TNAG-0843-FCO40-1053-Visit-of-Lord-Carrington--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1979 — Page 108

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Turning to the possibility of an international conference on refugees, Sir Murray MacLehose said that its object might be to secure bids from other countries, perhaps spread over a period, on the number of refugees which they would be willing to accept. He hoped that the UK would feel able to make a bid of her own. The Prime Minister explained the difficulties created for the British Government by the pressure of 2 million immigrants on our large cities and by the negative attitude of public opinion. Lord Carringtc made the point that if the UK could not offer to take more people, the British Government would at least have to offer to give more money. Any UK offer, either to accept more refugees or to provide more financial help, could of course be made conditional on other countries doing the same. The Prime Minister expressed serious doubt as to whether the UK could offer to take any more refugees; she asked whether ships registered in other countries than the UK picked up large numbers of refugees in the South Pacific. Sir Murray said that they did but that, since it was the policy of the countries concerned to take in refugees so rescued as a matter of policy, less publicity surrounded incidents involving non-UK ships. Lord Carrington commented that a number of UK ships were now changing their usual routes in order to avoid encountering Vietnamese refugees.

Lord 'Carrington and Sir Murray MacLehose both stressed the difficulties which might arise if the UK, having pressed for an international conference, found herself unable to make a positive contribution to it.

As you know, I have already asked for advice (in my letter to you yesterday) on the position which the Government should adopt towards the next batch of refugees picked up by UK ships (probably those on the Norse Viking) and on whether further action should be taken with the United Nations.

I am sending copies of this letter to Tony Butler (Home Office), Tom Harris (Department of Trade) and Martin Vile (Cabinet Office).

Yours wer

брусивания.

J.S. Wall, Esq,

Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

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