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INCORRECT TO SAY THAT THE ASEAN PROPOSAL IS AT RISK BECAUSE NO ASEAN COUNTRY WILL OFFER A SITE. AT THE PREPCOM IN KUALA LUMPUR, IT EMERGED BEHIND THE SCENES THAT THE PHILIPPINES MAY WELL BE PREPARED TO OFFER A CAMP (WHICH ALREADY EXISTS) IN BATAAN FOR THIS PURPOSE, POSSIBLY AT AMERICAN BEHEST. ONE POSSIBILITY THAT OCCURS TO US IS THAT IS THE RATE OF ARRIVALS OF BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG BECOMES INSUPPORTABLE, HONG KONG MIGHT ASK FOR THE OVERSPILL TO BE IMMEDIATELY ACCOMMODATED IN BATAAN.
6.
IN CONCLUSION, WE AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT LORD GLENARTHUR SHOULD MAKE CLEAR TO THE VIETNAMESE THAT AN EARLY MOVE TO MANDATORY REPATRIATION MIGHT WELL PROVE INEVITABLE IF THE VOLUNTARY APPROACH FAILS TO SHOW RESULTS. BUT WE WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST MAKING ANY DIRECT LINK WITH THE RESUMPTION OF ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR THE REASONS OUTLINE ABOVE. AT MOST, PERHAPS, LORD GLENARTHUR OUGHT TO WARN THE VIETNAMESE THAT, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY CANNOT EXPECT FULLY TO NORMALISE THEIR RELATIONS WITH ASEAN AND THE WEST UNLESS:
(A) THEY WITHDRAW COMPLETELY FROM CAMBODIA:
(B) THEY DEAL WITH THE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM IN ACCORANCE WITH ACCEPTED INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND PRACTICES. IN THE CONTEXT OF THE RECENT VIETNAMESE ANNOUNCEMENT ON (A) (IE UNCONDITIONAL WITHDRAWAL BY SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR), IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO TO HAVE A REASONABLY FORTHCOMING LINE TO OFFER ON THE RESUMPTION OF ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE, AS DISCUSSED EARLIER WITHIN SEAD. CLEARLY, WE WILL NEED INSTRUCTIONS ON THESE IDEAS BEFORE WE REACH HANOI. GRATEFUL IF THEY COULD BE TELEGRAPHED TO HMA HANOI BEFORE HE SETS OFF TO MEET US IN HO CHI MINH CITY. ALTERNATIVELY, A TELEGRAM TO SINGAPORE WHICH COULD BE HANDED IN A SEALED ENVELOPE TO THE PILOT OF THE CHARTERED FLIGHT WHICH WILL PICK US UP IN MEDAN ON SUNDAY, 9 APRIL, MIGHT BE FEASIBLE.
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