MARGARET THATCHER'S
PROPOSAL
Shortly after the United Nations Secretary-General had appealed all countries to increase the resettlement places and financial contributions to the UNHCR, the newly elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher, urged the Secretary-General to organize an international conference dealing with both political and humanitarian issues related to the Southeast Asian refugee crisis.
Message to His Excellency Mr Kurt Waldheim, Secretary-General of the United Nations from the Right Honourable Mrs. Margaret Thatcher M.P., Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 31 May 1979
Thank you for your message about your recent visit to South East Asia and the problem of the Indo-Chinese refugees. I agree the situation is desperate. The British people are appalled at the human misery being caused.
Many refugees are arriving in Hong Kong, where there are now 40,000 awaiting resettlement. We have ourselves been seeking help from other governments in sharing this burden, so far without success.
I believe urgent international attention must now be given to the question of the resettlement of refugees not only in Hong Kong but elsewhere. At present only a few countries are carrying the burden. The High Commissioner for Refugees deserves the greatest praise for his efforts. Regrettably, the majority of member states of the United Nations are doing little to help him, although many have the capacity to resettle and give new hope to these unhappy people from Indochina.
The situation arising from Vietnam’s inhumane actions is so grave that I am convinced that a further conference of member states of the United Nations should now be called under the authority of your own high office. This matter is urgent. The international community must now be brought to a proper realisation of its responsibilities. I therefore welcome the appeal that you have made to governments throughout the world. This should now be translated into action. The special conference will have our full support.
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher
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UNHCR/F11/2/39_391_46_GEN_a. Letter to Secretary General from British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, 31 May 1978.
Go to the scanned copy of the folder, p. 8 of the pdf file.