FCO 21/139 Foreign correspondents Arrest of Anthony Grey

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CONFIDENTIAL

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TURITY CEKING

Tølno 356

FOREIGN OFFICE

27 April 1968

RECEIVED IN, ARCHIVES No.81

29 APR 1960

F41318

173

CUFIDENTIAL

Adaressed to Foreign orrice telegram No. 556 of 26 April, Repeated for ini ormation to Hong Kong.

Ly telegram No. 540: Grey.

It would be useful for me in discussing improvements in Grey's conditions with the Chinese to know from Hong kong the following additional points about treatment of Communist prisoners there:

(a) How many of these prisoners are there to a cell?

(0) How much contact do they have with other prisoners? nat

opportunities do tney have for conversation?

solitary confinement?

(d) How frequently are they allowed to use prison library?

(e) Do they receive unlimited supplies or books and periodicals? (r) In practice how long do the regular monthly visits last?

(g) Are they allowed to receive messages from outside, passed

on by prison authorities?

(h) Are they allowed cards or other forms of recreation? Do

they have any access to the rauio?

(1) Do they have access to officials to discuss their treatment

in prison anu to put forward complaints?

2. There is another point which I think it would be tactically useful to take up with the chinese in any discussions on treatment of Grey. The .r.A. statement of 21 July merely states that the Chinese Government had decided to restrict is freedom of movement: "ne must not leave his residence at will and must await furtner notice". But without informing us of any official decision to do so, the chinese nave made nis regime far more rigorous than the sta lement suggests. He is not allowed free use of nis residence for which he still pays full rent, nor is ne allowed use of all his possessions in the house. His telephone which he was able to use for the first month was cut off in August. His present treatment is inconsistent with the only official Chinese statement which we have had on his confinement and notably worse than that no received during the first weeks of nis detention.

CONFITIAL

/ Foreign

CONFIDENTIAL

- 2

Foreign Ofiice pass Priority lion,. Kong 253.

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

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Copy also an FD13/8

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IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 536

(74)

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TOP COPY

. RECEIVED IN

TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

27 APRIL 1968

ARCHIVES No.31

29 APR 1968

CONÉ PENTIAL.

ADDRESSED CO AS MY TELEGRAM NO. 536 DATED 27TH APRIL RFI PEKING."

PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 348 TO FOREIGN OFFICE : GREY.

171

WHILE I NATURAL' Y DO NOT WANT TO MAKE IT ANY HARDER FOR HOPSON TO

OBTAIN MORE REGULAR ACCESS TO GREY, I AM MOST RELUCTANT TO START

ANOTHER ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH NCNA FOR FURTHER 'SPECIAL VISITS'.

A SECOND VISIT SO SOON WOULD TEND TO CONSOLIDATE NCNA'S 'SPECIAL

POSITION' HERE, AND PAY PROPAGANDA DIVIDENDS TO THE COMMUNISTS.

MOREOVER, THE CHINESE MIGHT WELL RAISE THE PRICE OF A FURTHER VISIT

TO GREY AND A SECOND NCNA VISIT COULD ENCOURAGE THE CHINESE TO

INCREASE THEIR USE OF GREY AS A BARGAINING COUNTER. WHILE THE

PREVIOUS VISITS WERE REASONABLY WELL ACCEPTED BY PUBLIC OPINION HERE,

THEIR EARLY REPETITION COULD WELL HAVE A MORE ADVERSE EFFECT.

2. A BASIC POINT, HOWEVER, WHICH MIGHT BE USED TO HELP GREY IS THE

FACT THAT ALL COMMUNIST PRISONERS HAVE HITHERTO ENJOYED THE

'PRIVILEGE OF REGULAR MONTHLY VISITS FROM FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.

COULD WE NOT ASK, AS A MATTER OF RECIPROCITY, FOR MONTHLY NON-

OFFICIAL VISITS TO GREY, E.G. BY NON-DIPLOMATIC STAFF FROM THE

MISSION WHO ARE AMONG HIS FRIENDS? IN ASKING FOR THESE IT MIGHT BE

WORTH MAKING IT CLEAR THAT IN HONG KONG SUCH VISITS ARE GRANTED

AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS AS PRIVILEGES TO

WELL-BEHAVED PRISONERS WHO ABIDE BY PRISON REGULATIONS ON SUCH

MATTERS AS DAILY WORK (WHICH SEVERAL HUNDRED OF THE COMMUNISTS DO

NOT).

3. WITH REFERENCE TO PARAGRAPH 2 OF THE TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE,

ON THE WHOLE WE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT BETTER, IF POSSIBLE, FOR

HOPSON TO AVOID DISCUSSIONS ON THE DETAILS OF NONA COMPLAINTS ABOUT

PRISON CONDITIONS, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THIS COULD LEAD TO AN INDEFINITE

CONTROVERSY.

4. ON OTHER POINTS, THE FOLLOWING ARGUMENTS COULD BE USED:-

(A) LETTERS: PRISONERS IN HONG KONG ARE ALLOWED TO SEND ONE LETTER

SUKI DENTAL

A LONTH

CONFILER/Lni

-2-

A MONTH, AND REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL LETTERS ARE NORMALLY ALLOWED. THERE

IS NO LIMIT ON INCOMING LETTERS.

(B) BOOKS: IN ADDITION TO HAVING FREE ACCESS TO THE PRISON LIBRARY,

COMMUNIST PRISONERS HERE HAVE RECEIVED BOOKS SENT TO THEM BY FRIENDS

AND RELATIVES. BUT THIS IS A MATTER ON WHICH IT WOULD BE NECESSARY

TO TREAD CAREFULLY, FOR THE CHINESE WILL CERTAINLY SEEK TO MAKE AN

ISSUE OF OUR REFUSAL TO ALLOW MAO'S THOUGHTS TO BE GIVEN TO

PRISONERS.

5. IF ALL ELSE FAILS, WE MAY HAVE TO CONSIDER A FURTHER ROUND OF

'SPECIAL' VISITS HERE. BUT WE WOULD PREFER TO EXHAUST OTHER LINES

OF APPROACH FIRST.

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE PLEASE FASS IMMEDIATE TO PERING 193.

SIN D. TRENCH

[REPLITION TO PENING REFERRED FOR LEPARTMENTAL

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巨に

From the Parliamentary

Under-Secretary

Jospa 27/4

Foreign Office

S.W.1

173

25 April, 1968.

You will by now have heard from Reuters that our Chargé d'Affaires in Peking, Sir Donald Hopson, together with Mr. Weston, an official from our Mission, was able to visit your son for twenty minutes on the afternoon of 23 April. We have now had an account of the visit from Sir Donald Hopson, and I am sure you will want to have details.

Your son had only been given half an hour's notice of the visit. He was clearly delighted to have visitors. Sir Donald reports that there has been no change in the physical appearance of your son and that he looks quite well. He is in good health and has had only one stomach disorder in the first three months for which he received medical attention at his home.

Sir Donald read your son the message from yourself as well as those from Mr. Long and the Reuters' staff. Sir Donald also told your son of the constant efforts which have been made to see him and to obtain his release. Your son does not have the use of a radio and was therefore rather starved of news. The Chinese had not told him, for example, that our office in Peking had been burned last August. Sir Donald did his best

to bring him up to date on the news.

Your son said that he was now receiving normal food. He continues to have the services of his domestic staff although he is not allowed access to more than one room in his house. He takes exercise twice daily in his courtyard for forty minutes each time. He is not free to use his personal belongings from the upper part of the house, but he has persuaded the guards to bring down a number of books and he also received a parcel from our Mission in December which included books. He is allowed

Mrs. Agnes Grey

The Wheel Inn,

SCONE.

Perth.

/to see

to see the weekly Peking Review (a publication put out by the Chinese in English) and has also purchased English books put out by the Chinese press.

Your son has been receiving a reasonable supply of letters. Those from Miss McGuinn have been reaching him regularly and also some from his friends in Peking. There may have been some interruption in the letters from yourself. Your son said he had received only two in recent months, but he said these had been greatly appreciated. He made a particular point of asking that you should be informed that he is in good health, and that you should be asked to write often. He has not yet tried sending any letters out, but Sir Donald thought it might be worth a try and encouraged him to do so.

Clearly the loneliness of his confinement must be acutely unpleasant for your son. He has three guards in the house, none of whom will converse with him in English. He has not been visited by other Chinese officials. In these circumstances it is most impressive that he should have stood the strain so well, and I should like to say how much I admire his fortitude. It is a great relief to us all to know that he is in good health and carrying on so bravely. We shall continue to explore every means of bringing his ordeal to an end. The Mission have informed us that

Mr.Weston will be writing to you privately giving details of the visit.

William Rodgers

WEB'L SI 743

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry 38 DRAFT Letter

No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Type 1 +

To:-

From

Top Secret

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

Mrs. Agnes Grey, The Wheel Inn, Scone Perth.

Mr. Rodgers

Telephone No. & Ext.

Department

In Confidenc

You will by now have heard from Reuters

-and through the press that our Chargé d'Affaires

in Peking, Sir Donald Hopson, together with

Mr. Weston, an officer from our Mission, was

able to visit your son for twenty minutes on

the afternoon of 23 Apr11. We have now had an

dong account of the visit from Sir Donald

Hopson, and I am sure you will want to have

details.

Your son had only been given half an

hours notice of the visit. He was clearly

delighted to have visitors.

Sir Donald reports

that there has been no change in the physical

appearance of your son and that he looks quite

well. He is in good health and has had only

one stomach disorder in the first three months

for which he received medical attention at

hie home.

Sir Donald read your son the message from

yourself as well as those from Mr. Long and the

Reuters' staff. Sir Donald also told your son

of the constant efforts which have been made to

see him and to obtain his release.

Your son

does not have the use of a radio and was

therefore rather atarved of news. The Chinese

had not told him, for example, that our office

in Peking had been burned last August. Sir

Donald did his best to bring him up to date

on the news.

Your

173

Your son said that he was now receiving

normal food. He continues to have the services

of his domestic staff although he is not

allowed access to more than one room in his

house. He takes exercise twice daily in his

courtyard for forty minutes each time. He is

not free to use his personal belongings from

the upper part of the house, but he has

persuaded the guards to bring down a number of

books and he also received a parcel from our

Mission in December which included books. He

is allowed to see the weekly Peking Review (s

publication put out by the Chinese in English)

and has also purchased English books put out

by the Chinese press.

Your son has been receiving a reasonable

supply of letters. Those from Miss McGuinn

have been reaching him regularly and also some

from his friends in Peking. There may have

been some interruption in the letters from

yourself. Your son said he had received only

two in recent months, but he said these had

been greatly appreciated. He made a particular

point of asking that you should be informed

that he is in good health, and that you should

be asked to write often He has not yet tried

sending any letters out, but Sir Donald thought

it might be worth a try and encouraged him to

do 80.

Clearly the loneliness of his confinement

must be acutely unpleasant for your son. He

has three guards in the house none of whom will

converse with him in English. He has not been

visited by other Chinese officials. In these

circumstances it is most impressive that he

/should

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Dd. 32855 Ed (4200)

should have stood the strain so well, and I

should like to say how much I admire his

fortitude. It is a great relief to us all

to know that he is in good health and carrying

on so bravely. We shall continue to explore

every means of bringing his ordeal to an end.

The Mission have informed us that Mr. Weston

will be writing to you privately giving

details of the visit.

द

Jus w/

Mr. Samuel

Mr. Anthony Grey

RECEIVED IN JAL LIVES No.31

2 C APR 1968

Разра

172)

Sir Donald Hopson saw Mr. Grey in Peking on 23 April.

He has sent a long account of the visit (attached).

Since

2. The Mission have asked us to inform his mother that

Mr. Weston, who accompanied Sir Donald, will be writing

privately to her with details of the visit.

undertaken to do this.

Reuters have

3. This will however take time; and I think it might be

good if Mr. Rodgers were to write to Mrs. Grey now.

I attach a draft.

James Muay.

(James Murray) 24 April, 1968

Cypher/Cat A

PEKING

Teino 240

CONFIDENTIAL

FOREIGN OFFICE

RÉCEVED IN ARCHIVE: 5 No.3

25 APR 1968)

24 April 1968

F41318

171

168

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 348 or 24 April, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

My telegram No. 41: Grey.

visit to Grey showed that worst aspect of his condition is his isolation. I therefore suggest our immediate errorts should concentrate on securing improvements in this respect.

2. Clearly best thing would be if we could get Consular access on a regular, say monthly basis. I therefore recommend that I snould ask Chinese for another visit to Grey in May, pointing out that isolation he suffers is very much worse than that or Communist prisoners in Hong Kong who in any case enjoy privilege of regular montnly visits. I might refer to and reout complaints from Lo Kue-po and NCNA Hong Kong on alleged isolation or Communist prisoners and contrast their regime with complete isolation in which Grey has been kept.

3. It is of course unlikely that we shall get what we want as easily as that. I nope therefore I may at the same time be authorised if and when Chinese turn down tnis request immediately to offer another round of special visits to Communist newspaper workers in Hong Kong prisons in return for a further visit to Grey. I might offer these visits on similar conditions to last time.

4. I would also propose to ask that Grey should be allowed other comforts such as more books and magazines and letters in and out. In these respects also his condition is worse than that of Communist prisoners. As a longer snot I would also ask for a gramopnone and records, a wireless and a telephone.

5. I shall telegraph separately on the question of possible moves to secure release of Grey.

Foreign Orfice pass Priority Hong Kong 246.

Sar D. hopson

[Repeated as requested]

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9783), 85264), 1,200 pude. 1/67. F. & 5. Op.999-/167. 391958. 1,000 puh. 4/47. F. & S. G0.999/167.

INWARD TELEGRAM

Code or Code R

Cypher/OTP CAT A

FROM..

PEKING

Advanced - Consallesy

[Distribution

RECEIVED

ARCHIVES No.31

27 -APR 1968

Heading] +1308

(770)

DEFIce

TO FOREIGN OFFICE

345

D. 0425 hrs.

Si D. Hapsen

{Signature]

No.

[Date]

168

24 APRIL 1968 R0940hrs

[Priority]

Cox/idential

tel eallam

168

No 341.

Please tell GREY's

Mot Rod that WESTON will

DISTRIBUTION

ADVANCE

privately to het

with details o

visit

Files Teht 14

Consular Dept 3

F.ED

1-R129 1. Bates 3.ADR

Acht-R

I have indeed the Hatar of

Reenters to do them.

Поветрира

24/4

19:44.

Mr. Wilkinson

Mr. Merry

CONFIDENT IAL

$LIVED IN

AK HIVES No.31

25 APR 1968

F43/8

169

Plag

W .169

MR. ANTHONY GREY

Mr. Rodgers has recorded his puzzlement at remarks

about publicity made by Mr. Gerald Long in a conversation

reported in Mr. Denson's minute of 8 April.

2. I think that Mr. Long was reflecting an understandable

ambivalence on the part of Reuters. On the one hand they

accept that publicity is unlikely to be helpful and may well

be harmful to our prospects of securing access to Mr. Grey.

On the other hand they are nagged by a feeling that "something"

must be done. They are particularly prickly about suggestiona

which have in the past been made that for commercial reasons

they themselves were not at the outset as forthright in their

condemnation of Mr. Grey's arrest as they should have been.

3. I spoke to Mr. Long on the telephone today and discussed

with him where matters now stand. He is off to New York for

a fortnight. Immediately on his return he will be in touch

with me again to review the situation but of course hopes

that in the meantime we shall have had access to Mr. Grey.

Kr. Long told me that Mr. Grey's mother has just received

a long telegram from him. In it he says that he is well,

that he knows about her move to Scotland, and that she is

not to worry about him. Mrs. Grey was unwilling to read over

the telephone the complete contents of the telegram, the

latter part of which she said referred to financial matters.

Mr. Grey

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Grey was probably dealing with points she had raised

in her letters. I think that we can take this as a

moderately hopeful sign. The Chinese would seem unlikely

to carry deception to these lengths.

James Lexanay

(James Hurray) 18 April, 1968

At least the compt of the

telegram suggests that any is

ülive, and

hin

lin compos mentes

the circumstances I find

which in very auditable

courageous of him.

19.4.63.

1-76 19.4

Whithen som

18/4.

а ветре

To Bart. Jus per 24/4

CONFIDENTIAL

9.4.

Kr. Murray oʻr

18. W

I am

Mr. Anthony Gray

On receiving faking telegram No. 289 I telephoned Mr. Gerald Long of Reuters, in the absence of hr. Chipp. I told him that it now seemed possible that consular access would be granted to Mr. Grey fairly soon as satisfactory arrangements had been made for additional visits to be paid to N.C.N.A. representatives and "patriotic journalists" in Hong Kong. It would however be dangerous to count our chickens before they are hatched. I suggested that he might like to consider messages from Reuters and from Mr. Grey'■ mother and indicated that we would be willing to transmit them. Mr. Long said he would be in touch with ne again very

soon.

Mr. Long also raised the question of publicity about Kr. Grey and said he was still not convinced that the best course was to keep quist. He agreed however that we should wait until it had been possible to visit Nr. Grey and then review the matter again. I undertook to ask Kr. hodgers to arrange a meeting with Mr. Long in the fairly near future.

pangled 9 Hayit Had they

Beland

+ Kap

Copies to:

-> Ir. Sammel

Mr. Smart

Mr. Boyd

(J. B. Denson) 8 April, 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

gaut

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Welno. 341

CONFIDENTIAL

Jupa 2544.

23 April 1968

168

10 REGENED IN

[RGHIL

ARGHIZ., No.31

24 APR 1968

F413/8

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 341 of 23 April, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

166

My telegram No. 334.

Weston and I saw Grey for 20 minutes this afternoon in his home. He was clearly overjoyed to see us. (He had been given only half hour's notice of our visit) and though he was naturally under some emotional stress there was no obvious change in his physical appearance and he looked quite well. He said in fact that he was in good health and had only had one stomach disorder in the first three months for which he had received medical attention at his home.

After greetings, I read him message from his mother, Mr. Long and Reuter staff. I then told him of constant efforts which had been made both to see him and to obtain his release. I also gave him some general idea that situation had calmed down both in China and in Hong Kong and that prospects for solving Sino-British difficulties appeared better now than they had for a long time. I assured him that Her Majesty's Government, Reuters nd ourselves would continue our constant efforts to obtain his release.

