CONFIDENTIAL
1330
Hkk243
RECEIVED 14 YUGIEJ NO.
13 JUL 1970
NDEX
CONFIDENTIAL
PA
see
ee/1369
TM BELMOPAN 1018002 JULY
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 93 OF 10 JULY,
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON.
AT YOU
YOUR TEL PERSONAL 15 OF 28 JUNE: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
1.
15
NTD
REGRET DELAY IN REPLYING TO YOUR TUR BUT PRICE HAS BEEN UNAVAILABLE ELECTIONEERING IN THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS. WHEN I SAW HIM ON FRIDAY, 6TH HE WAS RECEPTIVE AND SAID THAT HE WOULD BE LETTING ME HAVE A PERSONAL LETTER TO MRS THATCHER AFTER THE WEEKEND. (TEXT IN MIFT).
2. PRICE TOLD ME THAT THE BELIZE GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO ACCEPY UP TO 1,000 REFUGEES (SAY, 100 FAMILIES) WHICH HE SEES AS MAKING UP TWO VILLAGES. BELIZE GOVERNMENT ARE STILL AT PRESENT WORKING THROUGH QUOTE INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT INCORPORATED UNQUOTE OF TORONTO (MY TELNO 1 OF 29 JUNE TO TOROMTO) NOTWITHSTANDING MY ADVICE NOT TO COMMIT THEMSELVES FINALLY TO USING THIS AGENCY UNTIL THEY HAVE THE FURTHER ADVICE OFFERED IN TORONTO TELEGRAM U/N OF 6 JULY.
3. I SEE PARAGRAPH 3 OF PREMIER PRICE'S LETTER TO MRS THATCHER AS NO MORE THAN COVERING HIMSELF. HEALTH SERVICES AND PRIMARY EDUCATION ARE FREE TO ALL IN BELIZE BUT FUNDS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COVER THE MAINTENANCE OF REFUGEES UNTIL THEIR FIRST CROPS ARE REAPED. I THINK PRICE ALCO FEARS THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPORTING DISEASE WITH THE REFUGEES, IE CHOLERA, WHICH MIGHT INVOLVE OUR HEALTH AUTHORITIES IN AN EXPENSIVE UMMUNISATION CAMPAIGN. HOWEVER GIVEN SUFFICIENT NOTICE AND FINANCIAL HELP
I BELIEVE THAT THE BELIZE GOVERNMENT IS DISPOSED TO BE AS
HELPFUL AS POSSIBLE. J B
FCO PLEASE PASS TO WASHINGTON.
MCENTEE
FILES
NEWS D
SEAD
M & VD
HK & GD
UND
FED
EESD
NAM D
SAD EID
PUSD
FEB
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
ADDITIONAL DISTN BOAT PEOPLE
PS
PS/LPS PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
MR CORTAZZI
MB QUBRAX MR
STRATTON
CONFT DENTT AT.
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