TNAG-0654-FCO40-803-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 100

RESTRICTED

D) IN THE CASE OF WS MATHER, (CANADIAN-OWNED AND BERMUDA-REGISTER HMG WAS OBLIGED BY THE JAPANESE, DESPITE UNHCR ASSURANCES TO THE LATTER, TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REFUGEES PICKED UP BY THAT SHIP,

THE BRITISH CONNEXION IN THIS CASE IS EVEN MORE TENUOUS GIVEN THE LIBERIAN REGISTRATION (AND, FOR YOUR INFORMATION, WE ARE NOT DISPOSED TO BEND TO JAPANESE PRESSURE). TO ATTEMPT, IN ADVANCE, TO OBTAIN UNDERTAKINGS FROM THIRD COUNTRIES (IRRESPECTIVE OF THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF THE SHIP'S REGISTRATION OR OWNERSHIP) TO ACCEPT THOSE RESCUED CAN ONLY SERVE TO ENCOURAGE SHIPS' MASTERS TO IGNORE THOSE IN NEED OF RESCUE AT SEA.

24 PLEASE REPORT THE JAPANESE REACTION TO YOUR APPROACH,

3

FOR GENEVA: PLEASE INFORM UNHCR OF THE ACTION WE ARE TAKING. WE ASSUME THE HIGH COMMISSIONER WILL HIMSELF APPEAL TO THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT.

OWEN

FILES

COND

SEAD

FED

MVD

HRGD

PS/LORD GERONWY ROBERI

PSjMR LUARD

Ps/pus

MR WEIR

MR

MURRAY

MR FIGG

a

RESTRICHED