TNAG-0891-FCO40-1101-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 129

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3. WE CAME AWAY FROM THESE MEETINGS WITH THE STRONG IMPRESSION THAT THE CONGRESS IS NOW SEIZED OF THE URGENCY OF THE PROBLEM AND IS

PREPARED TO SUPPORT A VIGOROUS US ROLE IN PROMOTING COLLECTIVE

INTERNATIONAL ACTION TO DEAL WITH IT. THERE IS ALSO A STRONG FEELING THAT INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE SHOULD BE APPLIED TO VIETNAM (THOUGH THE ADMINISTRATION'S OWN VIEW IS LESS CLEAR-CUT

TEL 1587). BUT IT IS LESS CLEAR HOW FAR THE CONGRESS IS PRESENTLY

PREPARED TO GO IN SUPPORTING A GREATER US CONTRIBUTION TO

RE-SETTLEMENT. SOME MEMBERS SUCH AS MCGOVERN EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE

THAT THE PUBLIC AND CONGRESS WOULD ACCEPT A LARGER INTAKE OF

REFUGEES INTO THE U S: AND SOLARZ HAS CALLED FOR A DOUBLING

OF THE CURRENT US QUOTA. BUT OTHERS REFERRED TO WIDESPREAD CONCERN, EG IN CALIFORNIA, ABOUT THE EXISTING HIGH RATE OF IMMIGRATION FROM MEXICO AND RELUCTANCE TO COMPOUND THE PROBLEM BY ACCEPTING GREATER

NUMBERS OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. SENATOR JAVITS SAID HE THOUGHT THE SENATE AT LEAST WOULD BE PREPARED TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR REFUGEE RELIEF (C F DICK CLARK'S COMMENT IN THE LAST SENTENCE

OF MY T U R). THIS MAY BE OPTIMISTIC.

F C O PASS SAVING TO HANO!.

JAY.

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