3. In reply to questions, he said he was confined to one room on ground floor of his house to which ned had moved following Red Guard incursion or 18 August, an event he was unwilling to discuss. He said that his food was now normal, implying it had not been so during the first few meaths. He continues to have services of his domestic staff. He is permitted exercise twice daily for forty minutes each time in his hour.yard.

yard. Although he is not free to use his personal books anu belongings .g. chessboard, in other rooms of his house, he has persuaded the guards to bring down a few brake frog ipatairs and also řeceived one parcel from us in December which incluid books. He is allowed to see the weekly Peking Review, and has also purchased books from foreign languages Press. He is not permitted a radio. He was therefore starved of news and did not know for example of the burning of our office last August.

4. As regards mail he has received relar letters from his girl friend for the past three months and also spasmedically from some friends in Peking. He said he has only aired cwo letters from his mother ove past nine mont08. Althang në bas sent an occasional telegram 1.e. one to his mother a week ago he has not (repeat net) jet

3 ng louters CL?

Therefore encouraged him to do se. I also reglested that he should try writing to the Press Depitheat a #inister of Foreign Affairs Occasion 11.

..i be recconected.

5. He said

CONFIDENTIAL

5. He said he had seen no (repeat no) Chinese official since_of his detention began. He has three guards on standpoint none whom will converse with him in English. He said that the sol ation was complete and terrible. At times he had felt on the verge of a nervous breakdown. In reply to my question he said he had not (repeat not) been accused of committing any offence nor had the Chinese discussed conditions for his release with bim. In fact as stated above he had no contact whatever with Chinese officials.

There has been apparently no effort to brainwash him apart from a natural nervousness of his behaviour and conversation was quite normal. He made a particular point of asking that his nother should be informed that he is in good health and that she should be asked to write more often.

7. I shall give gist of this to Western Press representatives when I see them later this afternoon. In view of his request in paragraph 6 above I shall omit any reference to his nervousness.

Foreign Office pass Hong Kong 242.

Sir D. Hopson.

(Repeated as requested]

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FLASH PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

To. 340

23 April 1968

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ARCHIVES 31

23 APR 1968

Fe13/8

167

Addressed to F.0. telegram No. 340 of 23 April

Repeated for information to:

166

Hong Kong.

My telegram No. 338: Grey.

ويل

pur 24/4

Foreign Press are aware that a visit will take place this afternoon. "It will therefore be impossible to hold publicity at this end until tomorrow. I am therefore seeing Western Press correspondents at 6 p.m. this evening when I shall inform them of the visit, with appropiate details as in my telegram under reference.

Please ensure that Mrs. Grey and Reuters are informed at once that the visit will take place this afternoon.

Sir D. Hopson

F.0.

0.0.

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Telno 338

NFIRE'TIAL

23 April,

1968

RECEIVED IN |ARCHIVES No.31

23 APR 1968

166

FC 13/8

Jm pa 24/4

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 338 of 23, April. Repeated for information to:

Hong Kong.

My telegram No. 334: Visit to Grey.

Publicity will need careful consideration. I think that

news should be withheld from the Press until Grey's mother has been informed, and I should prefer it to be initially released here to his Western colleagues who are naturally much concered and deserve à break. I would therefore propose to talk to the Press tomorrOW 24 April. If Grey is in reasonable shape it will be a straightforward matter giving details of the visit etc., and of his confinement as told to us by him. If he is obviously in poor health I think we must also say so. If however he appears to have been brain washed

I would propose to say nothing on this score.

Please send an immediate telegram saying whether you agree.

F.O. pass Hong Kong No. 239.

Sir P. Horsen

[Repeated as requested).

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IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

23 APR 1968

22 April 1968

Telno. 334

F21$18

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 334 of 22 April, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Grey.

Cradock was summoned to an interview with Miss Chang, Deputy Head of News Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs this afternoon.

2. Kiss Chang said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had agreed that 2 officials from British Office should visit Grey at his residence at 4 p.m. on Tuesday 23 April. The visit would last 20 minutes. The names of visiting officials should be transmitted to News Department by noon on 23 April. The following rules would apply:

(a) Visitors must show their identification cards to the guards outside.

(b) Visitors must not bring clothes, food, books or other articles and must not exchange letters, documents or telegrams with Grey.

(o) They must not take photographs or tape recordings.

(a) They must use standard English.

(e) They must obey instructions given by Public Security Bureau staff who would be present.

Cradock argued for visit by three officials on the analogy of Hong Kong visits. Miss Chang merely repeated her

instructions, adding that the question of a visit to Grey and Hong Kong visits was "not purely a question of reciprocity". On the question of length of visit, after some pressing, Miss Chang said that although time of visit had been laid down as 20 minutes "in the circum- stances at the time if British officials really needed an extension time could be lengthened with the agreement of working personnel present", Cradock in conclusion expressed strong dissatisfaction with the take it or leave it and restrictive nature of the Chinese arrangements, contrasting this with details of Hong Kong visits which had been settled by agreement after full preliminary dis- cussion.

/4. We have

CONFIDENTIAL

We have informed Ministry of Foreign Affairs that I will make the visit to Grey tomorrow, accompanied by Weston.

Sir D. Hopson.

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PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

-9 APR 1968

Te Τ

289

8 April 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

164

FC12/8. 039

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 289 of 8 April. Repeated for information to Hong kong

Noti

Hong kong telegram No. 150 (No. 425 to Foreign Office of 4 April: Prison Visita).

Since there are now prospects of our getting early access to Grey, are there any messages which neuters or Grey's mother would like us to pass to Grey?

Foreign Office pass to Hong Kong 202.

Bir D. Hopson

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ORITY PEKING

Telno. 218

FOREIGN OFFICE

19 March 1968

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

19 MAR 1968

FC13/8

163

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No. 153 of 19 March. Repeated for information to Foreign Off108. N41.7

Visits.

Your telegram No. 333 to Commonwealth Office:

Prison

It is possible that NCNA are insisting on members or P.A.'s office being present during the prison visits, in order that Chinese can claim the right to attend any interviews we may get with Grey.

From our point of view therefore there would be advantage in resisting NCNA on this though we would not wish to press the point if it makes things awkward for you.

2. The length of time for which the Chinese permit us to see Grey is likely to be related directly to the amount of time you allow prison visitors.

Foreign Office pass Hong Kong 153.

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requestea)

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CONFIDENTIAL

Private Secretary

jARC

- 7 MAR 1968

..31

F213/8

MR. ANTHONY GREY

F.E. Sent.

Plots.

The Secretary of State has enquired, with reference

Flag A to Peking telegram No. 155 of 2 March, whether we are in

F2, 313 (160) touch with Mr. Grey's girl-friend, Miss McGuinn.

Flag B

146.

167

2. On 22 September, 1967, Miss McGuinn wrote on a personal

basis to Mr. Hayman, whom she knows slightly. In his reply

he suggested that she should keep in close touch with Reuters.

He added that we would, however, get into touch with her

directly at any time should that seem necessary.

3. We hear regularly from Reuters about any communications

which Miss McGuinn receives from Mr. Grey. They in fact let

us know very promptly that she had received the telegram

referred to. This was reported in my submission of 13 February

and also mentioned in the brief prepared for the call of the

National Union of Journalists on the Secretary of State.

4. Kiss McGuinn is also in touch on a personal basis with

a member of the staff of our Mission in Peking, and is thus

aware of local conditions there.

Copy to Mr. Hayman

may.

James Murry.

(James Murray) 5 March, 1968

eater MAN

7/3

• pa. ра

Mr. Wilson (Far Eastern Department)

Grey

- 7 MAR 1968

F241318

On the Secretary of State's copy of Peking telegram No. 155 of 2 March he has minuted "Are we in touch?"

May we have your comments please?

CBerg

(G. Berg) 4 March, 1968

P.a. Se. (162)

162

En Clair

PRIORITY

PEKING

Telno. 155

UNCLASSIFIED

FOREIGN OFFICE

2 March 1968

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.3t

TOP COPT

FC13/8

A member of my staff has heard from Grey's girl' friend that she received a long cable from Grey on 10 February. From this it was clear that Grey has been getting many of the letters which she sends him.

Girl friend is Shirley McGuinn who lives at 57 York Street, London, W.1.

Sir D. Hopson

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ORIG. Copy ON PD oria.copy

Copy also an FD12789)

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat. A

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 153

CONFIDENTIAL

1 March, 1968

RECENTD IN {ARCHIVES No.3!

- 4 MAR 1968

FC1318

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 153 of 1 March, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

My immediately preceding telegram.

After discussing prison visits I raised with Hsueh our porposal to swap Hsuch P'ing for Grey. I reminded him that this proposal had now been made on an official basis and asked if he had had any reply for me. He said he had noted our proposal, but today

he had no news.

F.O. pass immediate Hong Kong 100.

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

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CONFIDENTIAL

4/3.

CONFIDENTIAL

Envir

TOF "SECSTATE FROM: HONG KONG CONFIDENTIAL 3/23/68 (

RECEIVED IN | ARƐHIV: 5 No.3 1

2 FEB 188

F318

SUBJECT: 'CANADIAN CORRESPONDENT ON MAINLAND CONDITIONS

CON

1. DAVID DANCIA, TORONTO GLOBE AND HAIL PEKING CORRESPONDENT NOW VISITING HONG KONG, STATED WHILE MILITARY PRESENCE IN

PEKING REDUCED SLIGHTLÝ, ATHOSPHERE TENSION PERVADES

CAPITAL. OCCASIONAL GLIMPSES LEADERSHIP LEED SUPPORT SPECULATION THEY BITTERLY DIVIDED, UNCERTAIN WHAT TO DO NEXT.

2. LEADERSHIP-ORICIA, ON DEPARTING PEKTEG

WAS

AIRPORT FEB 14 A.N., VIFCESSED ARRIVAL BY AIR OF CHOU EN LAI, CHOU, KHO HAVED TIREDLY AT OF"CIA ACCOMPANIED BY HUSKY BODYGUARD, MILITARY ESCORT, AND LOOKED PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED--"Ä VALKING GHOST", (SINCE MAO HAS EVIDENTLY REMAINED IN FEKING IN RECENT WEEKS, VE WOULD SURHISE THAT CHOU WAS RETURNING FROM KEGOTIATORY ATTENPT RE SOME CRISIS sroт SUCH AS KUNTING OR AKOY,) 14 JANUARY, AT RECEPTION, OAKCIA AGAIN OBSERVED WHAT HE BELIEVED TO BE DELIDER-TE SHUO OF CHEN PO-TA BY CHOU ́EH LAI (LAST FALL, DAKCIA ALSO S4! SIMILAR INCIDENT BETWEEN CHOU AND CREK--A-235),. LEADERSHIP TLRKOUTS THAT OARCIA VITRESSED, IN PERSON OR ON TELEVISION, SZEWED HARKED BY UNDERCURRENT ANTAGONISH DITVEEN DOI E LEADERS; LLA PIAO HE CHARACTERIZED AS RESESLING COILED SPRING,

317

3. DILITARY-JUST BEFORE CHINESE HOW YEAR (LATE JAY) OARCIA KOTED MARKED UPSKING FLA PREDE 106 PEKING INTENSIFIED HIGKTIME PATROLLINT DY REAVILY 4RBED SQUADS;

WITH THIS HAS SINCE ABATED TO PREVIJUS LEVELS. OKE HOTELORTHY FEATURE TEKī13 LIFE PAST FEW WEEKS HAS BEEN HIBER LARGE-

PEKING SCALE MILITARY CONFERENCES AND G'THLUNGS. THESE HE ASSURED WERE LARGELY INDOCTRINATION, SESSIONS, BUT HAVE IN- VOLVED USE OF LARGEST MEETING FACILITIES IN TOWN: ARIED GUARDS ESCIRLCING PREKISES VILE SESSIOKS IN PROGRESS 400 TO ATCOSPHERS TERSION. 043CIA SPECULATED GAJOR THEN THESE DZETICOS VAS PLA USITY, AND HAD SEEN IMPRESSED BY UNEVEN PROPAGANDA TREATMENT DIFFERENT PLA COMPONENTS, VITH

સ GREATEST ATTENTION TO AIR VFCACE, REAR SERVICES CEPARTMENT,

ARTILLERY COMMAND.

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL.

ет

[

4. TUCIDENTS-OHLY NECENT INSTANCE PEXING VIOLENCE THAT DANCIA PERSONALLY SAY WAS RANSACKING MERIVI-SIZE FACTORY IN JANUARY; PLA ZVEHTBALLY HOVED IN, AND DANCIA BELIEVED FACTIONAL LEADERS RESPONSIBLE FOR INCIDENT HAD BEEN EXECUTED AS COUNTER-SEVOLUTIONARIES, OANCIA CONFIRMED AFP REPORTS

THAT. PEKING DAILY IN HID-JAHUARY RAN SPECIAL ISSUES RECOUNTING RECENT FACTIONAL STRIFE PEKING AREA, AGREED THAT PRINCIPAL PURPOSE WAS TO DRAMATIZE AND PROVIDE RATIQUALE FOR CURRENT SERIES TRIALS, HEAVY PUNISHMENT HALEFACTORS. OANCIA PARTICULARLY INTRIGURED BY PEKING DAILY ACCOUNT OF SCUFFLE AT PZKING RAILWAY STATION, AS HE HAD VISITED STATION SEVERAL DAYS EARLIER, 'FOUND IT HEAVILY PROTECTED WITH BARBED WIRE, GUN EXPLACEMENTS, ETC. HE PERSONALLY SUSPECTED PLA TROOPS HAD SEEN ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN FIGHT AT INCEPTION, RATHER THAN INTERVENING AT LATER STAGE AS PORTRAYED BY PAPER. (AIRGRAM FOLLOWS.) DARTIN

LIL.I

CONFIDENTIAL

५०

CONFIDENTIAL

abo

OMG. Copies at Fat она. Серда FDI

Kr. Sembel

Enter

RECEIVED JAN ARCHIVES No.31

23 FEB 1968

ACCESS TO COLUNIST PRISONERS IN HONG KONG

TC MR. GREY

FO13/8

Froblem

The Governor has suggested some modifications to our

proposals about how the matter of access to prisoners should

be handled in Hong Kong and Peking; but he also takes the

opportunity to repeat bis warning that the concessions and arrangements may run us into dangerous repercussions in Hong Kong. His suggestions involve a rather more precise statement in Peking of the conditions under which we are prepared to allow visits to prisoners in Hong Kong, but they do not redically alter the substance of our approach. The Chargé d'Affaires in

Peking has proposed one modification

and ourselves

►

acceptable to the Governor

and has pressed for early instructions. The crux

of the metter remains whether the. importance we attach to

obtaining access to kr. Grey justifies the risks involved in

the concessions we would be making to the Chinese over access

to prisoners in Hong Kong.

Recommendation

I recommend that

(a) we accept the Governor's proposed modifications,

particularly since they seem to go some way towards reducing the risks in Hong Kong to which he has

drawn attention;

(b) subject to the Governor's final concurrance, we now

instruct Sir Donald Hopson to take action with the

CONFIDENT TAL,

/Ohsas ta.

CONFIDENTIAL

F1:

Chinese.

I attach draft telegrans to Hong Kong and Peking.

Office have already concurred.

Background and Argument

Commonwealth

3. The background is set out in my submission of 22 February.

Cur proposals, on which the Governor has now commented, are

I, in 0.0. telegrama 323, 324 and 325 to Hong Kong.

4. The Governor has from the start been most reluctant to allow N.C.N.A. access to non-N.C.N.A. Journalists in prison. He has, however, already accepted (as he acknowledges in paragraph 1 of his telegram No. 241) that access to Mr. Grey is a compelling reason for special treatment of the latter category. The points at issue in telegram No. 241 are therefore not of principle (though he takes the occasion to remind us strongly that he conceded the issue of principle only reluctantly), but a matter of tactics. The Governor has from the outset been anxious that we should spell out in detail to the Chinese in Peking the conditions under which we were prepared to allow visits. His concern was that if we did not do so and there were subsequently difficulties over detail in Hong Kong, we

Sir Donald would be charged by the Chinese with bad faith. Hopson has thought that detailed points were better dealt with in Hong Kong (paragraph 5 of Peking telegram No. 133). Pre- sumably he has been concerned lest the whole exercise might founder on an argument over detail in Peking.

For reasons set

out in paragraph 3 of Commonwealth Office telegram No. 325, the Commonwealth Office and ourselves decided on balance that

CONFIDENTTAL,

/it

الترا

CONFIDENTIAL

-3-

it would be better that discussion of detailed arrangements

should take place in Hong Kong. However the arguments advanced in paragraph 2 of Hong Kong telegram No. 241 about the risks

of substantive discussion in Hong Kong are impressive. I

think therefore that we should be prepared to meet the Governor

over this; in particular I think he is right in stressing that

we should avoid entering into any commitment with the Chinese about more than a single visit to each prisoner until we have achieved the quid pro quo in respect of Mr. Grey.

5. The Governor's proposals meet the only point of substance which Sir D. Hopson raised (in Peking telegram No. 147) on our original proposals. I cant a personal message to Sir D. Hopson that we would get instructions to him as soon as possible, but that they could not arrive in time for action on 27 February.

The risks which the proposed concessions and arrangements

involve are discussed in paragraph 9 of my submission of

22 February, to which I have nothing to add. In view of the importance of obtaining access to Kr. Grey, I think it is right to accept them. As I see it, the purpose of the Governor in his latest telegram has not been to call in question the decision

and Sir D. Hopson of principle, but to remind us difficulties he has been making are not merely obstructiveness

on his part.

Copies to:

Sir D. Allṣn

Fr. Carter

Jon Mary

(James Kurray)

27 February, 1968

that the

Incusque with to Rodgers who appuntit

Jücuso draft blis.

De Fuß,

CONFIDENTIA

CORYMOON

Sir D. Allen

FD13/8 (8) вызвать

CONFIDENTIAL

I RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES NÚ.31

28 FEB 1368

156

FC13/8

ACCESS TO MR. GREY AND COMMUNIST PRISONERS IN

HONG KONG

Problem

The Chinese have indicated that they may be prepared to

grant access to Mr. Grey if representatives of the New China News Agency (N.C.N.A.) in Hong Kong are allowed to make formal

visits to

(a) two imprisoned N.C.N.A. journalists and

(b) a number of "other patriotic journaliste" in

prison in Hong Kong.

