TNAG-0882-FCO40-1092-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 150

PS 357

FIED

VILA 26040OZ

# WECIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 126 OF 26 FEBRUARY 1979

HACK 243/1

RECEN

2 (FER:979

INDEX

No

51

Actor Takin

J26.2.

Y

AFC FRICKITY PARIS, CANBERRA, WELLINGTON, SINGAPORE, HONG KONG MANILA, SUVA, PORT MORESBY, UKMIS NEW YORK.

*IETNAMESE REFUGEES

1. JIMMY STEVENS IS VISITING AUSTRALIA FROM 26 FEBRUARY IN CONNECTION WITH THE PLAN TO HIRE A SHIP TO TRANSPORT VIETNAMESE FEFUGEES TO THE NEW HEBRICES. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT EXPECT

CONSIDERABLE INTEREST FROM THE MEDIA.

2. AT THE REQUEST OF THE AUSTRALIAN CONSULATE WE HAVE PRCVICED

THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY OF CUR POSITION WHICH AUSTRALIAN MINISTERS CAN NAKE PUBLIC. THERE HAS BEEN NO TIME TO CLEAR THE TEXT WITH THE FRENCH RESIDENCY, BUT MR STEVENS IS A BRITISH PASSPORT

HOLDER,

3. TELEGRAM ON THE LEGAL SITUATION AND IMPLICATIONS FOLLOWS.

INSPECTOR-GENERAL ROBERT WILL BE IN PARIS FRCM 1 MARCH AND INTENDS TO CISCUSS THESE WITH THE DOMTOM AND OUR PARTS EMBASSY.

TEXT OF STATEMENT IS AS FOLLOWS:-

BEGINS -

STATEMENT ON MR STEVENS VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

MR JIMMY STEVENS HAS NO AUTHORITY WHATSOEVER IN THE NEW HEBRIDES. HE IS A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, ADVISED BY A NUMBER OF FOREIGN INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS, WHO FOR THEIR OWN REASONS

OULD LIKE TO SETTLE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN THE NEW HEBRIDES, BET EEN THEM THEY HAVE CHOSEN THE POOR AND ROCKY ISLAND OF MAEWO AS A SUITABLE HOME FOR THE REFUGEES.

WE CAN ONLY GUESS AT THE REASONS FOR THIS PLAN. SUME MAY DE GENUINELY HUMANITARIAN. OTHERS MAY HAVE MORE TO DO WITH SCHEMES TO CHANGE THE RACIAL BALANCE OF THIS REMOTE AND UNPOPULATED AREA SE THE NEW HEBRIDES. THIS COULD ONLY SERVE THE INTERESTS OF

NEW PARATISTS SEEKING TO CARVE UP THIS YOUNG COUNTRY, WHOSE COALITION GOVERNMENT IS STRUGGLING TO CREATE NATIONAL UNITY AND

FACE THE CHALLENGE OF INDEPENDENCE.

422

MR STEVENS

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