CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 2+3/9
66
106014
MDHIAN 2551
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 347
OF 10013OZ JULY 89
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
TOP COPY a Ds
VBP: REPATRIATION
1.
I HAD NEARLY THREE FRUSTRATING HOURS WITH CHUONG ON 8 JULY. ON THE CENTRAL ISSUE OF THE PER CAPITA FIGURE FOR REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE WE MADE NO FURTHER PROGRESS. CHUONG PERSISTED WITH HIS ARGUMENT THAT THE ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THE UNHCR PACKAGE AND THAT THE CORRECT FIGURE WAS THEREFORE 719 US DOLLARS. HE SAID THAT SAVINGS BROUGHT ABOUT BY OFFICIALS NOT GOING TO HONG KONG WOULD BE EATEN UP BY INCREASED ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IN VIETNAM BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE VOLUNTEERS. HE WOULD NOT BE BUDGED. I CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT WE CAN NOT GO AS HIGH AS 700 ODD DOLLARS BUT THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO IMPROVE ON 500. CHUONG SHOULD REPORT THIS TO HIS SUPERIORS AND OFFER A SIMILAR COMPROMISE ON THE VIETNAMESE SIDE.
2.
CHUONG ALSO PRODUCED A COUNTER DRAFT TEXT FOR US TO SIGN. THIS WAS IN THE FORM OF A QUOTE AGREED MINUTE UNQUOTE BETWEEN THE EMBASSY AND HIS MINISTRY. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION WE PRODUCED AN AMENDED VERSION WHICH SEEMS ACCEPTABLE AND WHICH WE AGREED TO REFER TO GOVERNMENTS. TEXT AND FURTHER COMMENT FOLLOWS.
I AM NOT IMPRESSED BY CHUONG AND I DOUBT THAT HE HAS ANY INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY. TONIGHT I SHALL BE SEEING THE ACTING DIRECTOR
OF EUROPE II AND SHALL EXPLAIN THE SITUATION TO HER.
3.
IF APPROPRIATE I SHALL SUGGEST TO HER THAT I SEE VU KHOAN.
PARTRIDGE
YYYY
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.