The Governor has always been prepared to grant the first, but fears that agreement to the second would create precedents for N.C.N.A. to act in a quasi-consular role and would also dis- criminate unfairly between different categories of prisoners.

Recommendation

I recommend that

(a) N.C.N.A. should be allowed to make a special visit

to the two N.C.N.A. journalists;

(b) the employers of other journalists should be allowed

to make special visits accompanied by a representa- tive of N.C.N.A., and that N.C.N.A. should be allowed

to stand in for the employer if the latter is

unavailable;

(c) approaches to the Chinese should be made in such a

way that the minimum is conceded towards a quasi-

consular status for N.C.N.A.

CONFIDENTIAL

I attach draft telegrams to Peking and Hong Kong. A parallel

submission is being made in the Commonwealth Office.

Background and Argument

3. There are two.N.C.N.A. journalists in prison in Hong

Kong together with at least twelve other communist journalists.

It is not, however, absolutely clear how many people the

Chinese consider to be in the category of "patriotic journaliste"

Flag A (Hong Kong telegram No. 185). In common with other prisoners F01/29/these people all receive visits once a month from relatives or Fc 3/3/238

friends, and the N.C.N.A. journalists have already been visited

by representatives of their organisation in the guise of friends.

4. Despite these regular visits the Chinese have since July,

1967, insisted that official visits should be allowed to the

N.C.N.A. journalists and since December, 1967, that official

visits by N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong should be allowed to the

"patriotic journalists" as well. They have used the failure

to agree to such official visits as an excuse for not granting

access to Mr. Grey.

5. On 22 December the N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong demanded that official visits should be allowed to the N.C.N.A. and "patriotic

journalista" and prisoners from other communist organisations Flag B (Hong Kong telegram No. 1908). They also demanded that they

FD13/8(5) should be allowed to bring food and clothing to the prisoners.

These visits were to be made at the time of Chinese New Year

(30 January) and the communist press began a campaign of

propaganda about ill-treatment of prisoners with the clear

/intention

CONFIDENTIAL

Flag B

FD13 1857.

Flag C

intention of using the visits as part of their propaganda

barrage. The Governor said that Hong Kong's prison rules

only allowed visits on the application of the prisoners them-

selves, that clothing could only be left for a prisoner on

release and that extra food for prisoners could not be allowed (Hong Kong telegram No. 1908). When these points were put to

the Chinese in Peking on 31 December they said that the reply

was unsatisfactory. In particular, they said they could not

agree that applications for visite must come from the prisoners

themselves. They added that, if their demands were met, "they

might consider allowing the British Office to send personnel

to visit Mr. Grey "(Peking telegram No. 1).

FD13/8 596.

Flag D

On 28 January the Chinese made a further approach and

said in effect that, if official visits by N.C.N.A. were allowed

to N.C.N.A. and other "patriotic journalists", they could "consider arrangements for an official British visit to Mr.

*3/2 (207) to

Flag E

Grey" (Peking telegram No. 84). Sir Donald Hopson took this 7to mean that a visit to Mr. Grey would in the event be arranged, although this was by no means certain since the Chinese could

have reverted to their third demand (visits to other "patriotic"

prisoners) before allowing access to him. The Governor agreed

to allow visits to the N.C.N.A. Journalists but not to the others (Hong Kong telegram No. 132); the N.C.N.A. did not take up the suggestion about how such visits might be made and the

matter was dropped.

For 7863up

7. The Governor (whom we asked to reconsider the matter) has

now put forward suggestions which go some way towards meeting

/the

CONFIDENTIAL

- 4-

Flag F

FD1/1 (303)

the Chinese demands (Hong Kong telegram No. 212). He is

prepared, albeit with reluctance, to agree that, besides

official visits to N.C.N.A. journalists, official visits

should also be allowed by their employers to other "patriotic

journalists". He is prepared to hint that representatives of

N.C.N.A. could accompany the employers. He is, however, under-

standably anxious that the N.C.N.A. should not arrogate to

itself a quasi-consular status in demanding right of access

to a wide range of prisoners. The fear that N.C.N.A. may

build itself into an alternative focus of loyalty in Hong

Kong is long-standing and well-founded.

Flag G1498.

As Sir D. Hopson has pointed out (Peking telegram No. 133)

+FDI/1245

24< the

the Governor's suggestions go only part of the way towards

meeting the Chinese demands and I agree with him in thinking

that, put in this form, they would almost certainly fail to

secure our prime objective: access to Mr. Grey. He has

recommended strongly that we should meet the Chinese on all

their points and believes that, if we do so, we have a very

good chance of succeeding.

9. I am not myself fully convinced that the Chinese will not

produce further "demands" before agreeing to access to Mr. Grey,

but I think it is very important that we test them. Access to

Mr. Grey is an urgent necessity and at the very worst, if the

move fails, we shall at least know that the Chinese are not

seriously interested in a reasonable quid pro quo for visita.

There are, however, dangers in agreeing to the Chinese demands

of which Ministers should be aware. Besides the obvious one

/of

CONFIDENTIAL

-5-

of whetting the Chinese appetite for further concessions,

these are:

(a) By equating visits to Mr. Grey with visits to

more than the two N.C.N.A. journalists, we

make it likely that an exchange, if it can

be arranged, will have to be on the same basis.

This would not matter much if all the journalists

could be deported to China; but it would be

unacceptable if the Chinese demanded instead

that they should be released in Hong Kong-

(b) We are conceding that the N.C.N.A. are in a

special relationship to members of other

organisations in Hong Kong (who may even be

British citizens); in the past they have acted

mainly as an intermediary for the Chinese Govern-

ment. This could be the thin edge of the wedge

and will need handling with care. We must ensure

that the Governor retains the right to decide who

is properly in the category of those to whom visits

can be allowed.

10. Despite all the difficulties, I think we must try to use

visits in Hong Kong as a means of securing access to Mr. Grey.

This will mean persuading the Governor to go a little further

than he has at present offered to do. He will have to be given

a chance to comment before a decision is finally made.

attached telegrams I have suggested a way in which the opera-

tion might be handled, providing that the Governor and Sir D.

Hopson agree.

In the

/11.

CONFIDENTIAL

11.

Although we are still waiting for a reply to the approach

made to the Chinese on 7 February about visa problems for our

Mission and Chinese intentions with regard Mr. Grey (including

the suggestion of an exchange), Sir D. Hopson does not think

that a separate approach now on prison visits would cut across

the exercise. I agreei it could even provide us with an

opportunity to prod the Chinese into replying to our proposals

of 7 February.

12. It must be recognised that the proposed approach, even if

it fails, is as far as we should go in making concessions in

Hong Kong to gain access to Hr. Grey. To go any further might

put at risk our position in Hong Kong; we would be abandoning

the policy of firmness which in our dealings with the Chinese

over the Colony has brought us through the recent troubles,

and we would be encouraging Chinese hopes that we can still

be pushed into making substantial concessions there. for the

sake of our Mission and other British subjects in China.

(There

can be little doubt that the achievement of some form of

"Macao-type" situation in Hong Kong remains the ultimate Chinese

objective.)

Copies to:

Kr. Samuel

Kr. Carter, 0.0.

James Humaye

(James Murray)

22 February, 1968

In Mr. Rodgers' absence I arth the draft telegrams,

Consular Department. subject to C.O. clearance.

C.O. uncured with my winc

modifientions

1920 AAMCONFI

CONFIDENTIAL

こ

xam.

опа

ora. Copy

Copy on Foil

CONFIDENTIAL

YPHER/CAT.A

RIORITY

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG

ZELNO. 325

23 FEBRUARY 1968 (H.K.D. & F.D.)

28 FEB 1953

FC131

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TEL NO 325 OF 23/2 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.

FOLLOWING FROM GALSWORTHY.

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 234: PRISON VISITS.

YOUR TELEGRAM WAS RECEIVED AFTER OUR TELEGRAMS NOS 323 AND 324

HAD BEEN APPROVED.

WE AND FOREIGN OFFICE FULLY ACCEPT POINT IN LAST SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE. YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS IS REFLECTED IN PARAGRAPH 6 OF OUR TELEGRAM NO 323.

3. WE REALISE THAT YOU WOULD PREFER THAT NOTIFICATION OF CONDITIONS (1) TO (V) SHOULD FIRST BE MADE TO CHINESE IN PEKING (PARAGRAPH 3 YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE). WE AND FOREIGN OFFICE HOWEVER STILL FEEL ON BALANCE THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER THAT THE DISCUSSION

WE OF DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN HONG KONG. RECOGNISE THAT WHEREVER THE NOTIFICATION IS MADE THERE IS RISK OF FURTHER ARGUMENT ABOUT THE CONDITIONS, AND ALSO OF CONFUSION

BUT BY THE CHINESE IN TRANSMISSION BETWEEN PEKING AND N C N A. OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT ON THE WHOLE THE BEST CHANCE OF SETTLING THIS ASPECT OF THE MATTER LIES IN DIRECT EXCHANGES WITH N CNA IN HONG KONG, WE TAKE POINT IN LAST SENTENCE OF YOUR PARAGRAPH 3.

OF OUR TELEGRAM HE SUGGEST THAT HOPSON SHOULD ADD (PARAGRAPH 1(A)

NO 324) THAT THE SPECIAL VISITS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT ON ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS BETWEEN THE POLITICAL ADVISER AND N CNA A PHRASE OF THIS SORT WOULD GIVE SOME PROTECTION AGAINST CHARGES OF BAD FAITH IF THE CHINESE PRODUCED A LIST OF SUCH LENGTH THAT IT COULD NOT BE ACCEPTED IN TOTO AND THE WHOLE ARRANGEMENT BROKE DOWN IN CONSEQUENCE.

CONFIDENTIAL

14.

CONFIDENTIAL

SIMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 325 TO HONG KONG

YOUR PARAGRAPH 4. WOULD WE NECESSARILY WANT TO REFER AT THIS TAGE TO A SINGLE VISIT? CLEARLY IT WOULD HAVE TO BE UNDERSTOOD

IT THERE COULD ONLY BE ONE SET OF CHINESE VISITS IN EXCHANGE

ONE VISIT TO GREY. BUT IF WE ACHIEVE A VISIT TO GREY ON THE BASIS OW SUGGESTED, WE MIGHT WELL WANT TO TRY TO REPEAT THE PATTERN

A FUTURE OCCASION OR OCCASIONS. WE FEEL THEREFORE THAT IN

·NDEAVOURING TO MOUNT THIS OPERATION WE SHOULD USE LANGUAGE WHICH

LD IMPLY NEITHER THAT WE WERE THINKING PURELY AND SIMPLY IN AMS OF A ONCE FOR ALL OPERATION, NOR THAT WE WERE INTENDING

NECESSARILY TO BE A PRECURSOR OF OTHERS TO FOLLOW,

YOUR PARAGRAPH 5.

WE THINK THAT IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE

ITS ALL TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN A REASONABLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME,

CINCE THE CHINESE MAY REFUSE ACCESS TO GREY UNTIL THE VISITS

VE ALL BEEN MADE OR AT ANY RATE ARRANGED. WE FEEL THAT YOUR POINT OULD NOT BE MADE TO THE CHINESE UNTIL WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT E NUMBERS INVOLVED MAKE SPACING A NECESSARY STIPULATION.

.OSEC

PARTIENTAL DISTRIBUTION

.3.

H.K.D.

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= 35

CONFIDENTIAL

Oria, cya Polli (303)

1526

JYPHER/CAT A

PE JOY

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 212

CONFIDENTIAL

19 FEBRUARY 1968

RECEIVED IN ¡ARCHIVES No.31

28 FEB 1968

F413/18

CRESSED CO TELNO 212 OF 197 FEBRUARY RFI PEKING.

F23/3 239

DEKING TELEGRAM TO FO 129: PRISONERS.

IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME TO TRY TO CLARIFY JUST WHAT IT IS

AM BEING ASKED TO CONCEDE FOR GREY'S SAKE.

2. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO ME TO BE AN ARGUMENT ABOUT THE

■

MINERAL PRINCIPLE OF VISITING BUT ABOUT CAD WHAT IS OR IS NOT

* ''FORMAL'' VISIT SEMICOLON AND (B) TO HOW MANY PEOPLE ''FORMAL'*

VISITS CAN BE MADE.

2. THE RULES ABOUT VISITING WERE SUMMARISED IN PARAGRAPH 2CA)

~~ MY TELEGRAM 1908 OF 23RD DECEMBER. THIS TELEGRAM PERHAPS

RS IN NOT MAKING IT CLEAR HOW LIBERALLY THE RULES ARE NORMALLY

INTERPRETED. IN DETAIL:

(A) ALL PRISONERS ARE, OR CAN BE, VISITED REGULARLY ONCE A

WTH. MORE OR LESS ANYBODY WITHIN THE CATEGORY OF RELATIVES

ND FRIENDS CAN BE LET IN TO SEE THEM ON THESE VISITS PROVIDED

EY DECLARE WHO THEY ARE, WHICH IS A SIMPLE SECURITY PRECAUTION

THE ONE HAND AND A PROTECTION FOR THE PRISONER ON THE OTHER.

-E PRISONER MUST ALSO AGREE TO SEE THEM SEMICOLON OBVIOUSLY

.ISONERS CANNOT BE FORCED TO SEE PEOPLE THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE.

"O) EXTRA VISITS TO INDIVIDUAL PRISONERS CAN BE APPROVED FOR

ASONABLE CAUSE AT THE PRISONER'S REQUEST. AGAIN, ANYBODY

INTING TO SEE A PRISONER FOR ANY SPECIAL REASONS IS OF COURSE

•REE TO ASK TO VISIT HIN SEMICOLON IF THE REASONS ARE COMPELLING,

THE VISIT CAN BE ALLOWED AGAIN SUBJECT TO THE PRISONER'S

AGREEMENT. A PARTICULARLY RELEVANT EXAMPLE IS THAT AN EMPLOYER

.. USUALLY GRANTED ONE VISIT TO AN EMPLOYEE. THUS, ON 14 FEBRUARY

IN THE MANAGER OF THE COMMUNIST YIEN YIEH COMMERCIAL BANK ASKED

O SEE SIX EMPLOYEES HE WAS ALLOWED CACCOMPANIED BY TWO OTHERS FROM

'E BANKO ONE VISIT TO EACH OF THEM CUNDERLINE NEXT WORDD INDIVID-

ALLY.

CONFIDENTIAL

/(c) TO

CONFIDENTIAL

HƯNG KUNI TELEINE NU. 212 iu OHIO HEALTH OFFICE

(~) TU CUMPLETE THE BACKGROUND, UR HULES GIVE ANY PRISONER & RIGHT OF HOCESS TO ¤IS CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVE AT ANY TIME:

BUT THIS oF COURSE REZdans TU A FÜRKAL REPRESENTATIVE.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER KÄRÄNGSAENTS FOR THE "FORMAL" VISITS KËQUESTED BY THE CHINESE CAN BE MADE HITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK

OF THE Lurkan VISITING PATriin SET OUT ABOVE. I AM NOT AT ALL CLEAR THAT THE CHINESA INTEND THE WORD "FORMAL" TU NA SEMI- COLON BUT FROM OUR PULT OF VIỂM THERE ARE TWO POINTS THAT IT IS

ESSENTIAL TO AVOLD GUN[EDING:

(A) ANY DAISSION OF A FORMAL RIGHT or REPRESENTATIVES OF

LUNIST ORGANISATIONS TO VISIT FRISONERS, PARTICULARLY #IDE AND ILL-DEFINED GALEGORIES OF PRISCAENS OR GROUPS OF PRISONERS

TGETHER SEMICOLÜN AND

(B) THE IMPLIED ADMISSION OF SUME FORM OF QUASI-CONSULAR STATUS

FOR NA 26.

ALTHOUGH HE MAY HAVE USED 6 2 G ORGAND AS CHANNELS FUR COMUNICATIO, FROM TIMS TO TIME, I STILL FEEL WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN THE LÜNFTERM INTEREST OF HUNG KONG ABOUT GUMJEDING

"JASI-CONSULAR STATUS TO TEL. THE CONCESSION THẤT WE HAVE ALREADY .

AMUE, OF GRANTING Ân a ~ N A VISĀT TU NUNA'S OWN EMPLOYLES

CAN BE JUSTIFIED UNDER OUR EXISTING RULES.

5. ON RECUMS LUERING THE MATIEK NOW, IT SEEMS TU ME THAT IT KIGHT

DE POSSIBLE FOR US TO MAKE A NEW PROPOSAL TO THE CHINESE THAT WOULD

GỤ SULE HAI TOWARDS MEETING THEIR REQUEST #ITHOUT CONCEDING EITHER

or THE Two PROCIPLES ABOVE. I WOULD SUGGEST TELLING THEL THAT IN

THINKING FURTHER ABOUT THEIR REQUEST PUR VISITS TU JOURNALISTS (PARiGitarĦ 1(A) OF PRALNO TELOGRAM 84) IT OCCURRED TO US THAT THERE KIGHT HAVE BELA A KISUNDERSTANDING. TWO POINTS WERE NOT CLEAR TU

US:-

(1) WHAT THEMY LEANT BY A 'FORMAL' VISIT AND

(11) TO PREMISELY "HICH INDIVIDUALS THEY WISHED THE VISITS TU BÊ

PAID.

"E "ERS almAYS READY TU "PALY QUR HÜLES FÜR PRISON VISITS IN "

EASONABLE MAGNER. IF BY GULD SUPPLY US WITH THE NAKES uF THE

ADDITIONAL JOURNALISTS (PUP. OMTTED] "ESTIÓN, WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER PERMITTING SINGLE VISĀTS TO EACH UP THEM

INDIVIDUALLY BY HIS EMPLOYER AND/OR A RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL ur THE ORGANISATION EMPLOYING HIM, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS; -

) THE PRISONER KUST BUT ÜBJECT.

(11)EACH VISIT MUST BE TU A PRISOMER INDIVIDUALLY.

CONFIDENTIAL

/(111)THE

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 212 TU COMKONWEALTH OFFICE

- 3 -

1) THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO EACH PRISONER AT ANY ONE TIME MUST

REASONABLY RESTRICTED, I.E. TO TWO OR THREE VISITORS.

