CONFIDENTIAL
R+R
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1
Mr Simpson-Orlebar
HKK 2431
RECEIVED IN IGSKY NO. 9 Mr Cortazzi
2 MAY
DESK OFFICER
TO
Mr Bullard
F
PA
Action
Mr Leahy RY SEAD HKGD
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Jer.5
INDEX
INDO-CHINA REFUGEES
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You will see from FCO telegram to UKMIS Geneva No 92 tha I took the initiative in raising the question of Indo-China refugees in the Asia Working Group last week, with the particular suggestion that the Nine might consider how to appeal to more countries to open their doors to refugees. Depending on the terms of the French Presidency's customary oral report, we can assume that Political Directors of the Nine will discuss the matter at their meeting in the first week in June. If the report is not sufficiently inspiring I think we should in any case brief Mr Bullard to raise the matter.
2.
see (169
A major aspect of the Indo-China refugees problem which has been worrying me for some time iš/8nly a few countries are prepared to take anything more than small parcels of refugees; and the majority of countries with the capacity to absorb them are taking none at all. This results in the UNHCR, like most charitable organisations, continuing to lean on those countries who have already shown a willingness to accept refugees for settlement, to do more of the same thing - ie on the grounds that they are a soft touch. We need to spread the load: first because the problem is so serious that it will only be alleviated, let alone solved, if many more countries accept refugees, secondly to switch the pressure from countries like ourselves who cannot reasonably do more, thirdly because we have a prime interest to relieve the situation in Hong Kong, fourthly because we should be doing what we can in ways other than accepting more refugees ourselves - to show that we care for the burdens faced by Thailand and Malaysia in particular.
3. Will you please initiate the necessary briefing for Mr Bullard at the Political Committee. Subject to the views of other Departments you will have to consult, I think our objectives might be, first to get a positive discussion in POCO, secondly to get the Presidency (perhaps joined with the next Presidency, Ireland) to approach UNHCR on behalf of the Nine to ask in what way the Nine can help, other than in accepting more refugees on which, considering the positions of individual EEC members, they are already doing very creditably. The object of such an approach might be to establish whether UNHCR is thinking of making another appeal to countries which have a capacity to take substantial numbers of refugees; or to encourage him to do so; with the assurance that the Nine would back his efforts politically.
4.
I ought to record that after the AWG discussion one of the French representatives, Cantoni, took me aside to say that, while he thought there was merit in trying to encourage a wider
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