GPS 756
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TM UZNIS GENEVA 181580Z JUN 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 211 OF 18 JUNE 1979
HKK 243/1
NO. 51
RECENTO
TOP PA
DESK VE
INDEX
F
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, HONG KONG.
INFO SAVING HANOI, JAKARTA, KUALA LUMPUR, BANGKOK, SINGAPORE, MANILA.
MR BLAKER'S DISCUSSIONS WITH UNHCR
1. THE MINISTER OF STATE HAD A USEFUL DISCUSSION WITH
HARTLING THIS MORNING LASTING OVER 2 HOURS. DISCUSSION WAS RESUMED
OVER LUNCH. NOTHING PARTICULARLY NEW EMERGED BUT BOTH SIDES WERE ABLE
TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS FULLY. UNHCR WELL UNDERSTOOD OUR MAIN
PRE-OCCUPATIONS.
2. THE FOLLOWING ARE UNHCR'S 4 MAIN CONCERNS:-
(A) THE PRINCIPLE OF ASYLUM IS THE VERY SOUL OF THE HIGH COMMISS- TONER'S WORK AND MUST BE PRESERVED. HE NEEDS OUR HELP AND THAT OF OTHER FRIENDLY GOVERNMENTS TO URGE THOSE CONCERNED, PARTICULARLY IN SOUTH EAST ASIA, NOT TO DEPART FROM THIS PRINCIPLE. IT WAS DISTURBING TO HEAR A COMMONWEALTH (MALAYSIAN) GOVERNMENT STATING THAT THAILAND'S EXPULSION OF REFUGEES WAS UNDERSTANDABLE:
(B) WE AND OUR FRIENDS SHOULD TELL THE TRUTH TO
THOSE IN THE REGION ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE REGION ITSELF TO ACCEPT LARGE NUMBERS OF RECUGEES FOR PERMANENT SETTLEMENT THERE. SO FAR THE
HIGH COMMISSIONER WAS A LONE VOICE IN PREACHING THIS AND HE
HAD RECEIVED LITTLE SUPPORT AT LAST DECEMBER'S CONSULTATIONS OR
AT THE JAKARTA MEETING IN MAY. THE BEST WAY TO PERSUADE ASEAN COUNT-
RIES TO TAKE THEIR FAIR SHARE WOULD BE IF COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE
REGION WERE PREPARED TO TAKE MORE REFUGEES FOR RESETTLEMENT AND COULD THEN SAY IN EFFECT THEY WOULD TAKE 2 FOR EVERY ONE SETTLED IN
THE REGION:
(C) IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PUT PRESSURE ON LATIN AMERICA, BUT
THIS TOO COULD ONLY BE
OF WESTERN EUROPE. THE
DONE BY GOVERNMENTS,
DONE BY GOVERNMENTS, IN PARTICULAR THOSE LATTER HAD ACCEPTED SEVERAL THOUSAND
CONFIDENTIAL
/ REFUGEES
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.