Y> THE TIMING MUST BE CONVENIENT TO THE PRISON AUTHORITIES.

(7) VISITS SHOULD NOT NORMALLY LAST MORE THAN 15 MINUTES EXCEPT WITH

JD REASON (THIS LIMIT IS APPLIED GENERALLY TO PRISON VISITS IN THE

TERESTS OF VISITORS SINCE INTERVEWING FACILITIES ARE NOT

IMITED AND LONGER VISITS WOULD OFTEN MEAN VISITORS WAITING LONGER?

VISITS ON THES BASIS (WHICH H.M CHARGE COULD MAKE OUT WERE RATHER

COTAL CONDITIONS IF THIS WOULD HELP) WOULD NOT BE AN EMBARRASSMENT.

Y WOULD ALLOW 'PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS' TO BE VISITED BY THE

TORS OR MANAGERS OF THEIR PAPERS COR SOMEONE SIMILAR) BUT NOT BY

| N.C.N.A. PER SE. IF HOWEVER THE CHINESE MAINTAIN THAT 'FORMAL'

ING MORE.

ITS MEAN SOMETHING MORE, I SHOULD HAVE TO RECONSIDER WHEN THEIR

TRA REQUIREMENTS WERE KNOWN,

ON THE OTHER HAND IF, BEFORE MAKING AN APPROACH, H.M. CHARGE WOULD

ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION, OR ANY MODIFICATIONS WITHIN THIS

MEWORK, I WOULD OF COURSE BE GLAD TO TRY TO MEET HIM.

OSSIBILITIES ARE :-

> TO HINT THAT AN N.C.N.A. OFFICIAL COULD ACCOMPANY THE EMPLOYER,

> TO ARRANGE THAT INTERVIEWS TAKE PLACE IN THE ROOM WHERE LAWYERS

PRISONER CLIENTS, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THE

MAL ARRANGEMENTS AND MIGHT BE THOUGHT MORE 'FORMAL'.

| TOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR HOWEVER THAT I WOULD PREFER NOT TO

PE THESE CONCESSIONS WHICH WOULD RATHER TOO GREATLY DISTINGUISH

SE PEOPLE FROM ORDINARY PRISONERS: AND I WOULD WISH TO CONSIDER

FORE FINALLY AGREEING.

THE OPPORTUNITY MIGHT ALSO BE TAKEN TO ENQUIRE FURTHER ABOUT THE

>POSED HSUEH PING/GREY EXCHANGE.

LEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING. AS MYTEL 69.

2. D. TRENCH

[KEPETITION TO PERING,

KEFIRMED FUR DEPARTLANTAL DEVISION]

STRENTAL DISTRIBUTIN

n.. DET. F.U. F.E.D.

NEWS DEPT. U...A.

CONSULAR_DAFT.

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D.S.A.U. PERSONNEL DEPT

CONFIDENTIAL

otha. espy on FDI/F

CYPHER CAT A

'MMEDIATE HONG KONG

LEGRAM NO 241

IDENTIAL.

TOP CU

COUP IDENTI AL

TO CALONE.LTH OFFICE

26 FCURUARY 1968

MYTEL

ADDRESSED SECRETARY OF STATE RFI PEKING MYTEL. NO. 76 DATE

153

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES N6,31

227FOR 368.

F41318

26TH FEBRUARY.

157

YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS. 323. 324, AND 325 PRISON VISITS.

1 AM NOT ANXIOUS TO PROLONG THE DISCUSSION, BUT YOU NO DOUBT

APPRECIATE THAT THESE TELEGRAMS SUGGEST SIX ADDITIONAL CONCESSIONS WHICH, IN VARYING DEGREE, WILL DISTINGUISH THESE PRISONERS AND WHICH I AM ACCORDINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING-

(1) THE INCLUSION OF N.C.N.A. IN THE VISITS AT ALL, WHICH

I HAVE HOWEVER ALREADY INDICATED I WOULD ACCEPT IF NECESSARY: (11) USE OF THE SPECIAL ROOM, WHICH COULD WELL BE AWKWARD IF CONSIDERABLE NUMBERS ARE INVOLVED WITHOUT ADEQUATE SPACING. HERE AGAIN, HOWEVER, I AM PREPARED TO SO ARRANGE, ALTHOUGH

I SEE LITTLE REASON TO VOLUNTEER THE PROPOSAL:

CITED YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 323, PARAGRAPH 3. TO ALLOW VISITS

You Leter there main

BY HONA ALONE WOULD BE A FURTHER MOVE AWAY FROM OUR CURRENT

PRISON PRACTICE AND IN THE DIRECTION OF GRANTING NONA A SPECIAL

STATUS. I DO NOT MYSELF SEE WHY WE SHOULD THINK IT NECESSARY

TO CONCEDE THE POINT IN ADVANCE, LET ALONE TAKE THE INITIATIVE

1 TUTTING THE CONCESSION INTO THE MINDS OF THE CHINESE, SINCE

ARE PREPARED TO ALLOW A RESPONSIBLE OFFICER OF THE EMPLOYING

ORGANISATION TO BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE EMPLOYER:

(IV) YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 323, PARAGRAPH 4. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES

PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BETTER TO SAY NOTHING INITIALLY ABOUT TIME

LIMITS, AND LEAVE IT TO THE CHINESE TO RAISE THE POINT:

EVERTHELESS THIS IS UNLIKELY TO BE A PROBLEM UNLESS THE

¡UMBERS ARE LARGE AND CANNOT BE CONVENIENTLY SPACED,

file. I this

CONFIDENTIAL

/(V) YOUR

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG TELUHLAN NO. 241 TO GODONWEALTI OFFICE

(V) YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 225, PARAGRAPH 4. OBVIOUSLY THE MORE

OFTEN 'SPECIAL VISITS' ARE REPEATED, THE MORE WE DISCRIMINATE

IN FAVOUR OF COMMUNIST PRISONERS, AND THE GREATER RISK OF

EMBARRASSMENT HERE. I WOULD NOT ENTIRELY EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY

OF LATER EXCHANGES OF VISITS IF THE FIRST SET WENT WELL AND WE

ACHIEVED THE QUID PRO QUO IN RESPECT OF GREY: BUT I WOULD

SUGGEST THAT WE ENTER INTO NO COMMITMENT ON THIS POINT IN

OUR FIRST APPROACH TO THE CHINESE:

(VI) YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 325, PARAGRAPH 5. I WOULD DO MY BEST

TO ARRANGE VISITS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT THIS DEPENDS

ON NUMBERS AND WHETHER ANY ADVERSE INTEREST IN THESE VISITS

IS AROUSED PUBLICLY.

2 1 WOULD STILL PREFER NOT TO CONDUCT THESE NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH

NCNA IN HONG KONG SEMICOLON BUT IF WE DO SO 1 WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE

THAT IT BE DONE BY EXCHANGES OF MESSAGES CAT LEAST AT FIRST) BECAUSE

(A) IF WE DISCUSS POINTS OF SUBSTANCE CAS OPPOSED TO PURELY ADISIN-

ISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS) WITH NONA HERE WE ACCORD THEM IN EFFECT THE

QUASI-CONSULAR ROLE THAT CCF PARAGRAPH 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM 323> WE

WISH TO AVOID CONCEDING.

(B) THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE MORE INTRANS IGENT ABOUT HONG KONG PROBLEMS. THAN THE MEA AND OUR CONTACTS WITH THEK ON OTHER MATTERS HAVE BEEN

RESTRICTED TO EXCHANGES OF MESSAGES ON THE TELEPHONE. IT COULD BE DIFFICULT AND TAKE TIME TO GET A TWO-WAY DISCUSSION ARRANGED. (THERE

"OULD EASILY BE LONG ARGUMENTS ABOUT VEETING PLACES).

(C) A DISCUSSION WITH NCNA COULD BE MORE EASILY REPRESENTED BY THEM

AS FORCING US INTO NEGOTIATION HERE. THIS IS NOT TO SAY HOWEVER THAT

IF PROPOSALS FOR A DISCUSSION AROSE NATURALLY AND WITHOUT RISK OF

EMBARRASSMENT WE COULD NOT CONSIDER IT.

3. YOUR TELEGRAM 324, PARAGRAPH 3.

I SEF CONSIDERAPLE RISKS IN GIVING THE INPRESSION THAT WE ARE

FIR PARKU TO ALLOU VISIT TO AN UNI, IMITED NUMBER ČAS PARAGRAPH TCA)

TELEGRAN A SU MG TO IMPLY) IF WE ARE TO ARGUE ABOUT THE MATTER

IN HONG KONG LATER. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT WE SHOULD NOT OFFER

CONCESSIONS ON HATTERS WHICH ARE OF SUBSTANCE TO US BEFORE THE

UNDPIEUPTAI,

/CHINESE

41 W

י.

A DENT ~LONLEAL

..FFICE

¡NESE HAVE PRESSED US TO DO 30, AND WITHOUT OUR HAVING ANY

...SURANCE THAT AS A RESULT WE SHALL GAIN ACCESS TO GREY.

!. YOUR TELEGRAM 324, PARAGRAPH 1CA).

I SUGGEST WE NEED TO STRIKE A CAREFUL BALANCE ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH

REPRESENT OUR TERMS AS SPECIAL CONCESSIONS. I CONCEDE WE CANNOT

PRESENT THEM AS BEING PERFECTLY NORMAL CESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF THE

A PITIONAL CONCESSIONS NOW PIOPOSED) AS THIS WOULD BE BOTH TOO .:ANSPARENT AND UNLIKELY TO SATISFY THEN. BUT TO MAKE OUT THAT TILY

VIRE QUITE UNUSUAL CONCESSIONS WOULD BOTH HAND THEM A FROPAGANDA

ICTORY AND CUT THE GROUND CUT FROM UNDER MY FEET HERE, WHERE I

"UST DO MY BEST TO REPRESENT THEM AS NOT UNDULY ABNORMAL.

AS A CONCRETE PROPOSAL, I SUGGEST SUBSTITUTING FOR THE LAST

INTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 10A) AND FORSPARAGRAPH 1(8) OF YOUR TELEGRAM

24: IF THE NAMES OF THE JOURNALISTS AT PRESENT IN PRISON ARE

SUPLIED TO US, WE ARE PREPARED TO AGREE (PROVIDED THAT THE PRISONER

HOES NOT OBJECT) TO A SPECIAL VISIT TO EACH INDIVIDUALLY BY HIS

HILOYER AND ONE OTHER OFFICIAL OF THE NEWSPAPER EM LOYING HIM

CHICOLON OR ALTERNATIVELY ONE NONA REPRESENTATIVE, IF THIS IS

NEFERRED'.

H.M. CHARGE WOULD I HOPE STRESS THAT THOSE IN QUESTION MUST BE ONA FIDE JOURNIZLIOTS, AND HE MIGHT THEN GO ON TO ENQUIRE THE

'MBERS LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED. HE COULD THEN SUGGEST THAT AFTER "NEEMENT ON THE NURLERS IN PEKING THE HONA IN HONG KONG SHOULD NUNICATE TO THE POLITICAL ADVISER THE NAMES OF THE PRISONERS ND THOSE PROPOSING TO VISIT THEM, IN ORDER THAT APPROXIMATE TIMES OF VISITS AND OTHER DETAILS HIGHT BE COMMUNICATED TO NUMA. 7. FINALLY, I CAN ONLY REPEAT HY WARNING THAT ALL THESE CONCESSIONS

AND ARRANGEMENTS MAY RUN US INTO DANGEROUS REPURCUSSIONS HERE, BUT

I CANNOT OF COURSE SAY UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT THEY WILL DO 30.

0. PLEASE PASS PEging 76.

A D. M.

+ +4

120 1 Radio hAVAILED FOR DSVARTMEN PAL DECISION)

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(297)

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG

TELNO 324

23 FEBRUARY, 1968 (F & HKD)

RECEIV ARCHIV

2G FEB 1968

313/8

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO HONGKONG TELEGRAM NO 324 OF 23/2 REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO PEKING.

MY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING, TELEGRAM:

PRISON VISITS.

SUBJECT TO YOUR COMMENTS AND THOSE OF PEKING, I SUGGEST THE

FOLLOWING PLAN OF ACTION:

(A) SIR DONALD HOPSON SHOULD SAY TO THE CHINESE THAT WE HAVE REEN TRYING TO SEE HOW SOME PROGRESS COULD BE MADE OVER THE QUESTION OF VISITS TO IMPRISONED NC NA AND OTHER JOURNALISTS, ALL THESE PRISONERS HAVE OF COURSE BEEN RECEIVING REGULAR VISITS PUT, AS A SPECIAL CONCESSION, WE ARE NOW PREPARED TO MAKE ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SPECIAL VISITS TO SUCH PRISONERS. THE DETAILS (INCLUDING THE NUMBERS OF JOURNALISTS INVOLVED) COULD BE ARRANGED IN HONG KONG BETWEEN NCNA AND THE POLITICAL ADVISER WHO HAS BEEN INSTRUCTED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THEM.

(a)

IF ASKED, HOPSON SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE QUESTION OF VISITS BY NCNA TO NON-N CN A JOURNALIST PRISONERS SHOULD NOT BE A MAJOR DIFFICULTY, ADDING THAT. ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF N CNA TO BE INCLUDED IN VISITS BY THE

MPLOYERS OF SUCH PERSONS.

(C)

HOPSON SHOULD FOLLOW THIS UP BY SOME FORM OF WORDS INDICATING THAT WE EXPECT TO HEAR FROM THE CHINESE SOON ABOUT ACCESS TO GREY. (WITHOUT MAKING VISITS TO PRISONERS DIRECTLY CONDITIONAL UPON ACCESS TO GREY, WE WISH TO LEAVE THE CHINESE IN NO DOUBT THAT WE SEE THE TWO AS CONNECTED.)

THE HANDLING OF THE APPROACH TO N C N A IN HONG KONG WOULD "EPEND ON WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE TO ENGAGE IN A TWO-WAY

CONFIDENTIAL

/DISCUSSION

CONFIDENTIAL

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 324 TO HONG KONG

DISCUSSION OR WHETHER IT MUST BE ON THE BASIS OF SINGLE MESSAGES, IF (AS WOULD SEEM DESIRABLE) THE FIRST IS POSSIBLE, THEN EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO EMPHASISE THAT IT IS THE EMPLOYERS OF NON NC NA JOURNALISTS WHO ARE BEING GRANTED ACCESS AND REPRESENTAT- IVES OF NCNA ARE BEING ALLOWED TO GO ALONG AS AN ADDITIONAL CONCESSION AND NOT AS A RIGHT. IT WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE TO WAIT FOR N C NA TO MAKE THE RUNNING ON WHETHER THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO REPRESENT NON-AVAILABLE EMPLOYERS. IF, HOWEVER, IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE TO PASS MESSAGES TO N C N A, THEN PRESUMABLY IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO STATE FROM THE OUTSET THAT REPRESENTATIVES OF NCNA CAN BE INCLUDED IN VISITS BY EMPLOYERS AND POSSIBLY ALSO THAT NCNA CAN REPRESENT THE EMPLOYERS WHERE THE LATTER ARE UNAVAILABLE.

3. THE CHINESE MIGHT PRODUCE A LIST OF QUOTE PATRIOTIC JOURNAL ISTS UNQUOTE WHICH INCLUDED LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE CLEARLY NOT JOURNALISTS. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ACCEPT THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO DELETE THESE FROM THE LIST AND TELL THE CHINESE THAT ACCESS WOULD BE ALLOWED ONLY TO THE REMAINDER, BUT IF IT BECAM CLEAR THAT THE CHINESE WERE PREPARED TO MAKE VISITS ONLY TO ALL DR NONE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY WERE NOT SER- IOUSLY INTERESTED IN A REASONABLE QUID PRO QUO FOR VISITS TO GREY.

GRATEFUL FOR URGENT COMMENTS.

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CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG

TELNO 323

23 FEBRUARY, 1968 (HWB AND F)

تا

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.3!

2 G FEB 1968

Fe13/8

CONFIDENTIAL.

ALDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 323 OF 23/2 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 212 AND PEKING TELEGRAM NO 133:

145

PRISON VISITS.

I THINK THAT THESE HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS PROVIDE A POSSIBLE WAY FORWARD IN TRYING TO SECURE ACCESS TO GREY AND THAT WE SHOULD MAKE FULL USE OF THEM.

I UNDERSTAND AND SHARE YOUR CONCERN LEST N CN A SHOULD ESTABLISH ITSELF IN A QUASI-CONSULAR ROLE WITH A RIGHT OF ACCESS TO BROAD CATEGORIES OF PRISCHERS OF CHINESE RACE, BUT I HOPE IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO PLAY OUR HAND AND WORD OUR APPROACHES TO THE CHINESE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE CONCEDE THE MINIMUM ON THIS FRONT. THE SUGGESTION IN PARAGRAPH 3(C) OF PEKING TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE SEEMS A GOOD WAY OF DOING THIS.

IDEALLY, I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO GRANT ACCESS TO QUOTE PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS UNQUOTE, ONLY BY THEIR EMPLOYERS: BUT, AS PEKING HAVE POINTED QUT, WE RISK DESTROYING THE WHOLE BARGAIN Br INSISTING ON THIS. I AM GRATEFUL THEREFORE THAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO INCLUDE N CN A IN SUCH VISITS IN SOME FORM, I THINK THAT WE MUST BE PREPARED TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS BY TELLING THE CHINESE THAT VISITS TO QUOTE PATRIOTIC JOURNALISTS UNQUOTE WILL BE ALLOWED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS ACCOMPANIED BY A REPRESENTATIVI OF NCNA AND, IN ADDITION, THAT VISITS BY N CNA ALONE WILL BE ALLOWED IF THE EMPLOYER IS UNAVAILABLE (ALTHOUGH WE WOULD HOPE THAT THIS LAST SITUATION WILL NOT ARISE).

