Jse
12/2
SEMD
Chord
Thored Goonwy-Motorests
B. Pis
Mr Cortazzi
Sir R. Hibbet
Mr MURRAY
Mr Stephon
Planning Staff
HKQDs
From the Minister UND
MARD. Dekke
CONFIDENTIAL
MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
ELAND
HOUSE HER 243/1
STAG PLACE LONDON SWIE 5DH
Telephone 01-834 2377
No Jig.z.
14/in
Mr Williamsing 101/2 (re Viemamen Refugees)
ces
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N/
12 February 1979
PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND ON. 2. FEBRUARY:
Thank you for sending me a copy of your letter of 2 February to Stephen Wall
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The study for the west-central region of Thailand to which General Kriangsac referred was first mentioned to us when the Secretary-General of the Thai National Economic and Social Development Board called here on 8 December 1978. We undertook to examine a request that the study should be financed from UK aid funds. Within the last few days we have received from our Embassy in Bangkok a copy of the terms of reference for this study, and they are now being studied here and by the Advisers at our Development Division in Bangkok.
On EEC aid for Vietnam the present position is that the programme for non-associated developing countries including Vietnam still awaits a decision by the Council of Ministers. We expect that EEC food aid to Vietnam will almost certainly continue. We are prepared to support the continuation of humanitarian aid, such as Community food aid and emergency aid, to meet serious Vietnamese needs, provided that the Commission makes the best possible arrangements to ensure that the aid reaches the right recipients. We have, however, made it clear to our Community partners that the UK thinks that in present circumstances EEC project aid to Vietnam would be inappropriate.
For some time British bilateral aid to Vietnam has consisted almost entirely of a little English language training in Britain for Vietnamese students. Under present arrangements the last students should go back in mid-1980. We propose to let this training run its course but not to take in any more students or to begin other activities under this programme for the present....
Lastly, under the aid/trade contingency provision, which is primarily intended to promote British exports, there are the ships and turbines projects, which Ministers have just agreed should go ahead.
I am copying this letter to Stephen Wall (FCO), Roger Facer (MOD), Tom Harris (DOT) and Martin Vile (Cabinet Office).
You
cror
Manuel Cachao Hammin
(R M Graham-Harrison) Private Secretary.
Bryan Cartledge Esq
10 Downing Street
CONFIPENTIAL
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