TNAG-0892-FCO40-1102-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 30

EXTRACT FROM A RECORD OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, THE RT. HON. MALCOĻM FRASER, IN CANBERRA ON 1 JULY 1979

Mr. Fraser suggested that Britain and Australia should,

together with like-minded countries, try to agree a concerted

plan on refugees. The Prime Minister agreed,

Australia was

Britain's link with this part of the world. Mr. MacKellar hoped

Britain and Australia could seek to arrive at a common approach before the conference called for 20/21 July. The Prime Minister

said there was not much time but she would ask the Foreign

Secretary to consider the question urgently. Mr. MacKellar

suggested that the United States and Canada might also be

associated with a joint approach to the problem. He wondered whether France should be asked to participate?

a

Mr. Fraser, reverting to the question of/cutting of aid to

Vietnam, said the question could be argued two ways. Some felt

that if the West cut off aid, Vietnam would become the more

dependent on Russian aid. On the other hand, Vietnam perhaps

would not wish to become totally dependent on Russian aid and

therefore a total cut in Western aid might have a real effect.

condemnation

and

The Prime Minister commented that the whole issue of

refugees seemed to revolve round three points

of Vietnam; switching aid from Vietnam to refugees;

resettling refugees.

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