I AGREE WITH ALL THE CONDITIONS SUGGESTED IN THE LATTER PART OF PARAGRAPH 5 OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT WOULD BE WISER NOT TO INSIST ON A TIME LIMIT SO SHORT 43 15

CONFIDENTIAL

/MINUTES

تت

CONFIDENTIAL

C.O. TELEGRAM NO. 323 TO HONG KONG

· 4 |

JUALS PER VISIT SINOD WE WOULD NOT WISH THE CHINESE TO

INSIST THAT VISITS TA SEM SHOULD BE LIMITED TO SUCH A SHORT PERTH,

KNIGHT RA TASIER TO DEAL WITH THIS IF VISITS ARE MADE IN A SPECIAL ROOM AS SUGGESTED IN PARAGRAPH 7(8) OF YOUR TELEGRAM.

C. I DO NOT THINK THAT THERE IS MUCH TO BE GAINED BY ASHIRE-

WE CHINESE TO DEFINE THEIR MEANING OF QUOTE FORMAL UNQUOTE VISITAS

THE CONTRARY IT MIGHT ENCOURAGE THEM TO INCREASE THEIR DEM? NUS.,

WE CAN ACHIEVE ACCESS TO GREY BY MEANS OF VISITS OF ANY SURT, SO MUCH THE BETTER, AND IT DOES NOT MUCH MATTER WHAT THE CHINLSE CALL THEM. I SUGGEST THAT WE OURSELVES SHOULD USE THE WORDS

...

TIL SPECIAL VISITS UNQUOTE TO EMPHASISE THEIR EXCEPTIONAL

NATURE AND MINIMISE THE RIGHT OF THOSE CONCERNED TO MAKE THEM.

Sin

IT IS RECOGNISED HERE THAT IF THIS FAILS IT IS AS FAR A

SHOULD GO IN MAKING CONCESSIONS IN HONG KONG TO GAIN ACCESS 10 GO FURTHER MIGHT PUT AT RISK OUR POSITION IN HONG KONG: Wł WOULD BE ABANDONING A POLICY OF FIRMNESS IN OUR DEALINGS THAT HAS PROGHT US THROUGH THE RECENT TROUBLES AND WOULD ENCOURAGI. CHINESE HOPES THAT WE CAN STILL BE PUSHED INTO MAKING SUBSTANCJAI CONCESSIONS THEPF.

DETAILED SUGGESTIONS ON HOW THIS EXERCISE SHOULD BE HANDED TH THE CHINESE ARE CONTAINED IN MY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TET EGRAN,

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LAR

22 FEB 1968

F213/8

PRISON VISITS IN HONG KONG

150

Ihr Thurray // 22

ора

The Secretary of State has drawn attention to Sir Donald

Flag A14 Hopson's telegram No. 133 about prison visits in Hong Kong,

in the context of visits to Mr. Grey in Peking. I attach a

Flag B

copy of a minute prepared for Mr. Rodgers, explaining the

point at issue between Sir D. Hopson and the Hong Kong

Government.

2. I recommend that when the Secretary of State sees the deputation from the Council of the National Union of Journalists

later today, he does not refer to these discussions with the

Chinese about visita.

The Hong Kong Department of the

But the

Commonwealth Office and ourselves are about to submit a

recommendation that action should now be taken in Peking and

Hong Kong along the lines of Sir D. Hopson's advice. price we are being asked to pay for visits to Mr. Grey significant step towards quasi-consular status for the New China News Agency in respect of persons who may in some cases be Hong Kong, as distinct from Chinese, citizens is high and the decision not easy. What we (and the National Union of

Journalists) want is not so much visits to Mr. Grey as his

release.

3. A different point. Mr. Rodgers has suggested that in

the Secretary of State's brief for the meeting an addition

be made to the first talking point on the following lines:

/At

CONFIDENTIAL

2 -

At Christmas, however, he sent telegrams to his

mother, a friend and Reuters. The friend received a

further telegram about a fortnight ago in which he said

that he was receiving her letters and telegrams.

Junes Unnay.

(James Murray)

21 February, 1968

Copies to:

Mr. Wilkinson

Mr. Samuel

CONFIDENTIAL

Flag A

Flag 1

Flag O

CONFIDENTIAL

Copy also a FD 13/882

PRISON VISITS IN HONG KONG

fa. Sie (150

RECEIVED IN {ARCHIVES No 3!

22 FEB 1968

FC13/3

The Chinese have been using our wish to have consular

access to Mr. Gray in Peking se a means of obtaining wide

rights for New China News Agency (and other communist

organisations) to make special prison visits, not merely to

members of N.C.N.A. but also to other coraunist journalists

and members of other communist organisations. Prisoners are

already visited once a month by relatives and friends. The

special visits would simply be made into propaganda demon-

strations. Hong Kong telegram no. 1908 of 23 December

described the relevant prison rule as follows:

"No persons other than relations and friends shall

be allowed to visit prisoners except by special authority;

visits may be made once a month, but extra visita can be

approved. Although there is no rule to this affect,

there is a standing order that requests for an extra

visit must originate with the prisoner."

2. On 31 December Sir D. Hopson informed the Chinese

accordingly. Presmably because their objective is to

establish a quasi-consular status for N.C.M.A., the Chinese

Government said that they could not agree that the prisoners must themselves make requests for visita (Peking telegram No. 1). //However, Hong Kong telegram No. 212 of 19 February put the

position differäntly:

"Extra visits to individual prisoners can be approved

for reasonable cause at the prisoner's request. Again,

CONFIDENTIA

/anybody

CONFIDENTIAL

Flag D

anybody wanting to see a prisoner for any special

ressons is of course free to ask to visit him;

the reasons are compelling, the visit can be allowed

again subject to the prisoner's agreement. A

particularly relevant exemple is that an employer is

usually granted one visit to an employee."

The burden of Sir D. Hopson's complaint in paragraph 2

of Paking telegram No. 133 is that the Hong Kong authorities

should have indicated from the outset that if the employers

of the Communist journalists were to request a meeting, they

would usually be granted one visit.

4. That some at any rate of the employers are themselves

in prison may help to explain why the Hong Kong authorities

failed to bring to motios the possibility of employer/visits

in the oase of communist journalista.

5. If there has been any failure of co-ordination in this

case it has probably been between the Colonial Secretariat

of the Hong Kong Government and the Frison Services. The

latter are no doubt in normal onses a law unto themselves,

and failed in this particular instanos to appreciate the

political importance of all the issues involved. (In normal

sireumstances, the distinction between a visit for which a

prisoner asks, and a visit requested by a friend and to which

the prisoner agrees, cannot be very rigidį presumably very

informal action by the prison authorities could transform the second category into the first.)

CONFIDENTIAL

(James Murray) 21 February, 1968

Coprei grei to Is Densore

❘ RECEIVED IN A

ARCHIVES N. 5!

NË 22 FEB 1963

Fe13/8

Mr Casted copy: IAITIAŬ

14+8) ZIJ

ора

o kept in dept Copy ALSO ON FD13/8/1

Chronoles of

nts concernier NUA Prisoners

respondent

Hong Kong end Baxteri

Mast Mont

227

10. 7.67

Mokinu

11. 7.67

12. 7.67

KMA journalist HKUMI P*ING arrested in Hong Kong,

Qiargé d'Affaires suzioned to hear thinee00 denad

doverment to padlý on arrest of 199MH and that he should be released, on a clow nadc, and that the safety and fresion of BuRA nomborg in Hong Kong shoală be guaranteed. II.X. Chargé rejected protest but promised to report it.

The People's inily carried an article describing asumi's arrest and quoted a protest telegram from FOXA, demanding (57FT's release.

12. 7.67

ESTEM charged in court with "unlawful assembly and forming an intimidating assembly".

Joklar

13. 7.67

KUNA employeos demɑnstrate outside British Kission in Paking and hand in protest (further demonstrations on subsequent days).

Hola Kong

15. 7.67

Two more (FCHNA reporters

nore(FICIA

OHAN PUGG-133 and

CHAR WAX-KUK both female) arrested in demonstra- tion outside Government Honge.

17. 7.67

KSU-H sentensed to two years inprisonment.

20. 7.67

SILAL PURG-YING and GHAR TAX-HUK remanded until 1. 3.67.

/Princ

CONFIDENTIAL

Peking

20. 7.67

People's Daily reported 2-year sentence on HSUM and decante release, compensation, guarantee of no recurrence and punishment of "thugs".

Feking

21. 7.67

2 Jorden

21. 7.67

Grey called to Chinese H.F.A., read a statement persecution of Chinese journalists in Hong Kong. His visa was withdram, and he was put under house arrest.

H.M. Chargé in Peking suggested 7,0. "urgently consider any retaliatory action against Kală în London".

M. Rodger partent wing! Demands smped it int

ود

charge.

fashing that

0.0* telegram suggests that deportation of HSUEH might help to secure Grey's release,

Brian Houghton, Deputy Manager of Reuter's, agreed that the 1.0. sould make a protest to Peking about Grey's treatment as a British subject, rather than on behalf of Router, but urged that no action should be taken against NOUĂ in London.

Hora rout

21. 7.67

Hong Kong Government agrees that it would be legally possible to remit sentence and deport HSUM.

Poking

22. 7.67

22. 7.57

Hong Kong

H.M. Chazeć sent Hote of Protest to Chinese. Ko answer to a request for consular 800668,

People's Daily described decision to put Grey under house arrest an "a seriona warning to" British

use arrest imperialiam".

24. 7.67

RSUL:

KUNA applied for permission to visit R8Ukd and other

NOLA Mournalists, Allowed one visit a month to prisoners under sentence and two a week te those on remand.

126.7.67

CONFIDENTIA

26. 7.67

29. 7.67

dog

23. 7.67

CHFILETTIAT

JOKA, when informed of prison visiting regulations, said they were not talking of routine visits, but were making an official request.

5 more journalists arrested including 100 YU-20, an KHIA explayse.

Chinese 7.0. reply for oshsular access to Grey claimed that since no serangements Ind been made for formal visit by Fond in Hong Kong to the three prisoners, no access to Grey sonid be granted,

Hort xong

31. 7.67

Hong Kong Government would agree to one visit by KOHÄ representative to each of the four arrested RICHA, Journalists in retum for consuler access to Grey.

2. 9.67

H.H. Chargé informed News Department of Chinese X.F.A. that special visits would be allowed to NCIA journalists as soon as exsular access to Grey granted.

Hoar Korg

2. 2.67

Three columnist staff arrested.

spapers alowed and accse of their

Peking

13. 0.67

Demonstrators allegedly broke into Gray's honne.

19. 3.67

Grey's telephone out off, and member of British Eission staff refused entry to his house.

20. 8.67

Chinese 1.7.A, said that situation had obanged since British offer on exchange of visits, and that further nessures would be taken against Grey if we did not change our attitude.

/20. 8.67

43 5.97

22. 8.67

Hell. Obargă urged 7.0, to exart Facvoro pressure" on DOHA in Kardon and to when than that their

operations would be suspended if anything were done to Orgy #V the British itission.

Kritish fission in Peking burnt.

13. 3.67

13. 9.67

16. 2.67

KHUPH visited in prison by his wife (on norum) monthly vicit) and two Noia employesð.

5 mA oladiod that ISUTET 11:30 had been beaten up in prison.

370 YU-80 sentenced to three years inrizomsent.

Poking

14. 2.67

Report that Gway still in his house, and that his aziver detained as kiz agent.

Jorien

22. 3.67

نماند

30. 9.37

14.10.67

Kias Shirley Hoquian, Itc. Gray'a girl friend, suggested an appeal to Chou Ta-lai er an application

for herself to visit China.

by not replying to telephone call)

Congalar Department af Chinese Tureign Ministry fail to grant socess to Grey then informed of lima visit in Hong Kong, H........ dargă requested that such visits to WỮm mng vơuld not now be repeated.

100

lí... Chargé asko 1.C. to "anmure thaš XƆRå prisonera H

XORA ɑnjoy no svlace that is denied to Grey" kat rostricting thair visits. Foreign Office and Hong Kong decided that this " uld not be done.

12.10.67

Red Quard Lewspaper referred to Orgy

Howalnirdi

28.10.67

Telegram to 0... magrosted that Pakistanis had been reasonably halprul about tray, but did not want to get too involved.

/Lordon

FERNENTI AT,

TIAL

London

3.11.67

Hon: roat

16.11.67

Marcus Lipton H.P. requested information on Grey.

▲ Bouter's representative (Mr. Chipp) visited A Pakistan to press Foreign Ministry to work for Grey's release. He also arranged" a meeting with Berk of China, Hong Kong.

25.11.57

Bank of China osneslled interview with Router's

26.11.67

rejsesa:tative.(because of libel schow

Co mnist pross protested against libel judgment against ZEN WEI ÞAO and TA ĽUBU-PAO.

27.11.67

Chinese Foreign Ministry said that socess to dray could not be granted until NOMA prisoners revolved official NIWA visits in Hong Kong. Claised not to have received report of NOHA visits already made to ESUTH PRIMO,

Jone Zone

5.12.67

NOWA protest against deliberate detonation. of suspected bombë near their praisen,

Jonden

20.12.17

Anthony Royle 11.P. naked P.Q. on degy,

Hong Kons

22.12.67

HOKA request permission to send two representativ to visit Fela reporters and those of other oscamunist_newspapers around New Your, and to deliver clothing and foodstuffs. Communist schools, trade conserns, trade rings etc. wanted similar erangements to be made. Hong Kong Government reluctant to aga

/Poking

Poking

25.12.67

M12 57

Hon onc

25.12.67

3.12.07

CORDIOPATI LUI

Hell, Stargá expressed hope that Hong Kong Goverment woul! alloy vizita plus food and slothing to PORTA pripeners, without loristing that prisoners zake Persent Sca-it,

Pirat

Doberly and Joey's mother and girl friend, received sables from frey.

Tiong Long Goyacament agreed that departation of HOVEN PLÍNG (plus perhap LO YU-80) in emhange for frey would be fonsible.

Hong Kong Government Insist on need to avoid diserinin tion in favour of left-wing prisoners. Capgested that matter be tɔkon us with chinese

31.12.67

1. 1.02

سعد

بنام لعد

or own reques

If this

11... Fargé received at\Chinese K.7.A. Chinese referred to NOHA request) of 22 Desorber, and olained that no reply had been received, and asked why British had now mixed issue of prisoners making applications for visits themselves. request were granted, Chinowe "might consider allowing British office to seną personnel to visit Gray. In menly to maggostion (où a personal bania) that NewH A'InG could be exchanged for orgy, Chinese said it was unlikely that this could be aesepted. problem soulà not be settled so easily.

2. Geran correspondent told by Chinese that Grey's conditions of confinement had recently been innzovod.

bạn. kanngé suggested that a substantial act of clemency Ir. respect of prisonera tland for Chinese

en Ye-r should be considered.

London

7. 1. 63

Master lézat published artiale

/Pexing

CORVINIFEXAT

15. 1.60

8.1. Chargh proposed that action against BUKA Condon should be limited to residence permits (1.0. menting permits of 3 months only).

Cradoch

mggested that

that Gainese wantod "consular" status for thair XONA priser, viditora.

15. 1.68

Xetter Aru

24. 1.68

25, 1.08

Chiasse proposals on vinna for missions. not a visa quastica.

H.2. Chargé proposed suttling visa question without referanse to fray, and that short-bém viens be givan tɔ ZUKA London.

Leaden

25. 1.30

General Secretary of Sational Union of Journalists asked for interview mith Zoreign Secretary about 320J.

Poking

27. 1,58

2. 1.58

11.K. Chargé stated that we should fail to achieve sat¿lemani with Chinese 12 we attempted to extend it beyond official side, i.c. to incluła Greg eto,

Hall, Margé recommended acceptanse of thiness desenda nađe on 28 January for formal Few Year visits to KCKA and other journalist reinomers, in return for official visit to Oray. Visits by st organisationa de prisonars should not depend on requests, though Chinese omuld allow certain Zomanlities to be observed to meet British difficulties.

21. 1.65

22.1.63

Hong Kong Bơoverment agreed to uns of "release to China" formula for dapertation of 1998 PD0, though he would be szported if he returned. jo approach had been made to Houk prisoners yet,

Hong Kong Government indicated lasul difficulties in soosding to Chinone requests, but was willing to

/arrengs

CONFIDENTIAL

arrange special visits to HHURI PoING and LO YU-HO by two HCKA officials, though not to other

"patriotic journalistä", of whom there were least 12.

Lonion

30. 1.68

1.0, recommand Hong Kong Goverment proposals of 29 January to H.M. Chargé.

Pering

3. 2.68

8. 2.68

Cradock's interview at Chiasse X.I.A. Jonniler Department. Be expressed British difficulties over NCĨA ezibting visas beomise of Grey question, and repeated offer (now on offisial level) of exchange fuestion, and for IBUEH P'ING. Chinese reiterated that Qrey was not visa question.

H.A. Chargé expressed disappointment at his instrup- tions, and expressed the view that until we nade subotantial concessions vis-à-vis Hong Kong prisoners, there would be no coranlar access to Gray nor prospect of his release.

Lorden

13. 2.68

Report that Grey's girl friend had roosived cable from him in last few days, saying he had received letters and telegrams from her.

Moon Host

14. 2.69

Manager of Communist Bank allowed individual visita to six imprisoned employees, secompanied by two others from the Bank.

Mon: Jorve

14 2.69

Hong Kong Government set out its position on prison visits, proposing that individual visits by employees of the detained Journalists could be considered. Subject to certain coaditions (0.6. timing) if Chinese would apply names of other "patristic Journalists" in question. The Hong Kong Goveryment was anxious not to concede quasi-consular status to ECHA, or the formal right of reprosentatives of oomminist organisation

to visiš peinoners,

CONFIDENTI

Fe378.

From the Parliamentary

Under-Secretary

20 February 1968

IN CONFIDENCE

14/

ора

Feb.

Mr Husky M

сби

22.

I thought you would like to know that Anthony Grey's girl friend in England has recently received a cable from him to say that he has been receiving her letters and telegrams, We have had this information from Keuters on a confidential basis and I should be grateful if you would treat it as Buch. I am afraid there are no other developments to report, but as you know Mr. Gray's plight is constantly in our minds and we shall continue doing all we can to get him out.

Anthony Royle, Esq., M.P.,

Houas of Commons

William Kodgers

13.2

kir. Wilkingon

Mr. Samue

14-2·63

CONFIDENTIAL

5 Sand A. Roglie, who has shan å specul intrat

Su Z. Allen (Jr. inf"). He free

wote to this effect

the 7

2012-

REUTERS! CORRESPONDENT IN PEKING: MR. GREY

146

que dictate

个

M.31.

