TNAG-0888-FCO40-1098-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 151

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4. WALDHEIM SAID HE HAD BEEN ASKED TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE VIETNAMESE TO DISCOURAGE THEM FROM ALLOWING THE REFUGEES TO LEAVE WALDHEIM HAD EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DO THIS SINCE IT WOULD MEAN ARGUING AGAINST THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT FOR A MAN TO LEAVE A COUNTRY FREELY WHEN HE FELT SERIOUSLY OPPRESSED. IN FACT, THE VIETNAMESE CLAIMED CREDIT FOR THE ORDERLY WAY IN WHICH THEY WERE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LEAVE. WALDHEIM HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ESTIMATED'

HAT THERE MIGHT BE AS MANY AS 1.5 MILLION IN ALL WHO DID NOT WISH TO REMAIN.

5. WALDHEIM REFERRED TO HIS PROPOSED VISIT TO LONDON (MY TEL NO 509). I SAID THAT I WAS SURE THAT MINISTERS WANTED TO SEE HIM, BUT

RE DIFFICULTY WAS SIMPLY TIMETABLES. WALDHEIM SAID HE THOUGHT THE VISIT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES.

6. OTHER MISSIONS HERE ARE BOUND TO ASK US TO ENLARGE ON THE PROPOSAL

FOR A CONFERENCE TIMING, COMPOSITION, ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED ETC. (THE INDONESIANS HAVE ALREADY DONE SO), WALDHEIM OR HIS STAFF

MY ALSO WANT TO DISCUSS WITH US IN MORE DETAIL. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, THEREFORE, TO RECEIVE FURTHER GUIDANCE. COULD WE ALSO HAVE THE TEXT OF WALDHEIMS MESSAGE TO THE PRIME MINISTER?

MANSFIELD

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