derly apartine
Scheme
rond?
Not
5. Mr Hartling explained to Mr Rad son that his officials were in the process of developing an overall plan for dealing with the remaining Vietnamese refugee problem in the coming year. There were still about 60,000 in the processing centres and his officials would allow for a further 60,000 or so froz Vietnam to be added to the number they were planning for. The signs were that Vietnam would not resume mass expulsion and, although that possibility could not be ruled out entirely, Mr Hartling was hopeful that with the forthcoming establishment of regular air connections with Vietnam, refugees from that country would leave safely and in an orderly fashion. Mr Hartling repeated the desirability for the United Kingdom to announce a further quota in 1931. only would the quota be helpful in itself but it would also have a positive effect on Congress and the State Department in Washington. It had to be remembered that the United States had taken over 300,000 Vietnamese since the fall of Saigon. Mr Raison told Mr Hartling that the United Kingdom was concentrating on the present quota which had not yet been completed. Mr Hestling appreciated that resettling the refugees in this country, with the care which we took, could not be a quick process. Turning to the question of refugees pickau up by ships, Mr Hartling was glad to note that the United Kingdom continued to guarantee resettlement in cases where the refugees had been picked up oy British ships. It was most important that this convention should be adhered to, since any departure from it by one country would set a bad example to others.
6. It was agreed that family reunions would continue to provide problems in the future. Although applications from relatives in processing camps were easy to deal with it was much more difficult where the applicants require exit visas from Vietnam. About 1,500 applicants to come to the United Kingdom kad been denied exit visas so far and this would make it all the harder to take them in here in an orderly manner if there was a sudden change of policy by the Vietnamese government. Mr Hartling agreed that the attitude of Vietnam was not helpful. Whereas the Vietnamese authorities had a list of special cases meriting exit visas this did not tally with the list, held by his officials, of applicants wishing to join relatives abroad. The Vietnamese government seemed to think that one of their "special cases" should we resettled in return for each relative granted an exit visa. Mr Hartling took the view that his job was not to ect as
a travel agent for the Vietnamese government but where one of their "special cases" co-incided with a person on his list his officials would do what they could to help..
7.
Elsewhere in the world the problems were currently the Biharis in Cangladesh who wished to be "patriated" to Pakistan and the refugees caused by the unroos in Africa. Hr Hartling was told that the Home Office did take a sympathetic view in the relatively small number of applications to remain here made by Somalis and Ethopians.
8. Finally, returning to the question resettling Vietnamese refugees ir this country, Mr Raison drew to Mr Hartling's attention the recent exhibition at the House of Commons. One of the major problems facing the refugees here was learning the language. Adults especially needed more than three to six months' tuition before they could be proficient in English.. Although employment opportunities were not good at present it was quite clear that the Vietnamese were not work shy and some would perhaps set up their own businesses. Hr Hartling said that he hai heard of a special loan scheme started by Barclays Bank for the Vietnameso. the reports Hr Hartling had received were to the effect that the Vietnamese integrated well. The meeting concluded.
Mr Woodfield
CC
Mr Angel
Mr Hand
Mr Goddard Float
94Gber
J. A. GILBERT
Assistant Private Secretary
1
100
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