TNAG-0890-FCO40-1100-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 217

CONFIDENTIAL

There would be undesirable implications in East/West

relations, in that the USSR would support Vietnam and

China would exploit the opportunity to side with the West.

14.

The disadvantages currently outweigh the

advantages.

While nevertheless it would be tempting

to seize the few options open to us to demonstrate that

the scale of the refugee problem deserves more

international attention than it has hitherto been given,

we should allow more time for our initiative for a

special conference to work. In any case, given the other

implications which resort to the Security Council would

have, our American and French permanent member friends

would expect us at least to consult them before proceeding.

CONFIDENTIAL