CONFIDENTIAL
Private Secretary
Tel sent
Letter to issive
fecret of sinka
From: P J Westmacott Date: 17 July 1985
CC: Sir W Harding
Dr Wilson
Mr Lever, UND Mr Hartland-Swann,
SEAD
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
19/7
1. Mr Luce has considered the attached submission, and has discussed it with the Department. The draft minute to the Home Secretary has been altered to incorporate his views.
Mr Luce agrees with the recommendations. He thinks it is essential to reach agreement with the Home Secretary in person before the start of the recess.
2.
3. Mr Luce wonders whether, in talking to Mr Brittan, the Secretary of State might seek to go along with the latter's wish to delay the reply to SCORRI in exchange for a more satisfactory commitment to help with resettlement in the future.
4.
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Mr Luce has also discussed possible fall-back positions with the Department. It now seems very unlikely that the Home Secretary will ever accept the proposal to take 500 a year. The next best step might be a commitment to take a lesser number of, say, no less than 200 a year. If a specific commitment is impossible, then the next best thing might be a commitment to help substantially in future years with the resettlement problem, the actual numbers to be judged in the light of circumstances, and perhaps against the response from other countries. The least attractive option would be a commitment to take the family reunion cases immediately, and to review the situation in a year's time.
HKK 243/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
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INDEX
2 85
GISTRY
Action Taken
Smermacolt
PJ Westmacott PS/MR LUCE
CONFIDENTIAL
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