GRS 320 FLASH
CYPHER-CAT/A
FM HONG KONG Ø2163ØZ
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 50
5 MAY 1975
DXXIS 25
TO FLASH F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 426 OF 3 MAY INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON PRIORITY COPENHAGEN AND OTTAWA ROUTINE MANILA.
FROM POLITICAL ADVISER.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
LAST
REF.
NEXT
REF.
MAERSK SHIPPING LINE HAS JUST INFORMED US THAT THE CLARA
MAERSK, C TYPE 14,000 TON CARGO LINER PICKED UP 3,000 VIET- · NAMESE REFUGEES THIS AFTERNOON 100 MILES SOUTH OF SAIGON FROM SINKING SHIP, THE TRUONG XUAN'' (CALL SIGN XVLX). ACCORDING TO LOCAL AGENTS, CLARA MAERSK IS DUE TO DOCK HONG KONG AFTER- NOON SUNDAY 4 MAY AND IS THEREAFTER BOUND FOR UNITED STATES.
"
2. AGENTS HAVE NO INFORMATION ON CONDITION OF REFUGEES AND
VESSEL IS AT PRESENT TOO FAR FROM HONG KONG FOR US TO ARRANGE ANY NECESSARY MEDICAL OR OTHER EMERGENCY RELIEF. WASHINGTON MAY CARE TO ALERT APPROPRIATE U.S. AUTHORITIES, INCLUDING
INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE,
(A) IN CASE U.S. NAVAL VESSELS IN THE SAIGON AREA CAN OFFER
ASSISTANCE, AND
(B) IN HOPE THAT U.S. WILL ACCEPT PART OR WHOLE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR ULTIMATE SETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES.
3. WE ARE CONSCIOUS THAT DOCKING OF CLARA MAERSK WILL CO-INCIDE
WITH START OF ROYAL VISIT, BUT DIVERSION OF SHIP TO ANOTHER
DESTINATION MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE AT THIS STAGE. IT MAY THEREFORE
BE NECESSARY FOR US TO LAND, AND TO PROVIDE TRANSIT ACCOMMODATION FOR THE REFUGEES WHILE WE TRY TO ARRANGE FOR THEM TO BE SENT TO
SOME COUNTRY WHICH IS WILLING TO GIVE THEM PERMANENT HOMES. IF
WE ARE OBLIGED TO ACCOMMODATE THIS GROUP, WE MAY BE PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO TAKE MORE THEREAFTER. HOWEVER, GRATEFUL FOR URGENT
VIEWS ON FEASIBILITY OF TRYING TO DIVERT VESSEL TO SOME OTHER
(POSSIBLY U.S. CONTROLLED) PORT.
CONFIDENTIAL
4. IT OCCURS
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