21 FEB Nod

F= 13/8

I think Ministers will wish to know that we have heard

from Reuters that Mr. Grey's girl friend in England has

received a cable from him during the last few days saying that

he has been receiving her letters and telegrams.

2. So far as we know, the last occasion on which Mr. Grey

was able to send any cable was at Christmas when cables were

received by his mother, his girl friend and by Reuters. The

fact that he has now been allowed to send a further telegram

is mildly encouraging since it suggests that the Chinese wish

people to know that Mr. Grey is all right. (It seems unlikely

that they are practising an elaborate piece of duplicity.)

This is a long way from allowing access to him or permitting

his release; but it is at least something.

3. We are still awaiting a reply from the Chinese to the

suggestion, last made on 7 February, that Mr. Grey should be

exchanged for the senior New China News Agency correspondent

(or in the fim l instance both N.C.N.A. correspondents)

imprisoned in Hong Kong.

Copies to:

Mr. Haydon, News Dept.

Jam belamany

(James Murray) 13 February, 1968

Mr. Bass, Consular Dept.

CONFIDENTIAL

Philha 13/2.

נו

Not Coced.

FD 13/8 5D

ORIG. copy on FDilings

Expy Copy den

Cypher/Cat A

on FD13/8 (70)

CONFIDENTIAL

TAMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 133

20 February,1968

CONFIDENTIAL

REC. DEED IN

#V: No.31

< FEB 1968

ட்

FC1318

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No.133 of

20 February, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

(145)

Se monter

on RD1/e.

Hong Kong telegram No.212: Prison Visits.

I am however I am grateful for this clarification. surprised to learn that under the existing rules it has all along been possible for an extra visit to a prisoner to be granted to an outside person (given compelling reasons and prisoner's agreement) without the prisoner having first to ask for such a visit and that an employer is usually granted one such visit. The position as stated in Hong Kong telegram No.1908 was that special visits could only be granted on the On instructions I so prior request of prisoners themselves. informed the Chinese on 31 December. This has been a major sticking point in the negotiation.

I think it a great pity that we should not have been informed of these possibilities in December when prison visits were first discussed, or even a few weeks ago when the question arose of access at Chinese New Year. Much valuable time would have been saved and we could almost certainly have secured access to Grey.

Proposals now put by the Governor in his paragraph 5 fall short of the first Chinese demand of 28 January (access to NCNA and "patriotic" journalists) in only one important respect i..., it is suggested that employers and not NCNA would visit the "patriotic" journalists. I strongly recommend that we should include the NCNA in such visits i.e., propose a visit by the employer plus an NCNA official, for the following reasons:

(a) As for holding out on this one point we would endanger the whole deal;

F013/441

(b) As pointed out in Hong Kong telegram No.206, in some cases the employers of the "patriotic" journalists are themselves in gaol and may not be easily available;

(c) By allowing the NCNA to participate in these visits we would not be making any admission of the NCNA's quasi Consular status. We could in any subsequent discussion justify our actions and if need be distinguish this from Consular access by pointing out that the NCNA was allowed visits to the journalists because it is a Press organization and that such visits did not mean that they had any right to visit other categories of prisoner.

CONFIDENTIAL

/(a) I note

CONFIDENTIAL

Peking telegram No.133 to Foreign Office.

-2-

(a) I note that the Governor considers the possibility of including an NCNA official among the visitors (paragraph 7 (a) of telegram under reference);

(e) In the end our object is quick access to Grey. I consider such access important enough to justify slight straining of the rules in the above sense.

6.[sic] If above is agreed I could make an immediate approach to the Chinese, though I would not propose to go into detailed points at the end of paragraph 5 which I think would be better dealt with in Hong Kong at time arrangements are made. This approach would not cut across expected Chinese reply on visas and on Grey-Hsueh-ping exchange, though we might hear something, particularly on the second point, at the same time. Again I think it most important we should move quickly if we want to avoid the danger of joint communications expiring.

Sir D.Hopson

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O.

F.E.D.

Consular Dept.

P.C.D.

D.D. & P.U.S.D.

J.I.R.D.

NEWS DEPT.

D.S.A.0. PERSONNEL DEPT.

C.0.

H.K.D.

NEWS DEPT. O.L.A.

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

88888

CONFIDENTIAL

Ed (4206)

Reference

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES N..Jf

20 FEB 1968

FC13/8

144)

15 FEB 1968

THE TIMES

Captive Briton isolated in Peking

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

HONGKONG, FEB. 14

There is no change in the posi- tion of Mr. Anthony Grey, the British correspondent of Reuter, whom the Chinese are holding under strict house arrest in Peking, according to a party of Australian and New Zealand students who have just returned to Hongkong.

The group of 57, who spent 25 days in China touring factories, colleges, communes and Army units, said at a press conference tonight that they had tried un- successfully to discuss Mr. Grey's arrest with Chinese officials in Peking.

All that they could discover was that he continued to be well fed and cared for, although he was being kept in total nulation.

The party saw no signs of violence

or disruption in China, although rail- way bridges were guarded by troops. In cities where the cultural revolu- tion bas made slow progress unarmed troops were out in force.

In discussions on Vietnam the members of the party were repeatedly told that the Vietnamese would win their own war and that there was no suggestion that China was about to send volunteers to the north.

Trains were frequently halted, and the delays were explained by the party's guides as arising from the priority being given to supplies for Vietnam. The Chinese complained that the Russians were not genuinely behind the Vietnamese, and sent them only obsolete weapons,

The students ran into some trouble with customs officials when they let! China. All photographs of soldiers wall posters carrying complaints, poli- ; and of "big character posters" the

neal debates and criticisms of Mao's | opponents---were confiscated.

One of the Australian students said that the Chinese explained:

"The posters do not reflect official policy and they can be misrepresented by the capitalist press ".

Mr. Robert Reece, who visited China with a student group last year, said that this time he found the excitement of the cultural revolution had disappeared from the streets of such cities as Canton and Shanghai.

In Hongkong today the Govern- ment announced its intention to intro- duce a large number of measures to reform the labour laws. These will include consultation between man- agement and workers and improved conciliation in disputes; improved sickness, injury and redundancy benefits; and the application of the six-day working week to women and young people employed in shops and service industries, and to all male industrial workers

The law relating to picketing and intimidation during strikes will also be clarified. Officials say privately

that many of the 33 reforms could take up to three years to find their way to the statute book.

A report recommending a 40-mile underground railway, to be built over a period of 16 years, was published today. The cost would be more than £200m. The report also proposes an air cushion craft ferry service to link the island of Hongkong with the mainland.

PEKING, Feb. 14.--The New China news agency has described how a group of soldiers in Honan fought a fire in a train carrying a load of insecticide while quoting from The Thoughts of Mao Tse-tung.

Among the heroic doeds performed during the fire the agency singled out those of one soldier who "his trousers on fire, held firmly to his firehose. reciting the quotation Be resolute, do not fear sacrifice He finally had to be taken away while continuing to recite " B: resolute..."

Agence France Presse.

p.a!

Cypher/Cat A

Orig copy on 13/30

and copy, do Foill

IOLATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Telno 286 13 February 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

23. My immediately preceding telegram.

Following Personal for Galsworthy.

香

RECEIVED "ARCH-G N• 31.

16FE_

143

"L.

F138 FL13/3.

I am afraid there is a further important factor which must not be overlooked. Public opinion here is sympathetic to Grey's plight, but there would be deep resentment if what was considered to be any substantial Hong Kong interest were sacrificed for him.

2. A second point is that unofficial members and the local Fress, although sometimes a little watchful and suspicious, broadly still trust us in these matters and have not sought to probe into what we may or may not be up to in attempting to obtain an amelioration of his condition; although it is not difficult for them to guess that we are

If we once did anything not simply acquiescing in his imprisonment.

in Grey's interests that was regarded as too much of a kowtow, the Press would seize upon it and it might thereafter become extremely difficult for me to operate without having to parry incessant demands for full and constant disclosure of what was being considered and discussed between London, Peking and here. While the Press could perhaps be held off, unofficial members might start to demand a say in these matters which could be extremely embarrassing and unhelpful in ruture manoeuvres over both Grey and the position of the Peking Hission.

3. This is not to say we cannot do something to help Grey, but whatever we do must be able to show either that it is a reasonably nomal procedure and that we have not unduly bent to CPG demands (remembering that the smallest concession will be trumpeted by the Communist Press as a humbling of us) or that the move is in Hong Kong's interests (e.g. deportation). The concessions proposed for these prisoners come very close to the border line of what might be

acceptable to local opinion, and I should have to consider very carefully whether or not we unduly risk raising a storm if we make them.

I have not copied this to Peking but leave you to send an appropriate version there if you think it necessary.

Si D. Trench

DEPAREMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

0.0. Hong Kong Dept.

News Dept.

F.O. F.3.D.

P.C.D.

Consuler Dept. D.D. & P.U.S.D. J.I.R.D.

News Dept.

5.A.0. Personnel Dept.

ADVANCE COPIES SENT:

Musule

গড় paper.

عشر

9612

147

br. Wilkinson

Mr. Sezuel

CONFIDENTIAL

Aur.

ми

REUTER'S CORRESPONDENT IN PEK ING ↑ MR

No 31

| 15 FEB 1968

| Fe 1318

I think Ministers will wish to know that we have heard

from Reuters that Mr. Gray's girl friend in England has

received a cable from him during the last few days saying that

he has been receiving her letters and telegrams.

2. So far as we know, the last occasion on which Mr. Grey

was able to send any cable was at Christmas when cables were

received by his mother, his girl friend and by Routers. The

fact that he has now been allowed to send a further telegram

is mildly encouraging since it suggests that the Chinese wish

people to know that Kr. Grey is all right.

Grey is all right. (It seems unlikely that they are practising an elaborate pisos of duplicity.)

This is a long way from allowing scosse to him or permitting

his release;

but it is at least something.

3. 7% are still awaiting a reply from the Chinese to the

suggestion, last made on 7 February, that Mr. Grey should be

exchanged for the senior New China News Agency correspondent

(or in the fim l instance both N.C.F.A. correspondents)

imprisoned in Hong Kong.

Copies to:

Mr. Haydon, Nowa Dept.

(James Murray) 13 February. 1968

P.w.ela.

See (141)

Mr. Bass, Consular Dept.

CONFIDENTIAL

Copy of letter uttered.

Pemaine.

ба

عالم چنان مستان ها در

With the compliments of

THE NEWS DEPARTMENT

1712

FOREIGN OFFICE, S,W.1. , 1968

1476-

ст

Diai te. Underhill,

141

RELIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31)

54 York Street

Street, 15 FEB 1968 London W..

F13/8

10th February 1968

9 understand Mr. Ship

Are. Feb: 12.

but I though

at the moment, but I

away

Reuters would like to know that I've

had another cable from Tory guy in Peking. Apparently he has been receiving both the cables and letters o've sent him recently.

He sends love to his mother,

to I relephoned her immediately.

ว

Have you

heard.

anything further!

Yours sincerely,

лис

Shirley M2 Juina

F2+318

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

INMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICET PEKING

117 30 JANUARY, 1968

CONFIDENTIAL.

140

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 117 OF 30 JANUARY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

F2 3/3 207

FD13/8 68

EGRAM NUMBER 132 TO C.0:

YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 84 AND HONG KONG

VISITS TO PRISONERS.

WE ARE ALSO ANXIOUS TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP GREY. WE AGREE THAT THE CHINESE HAVE MODIFIED THEIR DEMANDS TO SOME EXTENT, BUT IN ESSENCE THEY ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE MADE EARLIER AND THUS OPEN TO THE SAME OBJECTIONS, APART FROM THE MAJOR OBJECTION OF DISCRIMINATING IN FAVOUR OF POLITICAL PRISONERS, WE ALSO SEE FORCE IN THE OBJECTIONS SET OUT IN PARAGRAPH 2(A) AND (B) OF HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 132,

F013/8/68

ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL MADE BY THE GOVERNOR HAS GONE SOME WAY TO MEETING THE DIFFICULTY ABOUT THE PRISONERS REQUESTING VISITS. THOUGH WE APPRECIATE THAT TO ACCEPT THE CHINESE DEMANDS IN FULL MIGHT SMOOTH THE WAY TOWARDS GREY'S EVENTUAL RELEASE, WE CONSIDER, THAT IN THE LIGHT OF THE ARGUMENTS ADVANCED, THE GOVERNOR SHOULD NOT BE ASKED TO GO FURTHER AT THIS STAGE. WE WOULD THEREFORE BE GLAD IF YOU WOULD PUT HIS PROPOSAL TO THE CHINESE ON THE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WOULD BE IMMEDIATE CONSULAR ACCESS TO GREY.

SOSPA

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRITON

F.0.

C.0.

F.E.D.

NFTS DEPT.

D.D. & P.1.3.D.

P.C.D.

CONSULAR DEPT.

J.I.R.D.

H.K.D.

NEWS CE T.

D.S.A.O. PERO SUEL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No. C1318

DEPARTMENT

Far Eastern

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

PRIORITY MARKINGS

Confidential ftestricted-

mmediate

(Date)........

Despatched

Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

reach addressce(s)

357

2058

---------------LIL

(140)

ITU HUTTuthou‒‒ TIL - ➖➖➖ ➖➖

EOYTHER

Unclassified-

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair Code

Cypher

ΟΥΓ

[Security classification]

[

Privacy marking -if any

FEL

CONFIDENTAL

-------

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

Draft Telegram to:-

telegram No...

PKKING

117-

And to

No.

(Date)

And to:-

Repeat to:-IMMEDIATE

HONG KONG

√182

Saving to:-

Humy

30 Dam.

Distribution:-

Departmental

Copies to:-

Peking

117 (date)

30 January

Tameditate

----¬----AR-ARY Heng

repeated for information to

repeated for information to .........Hong Kong [

Saving to....

Your telegram No. 84 and Hong Kong telegram

132 to 0.0: Visits to Prisoners.

We are also best anxious to do everything

possible to help Grey. We agree that the Chinese

have modified their demands to some extent, but

in essence they are similar to those made earlier

and thus open to the same objections. Apart from

the major objection of discriminating in favour of

political prisoners, we also see force in the

objections set out in paragraph 2(a) and (b) of

Hong Kong telegram No. 132.

2. The alternative proposal made by the Governor

has gone some way to meeting the difficulty about

the prisoners requesting visits. Though we

appreciate that to accept the Chinese demands in

full might amooth the way towards Grey's eventual

release, we consider, that in the light of the

/arguments

032717 E.W.& S., Lid. 164m 3/67.

arguments advanced, the Governor should not be

asked to go further at this stage. We would

therefore be glad if you would put his proposal

to the Chinese on the clear understanding that

there would be immediate consular access to Grey.

Ham

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Kr. Jases Múrray

CONFIDETUAL

RECENBODE.

'ARCHIVES No.31

Enter

25 JAN 1008

co. Mr. Smart,

F21318

Mr. Anthony Grey

News Department.

Kr. Adam Hopkins of the Sunday Times called yesterday to discuss r. Grey. He told me that his newspaper had been compiling information about the case for some months and were likely to publish an article on it on Sunday. He wished to courire certain details. After listening to Mr. Hopkins' version of cventa it became clear that the Sunday Times had found out roat of the story but had got the wrong end of the stick on two main points:-

(*) They thought that H.K. Goverment (probably in the Foreign Secretary's letter to the Chinese Foreign Minister sent on 13 August) had offered to relax restrictions on Chinese officials in this country in exchange for the release of Mr. Grey:

The Chinese had offered to exchange Vr. Grey for two New China New Agency correspondents imprisoned in Hong Kong, but this had been frustrated because the Hong-Kong Government had refused to release them.

On (a) I told Kr. Hopkins that the Foreign Secretary's letter had been an attempt to put Sino/ritish relations back on a more normal basis: this would include the departure from Chins of any British subjects who wishes to leave. Special references had been made to the case of Kr. Grey. On (b) I said that there was no foundation for the claim that the Hong-Kong Government had obstructed an exchange. In fact there had been no indication from the Chinese that they would be willing to strike such a bargain. If there were, I had no doubt that an exchange could be arranged though it would not, of course, be possible for the Hong Kong Government to cancel the sentence passed on the two Chinese and merely release them in Hong Kong. The probable answer would be deportation to Chine in exchange for similar action by the Chinese with Mr. Grey. I pointed out to Mr. Hopkins that making great play of the idea of an exohange sight well have the effect of disposing the Chinese against it. ky sufice therefore was that it should either not be mentioned or touched on very lightly.

2. I understand that the Sunday Times have now been in touch with Truters (who have spoken to us) and the latter think that the story will be run. They will then put out a statement thansalves. We shall therefore have to consider what comment will be required by News Department. I attach a draft which will require clearance with the Commonwealth Office. We should also consider whether Information Research Department should be asked to publicise 'r, Grey's oase through their media.

Jam Denson

میمون

6 January, 1968.

We have now leant from the Sunday Times that have reached agreement with Reuters to run a story. No

they reference will however be made to the possibility of exchanging. Mr. Grey for N.C.N.A. correspondents impris- oned in Hong Kong. I attach draft replies to possible questions following the publication of the Sunday Times articles, together with a draft telegram warning

Mr. Hopson

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Hopson that the article sill appear We shall telegraph to Peking the main points of the Sunday Times article and any answers by News Department to

subsequent press enquiries. Ditis have bem

cleared with News Dype., C.B. now

and

Ити Оззіс.

Jim

Denon

5 Imany.

I have confetcheal the durft tel.

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2. The burghing astig for News Duft. scaun sahifartag

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CONT

Fc 1 3/8 w. (839)

Mr. Anthony Grey

News DepartmENT

In mwering questions about the Sunday Times article on Mr. Grey Ir. Rodgers is anxious that you should emphasize the great complexity of the problem. This is not just a question of securing the release of a British subject irregularly detained in China - as were the British pilots in /lgiors - but it is concerned with wider problems of sina/British relations including the maintenance of our position in Hong Kong. It is therefore a matt matter of delicate judgement as to what actions will benafit Mr. Gray and how much publicity should be given to them and to his case,

2. Er. Rodgers has asked that the Acting Head of News Department should speak to the diplomatic correspondents of the main newspapers in parti- cular the Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian and the Daily Hirror after the Sunday Times article has appeared.

