT-PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.
2. LEGAL ADVISERS HAVE BEEN CONSULTED AND ARE CONTENT. HMA WASHINGTON IS AWARE OF THE PROPOSED ADVICE AND DOES NOT OBJECT.
3. GRATEFUL FOR TRIGGER TO SEND THE PS LETTER, IF SECRETARY OF STATE IS CONTENT.
HURD
YYYY
PAGE 1 SECRET