POLLING COUNTRIES ON A POSSIBLE CONFERENCE
After hearing from Mrs. Margaret Thatcher’s Proposal, the United Nations Secretary-General was not sure whether organizing a conference would be the best thing to do. Poul Hartling, the High Commissioner warned him that a conference had to target either political objectives or humanitarian ones. It hardly killed two birds with one stone. The best way to figure out whether a conference would be a good option, the Secretary-General decided to ask countries’ opinion on that matter.
List of Questions Sent to Countries about the United Kingdom's Proposal
15 June 1979
In a letter from the British Prime Minister to the Secretary-General of 31 May, the Prime Minister proposed that a “Conference of Member States of the United Nations” should be called, under the authority of the Secretary-General’s high office, to deal with the problem of the Indochinese refugees. (Annex I)
The Secretary-General answered on 4 June, indicating that he appreciated this suggestion and that he would be happy to convene a Conference under his auspices. He believed, however, that “careful preparations would be essential to ensure positive results” and, to that end, the Secretary-General asked the High Commissioner for Refugees “urgently to undertake the necessary consultations with those governments who would be most directly involved”. (Annex II)
Accordingly, I would request your Government to indicate its views on the following questions:
1. Is your Government agreeable to the proposal for a Conference?
2. If so, will your Government participate?
3. If a Conference is to be called, what should be its purpose?
(a) Should it be essentially on the humanitarian aspects of the problem and measures to help the refugees?
(b) Should it also be on the political aspects of the problems?
4. If essentially on 3(a), what would be the views of your Government on :
- Who should participate?
- Where and when should the Conference take place?
- What specific fresh commitments would your Government be prepared to offer in regard to funding and resettlement places?
5.If also on 3(b), what would be the views of your Government on
- Who should participate?
- Where and when should the Conference take place?
For the information to the Secretary-General, I should be grateful if I could have your answers as soon as possible.
High Commissioner Poul Hartling, 15 June 1979
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UNHCR/F11/2/39_391_46_GEN_a. Letter from V. Dayal Executive Assistant to the High Commissioner to Poul Harting High Commissioner to Refugees, 15 June 1979.
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