CONFIDENTIAL
4766 1
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PP WASHINGTON
GRS 427
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 131445Z MAR 85
TO PRIORITY WASHINGTON
TELGRAM NUMBER 458 OF 14 MARCH
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA, MANILA
INFO SAVING HANOI
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
нск 24315
RECEIVED IN A
1. AMBASSADOR DOUGLAS, US COORDINATOR FOR REFUGEE AFFAIRS,
CALLED ON MR LUCE ON 27 FEBRUARY. A RECORD HAS BEEN SENT IN THE
BAG TO YOU. YOU WILL SEE THAT DOUGLAS MADE INTER ALIA TWO
SUGGESTIONS:
(A) THAT A REGIONAL SOLUTION TO THE CONTINUING FLOW OF REFUGEES
FROM VIETNAM MIGHT BE FOUND AS FOLLOWS. FROM A CERTAIN DATE NO
NEW ARRIVALS WOULD BE PROCESSED FOR RESETTLEMENT. THEY WOULD BE
HOUSED IN A REMOTE LOCATION (A PACIFIC ISLAND, EG YAP, SAIPAN, PALAWAN OR PAPUA NEW GUINEA) UNDER UNCHR CARE, WHERE THEY WOULD
BE LOOKED AFTER, FED AND EDUCATED (IN VIETNAMESE) PENDING
EVENTUAL REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM.
(B) THAT THE UK MIGHT CONSIDER SENDING ANY VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
WHO ARE ACCEPTED FOR RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK FROM HONG KONG
THROUGH THE REFUGEE PROCESSING CENTRE IN BATAAN (PHILIPPINES)
WHERE EXCELLENT MEDICAL TRAINING AND ORIENTATION FACILITIES
EXIST.
EASIER..
2. (A) ABOVE OBVIOUSLY BRISTLES WITH DIFFICULTIES. DOUGLAS SAID
THAT THE US GOVERNMENT WAS CONSIDERING IT AS A POLICY OPTION.
HOWEVER THE US EMBASSY HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD US THAT THERE ARE
STILL DIFFERENCES WITHIN THE US GOVERNMENT OVER THIS: AND THAT
DOUGLAS IS SOUNDING OUT OTHER GOVERNMENTS ON THE IDEA. WE WOULD
BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD TRY TO DISCOVER WHETHER THIS IDEA IS
JUST A GLEAM IN DOUGLAS' EYE, OR WHETHER IT IS INDEED UNDER
SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. IF THE LATTER, GRATEFUL FOR ANY FURTHER
DETAILS, EG ON MODALITIES, TIMING, HOW REPATRIATION WOULD BE
EFFECTED, AND HOW THIS MIGHT AFFECT THE US RESETTLEMENT
DOUGLAS BELIEVED THIS MIGHT MAKE RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK
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