GPS 753
CONFLUENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA 181530Z JUN 79
TO EDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 211 OF 18 JUNE 1377
.
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 ABL 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- IONER'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 CF REGUGEES 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 CR AT THE JAKARTA MEETING IN MAY. THE BEST WAY TO PERSUADE ASEAN COUNT- RIES TO TAKE THEIR FAIR SHARE WOULD BE IF COUNTRIES CUTSIDE THE REGION WERE PREPARED TO TAKE MORE REFUGEES FOR RESETTLEMENT AND COUL 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 DONE BY GOVERNMENTS, IN PARTICULAR THOSE OF WESTERN EUROPE. THE LATTER HAD ACCEPTED SEVERAL THOUSAND
CONFIDENTIAL
/REFUGEES
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