3. I attach guidance for use in answer to Press questions. This has been read over to Kr. Rodgers,

(J. 3. Denson)

January, 1968

parke

OKELZENTIAL

F2 1318 w

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Mr. Anthony Grey

1. Chronology

23 July, 1967:

18 August:

22 August:

21 November:

29 November:

Karly December:

27 Desember:

31 Desember:

Mr. Orey plssed under house arrest in Peking following the mentenging of a N.C.R.A. sorrespondent in Hong Kong (Rauch Ping) to two years' imprisonment for oncitement to rics.

Teleɔhone communication between Kr, Gray and persons in Paking, ineluding the British Hission, eut off.

Burning of British Mission in Peking and imponition of stricter travel restrictions on Chinese officials in London. Imposition of retaliatory restrictions on British Mission in "sking.

Decision that travel restrictions in London should revert to position before 22 August.

Decision by Chinese that restrictions in Zaking should revert to pre-22 November position,

belivery of parsel to Mr. Oray.

Reaters reosive cable from Xr. Grey in Peking reporting that he is in good health.

Repert from Peking suggest that three weeks befer Gray's conlitions of confinement have been improv in that he wus now living in two rocas, not ans, and receiving better food,

II. Jnswers to usstiona

i have the Britian doyarsant. Jone

A (1); Repeated representations have been nude in Poking and in

London for information about socean to Er, Grey. To have been in touch with neuters throughout. We have also been in touch with Er. Gray's nether who has been seen by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary,

A:(2)↑ ɗe have also pointed out to the Chinese that visits are

allowed to the N.0.N.A. correspondents in prison in Hong Kong and asked that similar facilities be given for visita to ir. Grey in Poxing.

bat prenosal

to the bissss Gover

Jovem sent

A (1): The Foreign Secretury sent a letter to the Chinese Forei gn

/Minister,

COMEI LENTIL

(2)

Minister, Chen Yi, on 30 August aimed at bringing book Bimo/British relations to a more normal basis. It included the proposal that any British subjects in Chins, diplomatie, official or others, should be allowed to leave if they wished to do so in exchange for agreement to the departure of any Chinese who wished to leave this country and specifically motioned Kr. Gray,

azaiast Nez

A (1); Mr. Gray is being detained under house arrest in Paking in retaliation for the imprisonment of 1.0,8,^, corres- pondents in Hong Kong. He has not been charged with any crime. It is not possible to detain #,C,N.A. correspondents in London if they have not committed an offense. Under British law foreign aliens, shatever their nationality, enjoy certain rights. H.D.N.A, ware however subjected to the saze novesent restriction as other Chinese officialn after the burning of the british Mission and arestill subject to the 35 more limit and to the requirement for

Devernment visas You will recull two-montas of X.0.N.A. vare stepped by the polies on their way to Tilbury on 8 Databer last,

A (2): We hope that 8 gmeral improvement in "ino-British role- tions will facilitate Kr. Grey's release, As the setion taken against him was in retaliation against sction taken in Hong Kong not in the United Kingdom, it is by no meanS surtain that, for examyle, the expulsion of 8.C.N.A. from London would benefit Mr. Gray,

A.(3): Reuters is net an official British newesgenay, whereas the

N.O.K.A. is an official Chinesa/news "genky. In terms of retaliation therefore the one cannot be equated exactly with the other. It should incidentally be borne in mind that the F,C,K,A. sorres,onċenta in Hong Kong were convicted for a criminal offende incitement to Fict. One, feuch

p'ing, ie not the holder of a China Hainland passport,

CONER JONNIKAL

ORIG.on

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INMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE

PEKING

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TEINO 77

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19 JANUARY 1968 (F.E.D.)

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO.77 OF 19 JANUARY REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

199

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Frother adion on

SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS. Delegi reply lete gram

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IN CONSIDERING GREY'S CASE WE HAVE ALSO HAD IN MIND WIDER QUESTIONS OF SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS. UP TO NOW WE HAVE HOPED THAT AN IMPROVEMENT IN HONG KONG TOGETHER WITH A WANING OF CULTURAL REVOLUTION EXTREMISM WOULD LEAD TO A SLOW BUT STEADY IMPROVEMENT IN THE WHOLE SITUATION WHICH WOULD ALSO BENEFIT YOUR MISSION AND OTHER BRITISH SUBJECTS. TO HELP THIS PROCESS WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO MAKE SOME CONCESSIONS TO THE CHINESE ON MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS, ENTRY VISAS ETC. WE DO NOT (REPEAT NOT) HOWEVER THINK THAT GRADUAL NORMALISATION WILL BE ACHIEVED BY CONTINUAL UNILATERAL CONCESS-

IONS.

2. NOR ARE WE CERTAIN THAT THE CHINESE PRICE FOR NORMALISATION WILL BE AS HIGH AS YOU SUGGEST IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO.41. IT REMAINS OUR VIEW (C.0. TELEGRAM TO HONG KONG NO.2579) THAT WE CAN EXPECT THE CHINESE AT SOME POINT TO INDICATE THE SORT OF GESTURE THEY WOULD HOPE FOR IN RETURN FOR DISMOUNTING THE CAMPAIGN IN HONG KONG. WE DOUBT VERY MUCH WHETHER HSUEH'S FORMAL REITERATION LAST NOVEMBER (WHEN THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE COMMUNISTS 'DISMOUNTING' THE CONFRONTATION) OF THE FIVE DEMANDS, INCLUDING THE RELEASE OF ALL PRISONERS (YOUR TELEGRAM NO.272) SHOULD BE INTERPRETED AS THE MINIMUM CONCESSION THEY ARE SEEKING NOW. IF THIS REALLY WERE THE CASE, IT WOULD BE TOO HIGH A PRICE TO PAY.

WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOUR FURTHER VIEWS ON THIS

ALSO.

SURE!

F.C.

DEFARTKENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.E.D.

to CWILSON

Caylet (o (120) 27.

(IRD)

F.C.D.

NEWS DEPT.

C.O.

HONG KONG DEPT.

DSAO

PERSONNEL DEPT.

SECRET

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CYPHER/CAT Å

CONFIDENTIAL

INMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

TELNO 76

19 JANUARY, 1968

(FED)

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CONFIDENTIAL.

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Peking 24li

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ADDRESSED TO PEKING TEL NO 76 OF 19 JAN REPEATED FOR INFORMATION

TO HONG KONG

FROM P.U.S.

ン

YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS.42 AND 48

F213/8/128.

GREY.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE. BEFORE SUBMITTING TO MINISTERS WE SHOULD LIKE TO RUN OVER THE OPTIONS AGAIN, YOUR VIEWS AS WE UNDER- STAND THEM ARE AS FOLLOWS:-

(A) RESUMPTION OF MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS ON N.C.N.A. IN LONDON WOULD NOT HELP GREY AND MIGHT REBOUND ON YOUR STAFF.

(B) CLOSURE OF N.C.N.A. (OR THREATS TO DO SO) WOULD NOT HELP GREY EITHER AS HIS CASE IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO HONG KONG, IT WOULD ON THE CONTRARY REVERSE THE TREND TOWARDS REDUCTION OF TENSION, IT MIGHT RESULT IN KEY MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF BEING DECLARED PERSONA NON GRATA AND IT WOULD DEPRIVE US OF CHINESE HOSTAGES. (C) THE ONLY MEASURES AGAINST N.C.N.A. IN LONDON SHOULD THEREFORE BE THE CONTINUED WITHHOLDING OF RESIDENCE PERMITS OR POSSIBLY THEIR RENEWAL FOR A MONTH AT A TIME.

(D) THE KEY TO PROGRESS OVER GREY, AS WELL AS IN SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS IN GENERAL IS A MAJOR GESTURE OF CLEMENCY IN HONG KONG (YOUR TELEGRAM NO.41).

(E) IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES ANY PUBLICITY OR GUIDANCE WHICH HAD THE EFFECT OF INCREASING PRESSURE FOR RETALIATORY MEASURES SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

WE AGREE WITH (A). WE SEE THE FORCE OF (B) (SUBJECT TO THE RESERVATIONS BELOW) THOUGH WE ARE NOT (REPEAT NOT) SURE THAT THE RETENTION OF MEMBERS OF N.C.N.A. AS HOSTAGES WOULD GREATLY INFLUENCE CHINESE CALCULATIONS. IF HOWEVER WE ACCEPT YOUR REASONING IN (B) THAT THE CHINESE ARE NOT TO BE MOVED BY THREATS TO CLOSE N.C.N.A.

تھا

CONFIDENTIAL

Cory sent (5 (148) 22%, Cowanson (TRD)

/IT

CONFIDENTIAL

FOREIGN OFFICE TELEGRAM NO.76 TO PEKING

-2-

IT SURELY FOLLOWS THAT THEY WILL BE EVEN LESS CONCERNED BY THE IMPLIED THREAT OF WITHHOLDING RENEWAL OF RESIDENCE PERMITS. SIN MOST OF THEIR STAFF HAVE BEEN ON TIME-EXPIRED PERMITS FOR SOME MONTHS ALREADY, THERE WOULD BE NO ADDITIONAL THREAT IN CONTINUING THIS SITUATION. IF WE NOW GRANTED ANY OF THE PERMITS(EVEN FOR A PERIOD OF A MONTH AT A TIME), WE WOULD IN FACT BE MAKING A CONCESSION RATHER THAN INCREASING PRESSURE.

AS REGARDS (D) THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG HAS ALREADY EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT A MAJOR ACT OF CLEMENCY (HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 50) AND MADE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT A POSSIBLE STEP FORWARD ON EXCHANGES (HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.92 TO CO JUST RECEIVED). WE SHARE HIS DOUBTS ABOUT A MAJOR ACT (SUCH AS THE RELEASE OF ALL PRISONERS) WHICH MIGHT AT THIS STAGE MAKE THE COMMUNISTS BELIEVE THAT PRESSURE FOR A MACAO-TYPE SITUATION COULD STILL BE EFFECTIVE.

IF A MAJOR CONCESSION IN HONG KONG IS RULED OUT AND, AS YOU HAVE AGREED, PROGRESS IS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE ON PRISONER VISITS UNLESS THE CHINESE MAKE ANOTHER MOVE AND, FURTHER, IF WE ACCEPT YOUR ARGUMENTS AGAINST RETALIATION IN LONDON, WE CAN ONLY CONTINUE TO RESTRAIN PUBLICITY AND DO NOTHING FURTHER IN THE HOPE THAT THE CHINESE WILL EVENTUALLY DECIDE EITHER TO RELEASE GREY OR TO ACCEPT OUR TENTATIVE EXCHANGE OFFER. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN SUCH INACTIVITY IN THE FACE OF MOUNTING PARLIAMENTARY OR PUBLIC PRESSURE (WHICH IS LIKELY TO GROW WHETHER WE ENCOURAGE PUBLICITY OR NOT). TO SUGGEST IN A PARLIAMENTARY STATEMENT (PARAGRAPH 4 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO 48) THAT ACTION MIGHT BE TAKEN AGAINST THE N.C.N.A. WOULD BE TO RISK EITHER BEING FORCED UNWILLINGLY INTO SUCH ACTION IF THE CHINESE FAILED TO RESPOND OR BEING SHOWN UP AS QUOTE PAPER TIGERS UNQUOTE 5. THE BEST HOPE STILL SEEMS TO BE TO WORK FOR AN EXCHANGE OF N.C.N.A. PRISONERS IN HONG KONG FOR GREY. BUT WE NEED SOME MEANS OF OVERCOMING CHINESE RELUCTANCE, WE ARE NOT (REPEAT NOT) ENTIRELY CONVINCED THAT A THREAT TO CLOSE THE N.C.N.A. IN LONDON COULD NOT BE USED, PERHAPS IN PRIVATE SO AS TO SAVE FACE. ONE POSSIBILITY WOULD BE TO SUMMON THE CHINESE CHARGE HERE TO DISCUSS TIME-EXPIRED RESIDENCE PERMITS FOR N.C.N.A. WE COULD SAY THAT NO ACTION HAD BEEN TAKEN AGAINST THOSE CONCERNED BECAUSE WE HOPED THAT THE MATTER

/OF

CONFIDENTIAL

FOREIGN OFFICE TELEGRAM NO.76 TO PEKING

-3-

OF GREY WOULD BE SETTLED QUICKLY. IF HOWEVER THE CHINESE WERE NOT PREPARED TO DO THIS BY E.G. TAKING UP THE SUGGESTION OF AN EXCHANGE THEN WE COULD NO LONGER CONTINUE TO GIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT TO N.C.N.A. PERSONNEL IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THOSE WHOSE PERMITS HAD EXPIRED WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE WITHIN A MONTH. IF HOWEVER THE CHINESE WERE PREPARED TO RELEASE GREY THEN N.C.N.A. RESIDENCE PERMITS WOULD BE RENEWED AND THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE FUNCTIONING

NORMALLY.

6. SUCH ACTION WOULD OF COURSE REQUIRE PRIOR HOME OFFICE CONCURRENCE WHICH WE CANNOT BE CERTAIN OF OBTAINING. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE, THOUGH BY NO MEANS CERTAIN, THAT IF WE EXPELLED SOME MEMBERS OF N.C.N.A., KEY MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF WOULD BE P.N.G. IN RETALIATION, EVEN THOUGH THIS WOULD LEAD TO ACTION BY US AGAINST KEY MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE MISSION HERE.

GRATEFUL FOR FURTHER COMMENTS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT HONG KONG TEL NO 92. SEE ALSO M.I.F.T.

SOSFA

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

EQF.E.D.

P.C.D.

NEWS DEPT.

C.0. H.K.D.

D.S.A.0. PERSONNEL DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Wilkinson

CONFIDENTIAL

covering Secret

¦ PFCEIVED IN

VES No.31

22 JAN 1968

F4318

130

Problem

Mr. Anthony Grey and the New China News Agency

No progress has been made in securing access to Mr. Grey,

nor have the Chinese responded to an informal suggestion made

by Sir Donald Hopson that Mr. Grey might be exchanged for

N.C.N.A. personnel in prison in Hong Kong. There has been

some recent press publicity in this country about the case

and we must expect further Parliamentary questions and possibly

an adjournment debate. We have to decide what further pressure,

if any, can be put on the Chinese to release Mr. Grey and how

the case should be handled in public.

Recommendation

2. I recommend that we should consult Sir D. Hopson further

on the lines of the attached draft telegrams in which the

Commonwealth Office concur.

Argument and Background

3. Sir D. Hopson has had a number of exchanges with the

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about visits to Mr. Grey.

He has pointed out that the N.C.N.A. personnel in prison in

Hong Kong are allowed regular visits by their relatives.

The

Chinese have countered by saying that they should be allowed

special visits by their N.C.N.A. colleagues and others who

would wish to bring them extra food and clothing. The Governor

/of

CONFIDENTIAL

of Hong Kong has agreed that special visite are permissible

provided that the prisoners concerned conform to the regu-

lations by requesting them. Extra food and clothing or a

change in the procedure for special visits would not, however,

be possible without creating a dangerous precedent for other

prisoners. The Chinese have been informed, but have not

pursued the matter.

4. Sir D. Hopson, on instructions, has also revived the

suggestion first contained in the Secretary of State's letter

to the Chinese Foreign Minister on 31 August last that there

might be an exchange of Grey for N.C.N.A. personnel in prison.

The initial Chinese response was unenthusiastic but the

official concerned promised to pass on the proposal to

higher authority.

5. From the time of Mr. Grey's house arrest in July up

until just before Christmas we all (1.e. the Foreign Office,

Sir D. Hopson and Reuters) agreed that publicity about Kr.

Grey's case should be avoided as it might cause the Chinese

to bring charges against him. We hoped that a greater improve-

ment in Sino-British relations would enable us to make progress

over the case. Shortly before Christmas Sir D. Hopson

recommended that we should we give publicity to the case.

After consultation with Reuters, we decided to defer a decision

until the reassembly of Parliament. In the meantime an article

appeared about Mr. Grey in the Sunday Times, but as a result

of our intervention it was in cautious terms and did not attract

/great

CONFIDENTIAL

-3-

Flag A 727

Flag B

Flag

great attention.

6. In Foreign Office telegram No. 49 we stated that we

might be under pressure to take some retaliatory action

against N.C.N.A. in London if there were no progress over

and Mr. Grey, that publicity would increase this pressure,

asked whether in the circumstances Sir D. Hopson still

favoured publicity. His views are contained in Peking telegram no. 42 (which crossed ours) and Peking telegram

127) no. 48.

Sir D. Hopson recommends strongly against retaliation

on N.C.N.A. in London and indicates that he would not favour

publicity if this led to greater pressure for retaliation.

7. In the wider context of Sino-British relations, Sir D.

Hopson has also had exchanges with the Governor of Hong Kong

about the possibility of a major act of clemency on the

occasion of the Chinese New Year at the end of January e.g.

the release of all political prisoners (Peking telegrams

Flags D & E nos. 22 and 41). Sir D. Hopson hopes that such a gesture

Fpi(274

would smooth the way for progress over Mr. Grey. Understandably the Governor has serious reservations (Hong Kong telegram no. 50)

FD13/8 (62)

Flag F

FD273) though he has indicated willingness to make limited and

graduated concessions, some of which have already been made.

If we He has undertaken to let us have his further views.

accept Sir D. Hopson's reasoning, the only way forward on the Grey case is by means of unilateral concessions to the Chinese, in particular a major and probably damaging con-

cession in Hong Kong. We have discussed the matter at

/official

CONFIDENTIAL

official level with the Commonwealth Office who share the

Governor's and our own misgivings. Before putting the

matter to Ministers, I think we should consult Sir D. Hopson

further. I have suggested that our views should be sent by

telegram because the bag service is slow and I think it

important that we should clear our minds about the case as

soon as possible. The Managing Director of Reuters is due

to discuss the case with Mr. Rodgers next week.

8. If Sir D. Hopson can be persuaded that retaliation

against N.C.N.A. in London is a possibility, we shall require

a Ministerial approach to the Home Office to try to get them

to change the position taken up last year when the then Home

Secretary would not agree that there were grounds for

expelling N.C.N.A. personnel.

