CONMIDENTIAL
BY BAG
PA
225
6 October 1978
CR 2/4821/75 VI
J P MILLINGTON ESQ
VASHINGTON
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 17 OCT 1978
DESK OF CER
INDEX
No
RE
RY
PA
Action Ten
Chr
REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM : "AMERICAN MOHAWK"
Please refer to your telno. 31 of 13 September. I had been thinking of noting the State Department's comments but not prolonging the correspondence since this might have seemed niggling in a way which could have forfeited a little goodwill. However, I have just learnt from the US Consulate-General (please protect) today that some of the concern over the "AMERICAN MOHAWK case stemmed from Richard Holbrooke rather than Shepherd Lowman's office. In view of this I think you may find it useful to have the following comments. Please use them at your discretion.
2.
We vere, indeed, sorry that the liohawk did not go on its way. We had already discovered what extra safety equipment would be necessary and, although the vessel would have been crowded, we understood that it would have been possible for all the refugees to be housed under cover. However, our earlier telegram. did not make it clear (as we should have done) that there would have been no question of our putting pressure on the Captain to leave with the refugees on board had he been in the least reluctant to do so on the grounds of the safety of his vessel and crev as well as the safety of the refugees. At the time we did not have the impression that the ship's captain was unwilling to leave. He may well have been so and in that case the Director of Marine here has categorically stated that he would not have been willing to question the right of the captain to take the final decision on a matter affecting the safety of his vessel (the Director of Marine would, of course, be willing to refuse permission
CONFIDENTIAL
❤/2.
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