CONFIDENTIAL
people (paragraph 2(1) of Hong Kong TUR). We agreed that this did not look promising: the Geneva meeting had shown that with few exceptions speeches at a pledging conference would be "bloody wet". But the outlook for increased commitments to the large new appeal (Palmieri suggested $300 million) was not good in the light of conflicting reports on distribution. Palmieri agreed that it might be wise if the organisers were to envisage the March meeting not as a pledging meeting, but as an occasion for those concerned to report back and set out new plans and budget, with Governments' responses to follow over the weeks to come.
HONG KONG OFFTAKE AND BATAAN
He
4. Palmieri recalled his exchange with Murray MacLehose (paragraph 3 of TUR), saying that he believed he could deliver on an undertaking to move significant numbers to the full-size Bataan centre. hoped we would not obstruct any Hong Kong contribution, and would use our good offices. I said that so long as there was a firm and clear commitment to Hong Kong we would certainly do what we could to help: although our present budgetary position was critical, particularly on aid, we would see if we could perhaps top up any Hong Kong contribution if one were made. I added that we naturally hoped that offtake to Bataan would be additional to other offtakes. Palmieri took note, but added that the level of UK offtake was also disappointing, and made the task of arguing for high US offtake more difficult.
ORDERLY DEPARTURES
5. Palmieri said that he could make no sense of the Vietnamese attitude on orderly departures. He was aware of John Margetson's recent reports (including Hanoi telegram number 19 to FCO, not to all), but was not inclined to start up movements on the basis of the "first thou- sand" cases.
RENEWED EXODUS OF BOAT PEOPLE
6. Palmieri seemed convinced that the improving weather conditions alone would lead to an increase in coming months. We agreed that there was a reservoir of alienated people wanting to come out, encouraged as he put it by an "economic suction", and that even a period of less vigorous Vietnamese enforcement could lead to a sharp rise. I said that we would have to respond publicly, perhaps with individual Government statements leading to group (ASEAN, the Nine) comments and to formal invoking of UN procedures. We agreed that if the monthly arrivals were moving beyond 5,000 towards 10,000 we should need to consider what precise action to take.
сс
PRA Mansfield Esq CMG, UKMIS NEW YORK Sir Murray MacLehose GBE KCMG, HONG KONG P HR Marshall Esq CMG, UKMIS GENEVA HMRS at:
Hanoi Bangkok Singapore
Kuala Lumpur
Manila
Jakarta
HAH Cortazzi
Page 225Page 226
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.