CONFIDENTIAL
055406 MDHIAN 5672
TERMS OF THE WAY PEACE-KEEPING FORCES NEED TO OPERATE. IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY SELF-DEFEATING IF UNOSOM ALLOWED THE SOMALIS TO START RUNNING AROUND THE STREETS OF MOGADISHU AGAIN WITH THEIR WEAPONS. WE HAD TO TRY TO PERSUADE THE U.N. SECRETARIAT THAT U.N. PEACE-KEEPERS SHOULD PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE.
HAITI
8.
LAKE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM OF HOW TO DEAL WITH THE HIATIAN REFUGEES WAS A MAJOR HEADACHE FOR THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. I SAID THAT THE WAY WE HAD DEALT WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN HONG KONG WAS TO PERMIT THE UNHCR TO DECIDE WHO WAS A GENUINE POLITICAL REFUGEE AND WHO WAS NOT. LAKE SAID THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION INTENDED TO TAKE THIS COURSE. BUT THEY HAD TO TRY TO STOP THE THREATENED EXODUS FROM HIATI: HENCE CLINTON'S STATEMENT TODAY THAT BOATS CARRYING REFUGEES WILL CONTINUE TO BE TURNED BACK.
RENWICK
YYYY
MAIN
449
FCO
WHITEHALL
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
449
NAD
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