LATOKOL PLA DE CANN
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CONFIDENTIAL
157443
MDHOAN 8718
TO LEAVE VIETNAM, AND TO THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT TO LET THEM
GO.
5.
IT SEEMS RIGHT THAT UNHCR SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE
ALL THE POSSIBILITIES IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE
(ALBEIT WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER SENSE OF URGENCY THAN
HITHERTO) BEFORE WE LAUNCH ANY NEW INITIATIVE OURSELVES.
WE WERE INCIDENTALLY INTERESTED TO NOTE
(BANGKOK TELNO 392, NOW BEING COPIED TO YOU)
AND
THAT CO THACH HAS TOLD THE THAIS THAT VIETNAM IS WILLING TO TALK
TO THE UNHCR ABOUT POSSIBLE REPATRIATION OF VIETNAMESE BOAT
PEOPLE. THERE WILL BE FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO TAKE
BILATERAL ACTION WITH VIETNAM IN SUPPORT OF UNHCR EFFORTS.
WE WILL TAKE EVERY APPROPRIATE OPPORTUNITY IN OUR PUBLIC
PRONUNCEMENTS TO CALL ON VIETNAM TO TAKE BACK NON-REFUGEES. 6. WE ALSO AGREE THAT PATRIDGE SHOULD FIND AN EARLY
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT SPECIFICALLY ON THE POINT ABOUT THE
DIFFICULTY OF PATROLLING A 3,000 KILOMETRE COASTLINE (PARA 5 OF TUR). THAT WOULD ENABLE HIM TO REITERATE IN GENERAL TERMS OUR
LINE ON REPATRIATION: TO DRAW ATTENTION TO CO THACH'S APPARENT
ACCEPTANCE THAT BOAT PEOPLE SHOULD RETURN TO VIETNAM: AND TO SEEK
FURTHER CLARIFICATION OF VIETNAM'S POSITION. BUT FOR THE REASONS
GIVEN IN PARA 2-4 ABOVE, WE THINK IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO GO AS FAR AS TO SUGGEST EXPLORATORY TALKS AT THIS STAGE.
7.
IF ASKED ABOUT REPATRIATION WHILE IN HONG KONG, LORD' GLENARTHUR WOULD BE ABLE TO SAY:
(A) WE HAVE REPEATEDLY PRESSED THE VIETNAMESE TO ACCEPT BACK NON-REFUGEES, NOTABLY IN THE MEETING BETWEEN SECRETARY AND CO THACH, AND ALSO IN EXCHANGES IN HANOI, LONDON AND GENEVA (THE ODP TALKS IN MAY). WE ARE CONTINUING THE PRESSURE:
(B) WE ARE URGING ALL OTHER COUNTRIES CONCERNED (THE MAJOR RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, ASEAN, OUR EC PARTNERS) TO STEP UP
PRESSURE ON VIETNAM: THEY HAVE REACTED SYMPATHETICALLY TO OUR
CALL:
(C) UNHCR ARE ALSO DIRECTLY IN TOUCH WITH VIETNAM ABOUT
REPATRIATION (UNHCR'S PRESS RELEASE OF 15 JUNE REFERRED TO
CONTACTS WITH VIETNAM ON QUOTE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH NON REFUGEE
CASES MIGHT BE RETURNED TO VIETNAM UNQUOTE.) WE WELCOME THIS AND
ARE ENCOURAGING UNHCR TO INTENSIFY THEIR EFFORTS.
HOWE
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