TNAG-0653-FCO40-802-Previously-closed-extract-Folio-87.-Now-released-and-reunite-1977 — Page 187

GRPS 273

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

FX UK413 GENEVA 2012827

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 38 OF 28 JANUARY

INFO PRIORITY TOKYO OTTAWA

(12)

Enter for 31/1

(LAST ter.

REXT

(16

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REF.

(16)

TOKYO TELNO 59 TO YOU (PARA 2) AND YOUR TELNO 43 TO TOKYO (PARATM 2): VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: MS MATHER

1. I DO NOT THINK THAT THE UNHCR ARE BEING DEVIOUS, BUT THEY HAVE CERTAINLY GOT IN A MUDDLE ABOUT THE PAYMENT OF FARES FOR THE GROUP GOING TO CANADA. JAEGER, WITH WHOM WE HAD SPO EN TWICE BEFORE RECEIVING YOUR TUR, EVIDENTLY WENT TOO FAR IN ACCEPTING THE WIDE TERMS OF SUB~PARAGRAPH (C) OF ALEXANDER'S LETTER OF 28 SEPTEMBER. HE SEEMS TO HAVE ASSUMED (WITHOUT ANY JUSTIFICATION) THAT THAT EXCHANGE OF LETTERS. APPLIED ONLY TO REFUGEES GOING TO THE UK AND HOULD NOT AFFECT LONGER-STANDING ARRANGEMENTS THE UNHCR HAD WITH OTHER COUNTRIES OF RESETTLEMENT. HE IS NOW RELUCTANT TO CREATE A PRECEDENT WHICH RIGHT PLACE THOSE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS IN QUESTION.

2. ALTHOUGH OUR CASE IS IRREFUTABLE, I DO NOT THINK ANY USEFUL PURPOSE WILL BE SERVED BY ARGUING FURTHER WITH UNHCR ABOUT HONOURING THEIR UNDERTAKING. THE CANADIAN EMBASSY IN TOKYO ARE APPARENTLY. READY TO SUPPLY ASSISTED PASSAGES. AS UNHCR SEE IT, THOSE REFUGEES ARE NOW PROVIDED FOR AND THEY CAN CONCENTRATE ON ASSISTING THE MANY OTHER QUOTE SMALL BOAT UNQUOTE REFUGEES ELSEWHERE IN THE FAR EAST WHO ARE STILL IN ACUTE NEED. TO PRESS UNHCR FURTHER WOULD BE MOST UNLIKELY TO MAKE THEM CHABGE THEIR POSITION (WE HAVE PUT THE MATTER TO THEM FOUR TIMES ALREADY). ON THE OTHER HAND WE SHOULD BS FURTHER DELAYING FINALISATION OF THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR GETTING THE REFUGEES TO CANADA, WE SHOULD ALSO BE LIKELY TO MAKE UNHCR MORE CAGEY OVER TRYING TO HELP WITH OUR PROBLEMS IN FUTURE.

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3. 1 COPE THEREFORE THAT YOU WILL BE PREPARED TO CANCEL THAT PART Cr PARA 2 OF YOUR TUR THAT RELATES TO PAYMENT FOR PASSAGES TO CANADA AND INSTEAD ASK THE CANADIANS TO SUPPLY ASSISTED PASSAGES.

POTTONLEY

FILES

SEAD

NEWS D

FED

HRD

UND

PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

N AM D HVD

MR WEIR

RESTRICTED

COPIES TO

MR R MCDOWALL

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