CONFIDENTIAL
3. I AM EVEN MORE CONCERNED BY THE UNHCR VIEW THAT WE SHOULD PREPARE FOR THE ENDING OF THE MORATORIUM IN THIS WAY (PARAGRAPH 4 OF GENEVA'S TUR). WE SURELY CANNOT ACCEPT THAT THERE IS ANY ''REASONABLE'' END TO THE MORATORIUM PERIOD. IF THE VIETNAMESE DEMONSTRATE BY THEIR ACTIONS THAT THEY CAN CONTROL THE EXODUS (AS WE ALL ASSUME THEY CAN), WE MUST NOT DO ANYTHING WHICH APPEARS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY EVER HAVE A RIGHT TO RESUME THE FORMER TYPE OF DISORDERLY FLOW. THIS WOULD BE CONTRARY TO THE PRINCIPLES LAYED DOWN BY DR. WALDHEIM IN HIS SUMMING UP. IF EMIGRATION IS RESUMED IT SHOULD BE BY ORDERLY MEANS, BY TRANSPORT WHICH IS SAFE, AND TO DESTINATIONS WHICH ARE ASSURED. THIS RULES OUT BOAT TRAFFIC OR THE NEED FOR MERCY SHIPS.
4. IT IS A PITY THAT THE SECRETARY GENERAL IS AMBIVALENT ON THIS ISSUE, BUT IS IT NOT TIME TO SUGGEST TO THE AMERICANS, AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE RESCUE SHIP IDEA (INCLUDING UNHCR) THAT SUCH PLANS BE SHELVED SO AS TO GIVE TIME TO SEE IF THE ARRANGE- MENTS REACHED AT GENEVA HOLD UP IN PRACTICE.
FCO PASS SAVING HANOI
MACLEHOSE
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
FILES
SEAD
NEWS D M & VD
MR FERGUSSON
MR FRETWELL
HK & GD
PS
UND
PS/LPS
FED
EESD
NAM D
SAD
EID
PS/MR HURD PS/KR BLAKER
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
MR CORTAZZI
PUSD
OID IPD
MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
LORD NG LENNOX
2
S
MR BULLARD
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDITIONAL DISTN
BOAT PEOPLE
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