9. Subject to your views, I think it would be helpful if

the telegrams to Peking could go from the Permanent Under-

Secretary in order to indicate to Sir D. Hopson that his

views have been very carefully weighed at the highest official

level.

Copy to Mr. Carter, C.0.

Sn P. Allen.

Densor

John Denson

(J. B. Denson) 19 January, 1968

Ahithesis.

from 19.

I had discussed this in general terms with mur

agree with the draft, telegrams.

and

P.U.S.

| Since

CONFIDENTIAL

Denis Allen. 19%

the relegrowns were drafted, we have received

Flag H

Hong Kong relegram No. 92

Commonwealth

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Mr. Wilkinson

CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Wilkinson or

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19/1

MM 22 Jan.

a.wik.

VISITS TO MR. GREY AND IMPRISONED N.C.N.A.

REPORTERS IN HONG KONG

The Secretary of State asked for comments on Peking

telegram No. 369 of 23 December which made suggestions about

approaching the Chinese in an attempt to arrange an exchange

of Mr. Grey of Reuters for either one or both of the New China

News Agency (N.C.N.A.) reporters in prison in Hong Kong.

2. Following this and other telegrams from Hong Kong reporting

that the N.C.N.A. office there had asked for permission to make

official New Year visits to their imprisoned reporters, and for

other Communist organisations to make official visits to their

members in prison, we instructed Sir Donald Hopson to approach

the Chinese on the question of visits and also make a personal

suggestion about the possibility of arranging an exchange

(Foreign Office telegram to Peking No. 1141). The arguments

in favour of such a course are contained in my submission of 29 December.

3. Sir Donald carried out these instructions on 31 December

(Peking telegram No. 1 of 1 January). He was told that the

D13/89 Chinese G

Chinese Government would "absolutely not agree" to the procedure

suggested, that the prisoners themselves should make a request

to be visited (in accordance with the prison regulations) even

A CONFIDENTIAL

/though

CONFIDENTIAL

though Sir Donald had hinted very clearly that such a request,

if made, would be granted. The Chinese also said that they

"might consider" allowing a visit to Mr. Grey if the Hong Kong authorities satisfied the requests (in the plural) made

by the N.C.N.A. office in Hong Kong. On the question of an

exchange, the official concerned said that he would pass on

the suggestion to a higher authority but gave his personal

opinion that it was unlikely to be agreed since "so many people

had been killed and arrested in Hong Kong" and it was there-

fore impossible to settle the problem "ao lightly".

Despite what the Chinese have said, there is still a

possibility that they will instruct the imprisoned reporters

to request visits from their organisation. This would be

perfectly easy for them to do since the prisoners are allowed

to send and receive letters freely. If such a visit took

place it might possibly lead to a visit being allowed to Mr.

Grey, although we have no guarantee of this. On the other

hand, they may stick to the view that the Hong Kong Government

has no right to insist on such a procedure and use this as an

In this excuse for continuing to refuse access to Mr. Grey.

case we shall have to consider what other tactics we might

possibly adopt to secure access to, and ultimately the release

of Mr. Grey.

5. When we last discussed Mr. Grey's case with Reuters (on

22 December) it was agreed that the position should be reviewed

/before

CONFIDENTIAL

- 3-

before Parliament reassemblea on 17 January, with particular

reference to whether it had become desirable to publicise

the case.

I consider that this timetable should stand. The

intervening period may allow us to see whether the present

approach has achieved anything, and whether there is any

reaction to the idea of an exchange.

James Huay

(James Murray) 3 January, 1968

Copy to: kr. Samuel

John laque

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REF

132.

113

135

CONFIDENTIAL

¡AR: "IVE No.31

Supante subuussion.

2 JAN 1908

Mr. Murpay

Masa F21318

Far Eastern Department.

Grey

The Secretary of State has

seen Peking Telegram No. 369_of 23 December, and has asked for comment, please.

See Sundercstioni ar-136

p.c..

Fe1 3/8113)

Диагр Amaysuit 27.

(D. I. Morphet)

29 December, 1967

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CONFIDENTIAL

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19 JAN 1968

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INCLUDING EXA, TO DISC85 - THE GATTER WITH THE

ولة.

I BE LATHE MINISTA

*/...

TO TH FLAG OF THE INFOMATION

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry F213/8 DRAFT

No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret.

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted. Unclesfied.

PRIVACY MARKING

CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT letter

To:-

The Home Secretary

Type 1 +

From

132)

Secretary of State

Telephone No, & Ext.

Department

In Confidences

The Reuters Correspondent in Peking :

Hr. Anthony frey

Earlier in the year yé discussed with

your predecessor the question of action against the New China News Agency (NCNA) Office/in

London, first in the context of NCNA

to violence in Hong Kong and later/in the

context of retaliation for the house arrest

of Mr. Anthony Grey, the Reuters correspondent

in Peking. The upshot of these exchanges

was that Mr. Jenkins was reluctant to take

action to expel members of the NCNA Office,

agree/not to grant any new

afthough head agree/not

entry visa and also to withhold the renewal

of residence permits for those whose permits had expired.

think the time has now come to revert

To this question. As you know, Mr. Anthony

Grey is still under house arrest. We have

made a number of attempts both to secure

access to him and to obtain his release but

all have so far proved ineffective.

In the

rcumstances I think we must now consider

ways in which we could put further pressure

on the Chinese,

A. One

CONFIDENTIAL

3. . One of the obvious ways of doing this

would be to threaten the Chinese that we

would close the NCNA London Office unless

they released Grey. We know that the

Chinese place considerable importance on the

activities of this office and we would, of

course, hope that such a threat would achieve

the desired result. We must however be

prepared to put the threat into practice

if the Chinese refused to move.

4. ▲ secondary point is that we are likely

to be under increasing public pressure to

do something further for Mr. Grey, particularly after Parliament reassembles on 16 Jamary.

You will probably have noticed that some

questions in the House have already asked

about restrictions on the NCNA London Office

and I would expect this line to be pursued.

I think we shall be under considerable

criticism if we have to reply that it is

impossible to take action against the NCNA,

regardless of the fact that the only British

correspondent in Peking has been held under

house arrest for many months even though no

charges have been preferred against him.

5. I would therefore like to seek your

approval now to our making an approach to

the Chinese threatening them that we will

close the NCNA London office on a specified

date unless they release Mr. Grey, By

making such a threat we would of course

commit ourselves to taking the action threat- ened if the Chinese nade no response, and I hope that you will now agree that this should be done if necessary.

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

WID'L SE 743

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

131

No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATIÓN

Top Secret.

Secret.

Confidential

Restricted. Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

In Coulderson

Registry 238 DRAFT f21318

Submissi on

Type 1+

To:-

From

Mr. Wilking on

(Copy to xr. Colin Wilson, JD).

Telephone No. & Ext.

Department

Mr. Denson

The Reuters Correspondent in Peking :

Mr. Anthony/Grey

Problem

We have triedța variety of ways to

secure either access to Mr. Grey or his

release but póne of these hate so far

proved successful. W have also given the

Chinese a very broad hint that we would be

prepared to exchange the imprisoned NCNA

reporter in Hong Kong (Haba P'ing) for

r. Grey but there has so far been no

reaction from the Chinese. We must now

consider what further efforts to make, partialarly

particularly in view of the likely interest

ip/Mr. Grey's case when Parliament reassemblea In 16 January.

Recommendation

A recommend that:

a) we should be prepared to give

Mr. Grey' a case greater publicity

in this country before Parlian en t

reassembles, and

we should prepare to threaten the

Chinese that their NONA London

/office

CONFIDENTIAL

Office will be closed down unless

they release Mr. Grey. In order

to prepare the ground a minute

should be sent to the Home Office

seeking their concurrence in this.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Background and Argument

3. Hr. Grey has been under house arrest

since July.

All attempts to secure either

access to him or his release have so far

failed.

On 31 December Sir Donald Hopson

gave the Chinese a very clear hint that we

would be prepared to swap Mr. Grey for the

imprisoned NCNA reporter in Hong Kong (ished

p'ing). Their immediate response was not

encouraging although there is always the

possibility that they will revert to the idea,

Meanwhile, on the assumption that no further

progress will be made on the present tack,

we have to consider what alternative methods

there are for trying to secure Hr. Grey's

release. There is already some Parliamentary

interest in his fate and this is likely to

increase after the recall of Parliament on

16 Jamary. On an earlier submission by

Mr. Murray of 3 January, the Secretary of

State agreed that, before that date, we should

consider whether it would be desirable to

publicise Kr. Grey's case,

One of our major difficulties up to now

has been that we have been able to entice the

[Reag A]

[Thag 3]

/Chinese

CONFIDENTI AL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

D. 32835 BA (4200)

CONFIDENTIAL

The release of

The Grey without oblaming

Chinese to be more lenient to Mr. Grey by a

series of carrots but, when these methods have

proved ineffective, we have not been able to

goad them into action with some stick as well.

There is every indication that Chinese leaders

are highly preoccupied with their own internal

affairs which are still in considerable

confusion, and I fear it is likely that they

will not even consider Mr. Grey's case unless

we can somehow force them to do so.

It may

in fact be particularly difficult for the

Chinese to be lenient to Mr. Grey at the

moment since they are already having a hard

and quid pro que right enough time explaining to their supportera in

Wheat be even houder

to explain

Hong Kong why they have virtually called off

the confrontation campaign there.

One way of putting some form of pressure on the Chinese would be publicity.

Up to

now Reuters have been strongly against this

on the grounds that it might force the Chinese

to justify their treatment of Mr. Grey by

staging some sort of "espionage" trial. We

have so far agreed with this line. Despite

these efforts by Reuters however, the Sunday

Times produced a relatively inoffensive article

about Mr. Grey on 7 January and the story was

also picked up by the Guardian on the following

day. Although not much interest seems to have

been sparked off by these articles there is a

/strong

CONFIDENTIAL

(possibility

CONFIDENTIAL

strong likelihood public concern will grow

after Parliament reassembles on 17 January.

down for SNOWOT

Whether or not we ourselves inspire

publicity about Mr. Grey it is likely that we

shall come under increasing pressure to do

something more on his behalf. The form this

pressure is most likely to take is demands to

act against the official Chinese dewragency

in London, the New China News Agency (NCNA).

It will be pointed out, with much justice, that

it is absurd to allow the NCNA a free rein in

London when the only British correspondent in

Peking has been under house arrest for many

months without any charge preferred against

him. The additional point may be made, with

equal justice, that the Chinese would be

sensitive to any threat to close the NCNA

London Office since it is of considerable

value to them both as a source of news and

propaganda base in this country and as a

communications link with NCNA correspondents

in South America.

Last year we discussed in great detail

with the Home Office the question of action

against the NONA. This was done first in the

context of the violence inspired by their

/parent

CONFIDENT IAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

(4.32855 E4 (4200)

CONFIDENTIA L

Flag C

Flag).

Rag &

parent organisation in Hong Kong and the false

reporting of the Hong Kong situation which led

ultimately to the sacking of our Mission in

Shanghai and the manhandling of Mr. Hewitt

and his family. Later we asked for Home

Office concurrence in action against the NONA,

including the expulsion of all its ex-patriate

officers and the closing of its offices

offices)

the context of Mr. Grey's imprisonment and

the sacking of our Mission in Peking on

22 August. The Home Office were singularly

unhelpful and argued that they could only

expel officers of the NONA if it could be

shown their actions were "not conducive to the

11 and that, in any case, they public good

would have the right to appeal to a London

magistrate.

The furthest we managed to budge

them was to agree, on the night of 22 August,

that restriction orders should be placed on

the NONA The NCNA however refused to accept

that they coulą came under the jurisdiction

of such orders and the matter was not pressed

since we believed that it would have led to

a scuffle between the Police and the NCNA

which, in the state of Peking at that time,

would almost certainly have been followed by

greater violence against our own people there.

Assuming that all our present attempts

to do something for Mr. Grey fails, I think

/the

CONFIDENTIAL

threaten

the only effective new weapon we have ia to

take action against the NCNA here.

Ideal ly

we would only threaten to expel the NCNA if

the Chinese did not release Mr. Grey but, if

we are to make the threat, we must be prepared

to carry it out if we get no response from the

Chinese. I therefore believe that the time

has come to make a further attempt to persuade

the Home Office to agree with this line. It

may be that the new Home Secretary will view

the matter differently from his predecessor.

I think there is no point in attempting to

alter the previous ruling by discussion amongst

officials and am therefore attaching a draft

minute from the Secretary of State to the

XJP9

Home Secretary. Whatever the Home Secretary's

reply, I think we must also be prepared to give

publicity to Mr. Grey's case. We have already

instructed IRD to publicise it abroad in the

general context of Chinese treatment of foreign

journalista. Such a campaign may have some

effect on Chinese thinking although we cannot

hope for too much. It is however unlikely to

be picked up and echoed in the British press.

Since there is likely to be publicity in the

British press sooner or later whatever we do,

I think there is much to be said for giving the

initial push ourselves and ensuring that it

develops on the right lines. I therefore

/recommend

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Dd. 32855 Ed (4200) |

CONFIDENTIAL

recommend that we should give the present

attempts a further week and, if the Chinese

make no move by that time, endeavour to launch

a publicity campaign here just before Parliament

reassembles.

I think we must keep Sir Donald Hopson

in touch with what we are doing and I attach

a draft telegram to do this,

CONFIDENTIAL

130

F21318

CONFIDENTIAL

Ali

(129

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

18 January, 1968.

Derp

I sympathise with your bafflement about publicity about Grey (your letter PEX.3 of 9 January) resulting from the Sunday Times article. All I can say is the Department did its best and probably helped to avert the publication of something much more damaging.

2. They first heard about the Sunday Times' intention to publish on Thursday, 5 January. On that afternoon John Denson saw the reporter engaged on the article, Adan Hopkins, explained the background of Grey's case at length and suggested that it would be better if the article were not published. Hopkins made it clear that he was under strong editorial pressure to publish, but agreed to omit any specific references to ways of securing Grey's release, such as an exchange and try to mute critical references to Foreign Office "inactivity", reflected in quotations from an earlier article in a local newspaper by Mr. Anthony Royle, M.P. On the following day the Head of Hews Department and John Denson saw Nicholas Carroll, the diplomatic corresponent of the Sunday Times, and went over the ground again. He was sympathetic but indicated that the decision rested with the editor. We had meanwhile been in touch with uters who said that if the Sunday Times were determined to publish, they would feel obliged to put out a short factual statement of their own. On Friday afternoon it was finally real between Gerald Long and Harold Evana, the Editor of the Sunday Times, that the article would appear. We then despatched Foreign Office telegram No. 27.

3. As you know from subsequent correspondence, a decision had not at that time been made about whether or not publicity for Grey would be desirable. After seeing the Sunday Times article and the reactions to it, which as we reported to you were slight, wo decided that the best policy would be not to encourage publicity on our own behalf. We did agree however that I.R.D. should use the article, together with other material, in a campaign they are running outside this country to draw attention to Chinese mistreatment of foreign Journalists as a whole. As a result of further exchanges we have had about Grey, you have yourself agreed (paragraph 5 of

/your

Sir D. Hopson, K.O.M.G., D.S.D., M.C., T.D.,

PEKING.

CONFIDENTIAL

your telegram no. 48) that publicity which might increase pressure for retaliatory measures against, for example, N.C.N.A. in London should be avoided.

4. We are sorry that the telegram reporting the intended publication of the article reached you so late. There appear to have been a number of such delays recently and we are having a check made on how long telegrams take to reach you. It had not occurred to us, I am afraid, that the Sunday Times would get in touch with Agence France Prease in Peking and it had been our object to let you know what was in the wind before the article actually appeared on Sunday. As regards the contents, everything of substance was reported in Foreign Office telegram No. 31; the remainder was a rehearsal of well-known facts about the Grey case. The Reuters statement (Foreign Office telegram No. 32) was unremarkable (a copy is enclosed).

5 We have already taken euters to task about not keeping us informed on Davíð Chipp's activities in Hong Kong and elsewhere. On this occasion they might, it is true, have tried to put greater pressure on the Sunday Times not to publish. But once they had agreed it would have been quite impossible for us to have intervened further. Indeed to have done so might have resulted in the publication of a less sympathetic article from our point of view than in fact appeared.

When all this happened I was myself en route for Tokyo, but I have been over the case sinc‹ my return, and I do not think that we could have done much better than we did, and with a little bad luck, it could all have gone much worse.

(P.A. Wilkinson)

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

FC1348

Top Secret. Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted. Unclassified, Staff in Confidence.

CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT Letter

To: --

Sir D. Hopson, K.C.M.G

D.S.O., M.C., ED.

Peking.

•

Type 1 +

From/

130

P. A. Wilkinson

Telephone No. & Ext.

Department

Hmm Densm

18].

хрести но qurativno from

ам вапан article in

Loen newspaper wm. Autumn

Royle, M.P.g

I sympathise with your bafflement about

publicity about Grey (your letter PEK.3 of

9 January) resulting from the Sunday, Times

All I can

The Difartmat article As the following account of the Did it best and

sequence of events 11, I hope, show, we were not entirely insotfue and probably helped to

avert the publication of something much more

damaging.

Thainy

He first/heard about the Sunday Times'

intention to publish on Thursday, 5 January.

On that afternoon John Denson saw the reporter engaged on the article, Ad Hopkins, explaine

the background of Grey's case at length and

suggested that it would be better if the

article were not published. Hopkins made it

clear that he was under strong editorial

pressure to publish, but agreed to omit any

specific references to ways of securing Grey's

release, such as an exchange and portioularly

true to mute critical references to Foreign Office" inactivity on the following day, the

Head of News Department and John Denson saw

Nicholas Carroll, the diplomatic correspondent

/of the

(8635) D4033274 300m 18/66 G.W.BL4d. Gip.863

CONFIDENTIAL

of the Sunday Times, and went over the ground

again. He was sympathetic but indicated that

the decision rested with the editor. We had

meanwhile been in touch with Reuters who seid

that if the Sunday Times" were determined to

publish, they would feel obliged to put out a

mes

short factual statement of town. On Friday

afternoon,it was finally agreed between

Gerald Long and Harold Evans, the Editor of

the Sunday Times, that the article would

appear. We then despatched Foreign Office

telegram No. 27.

3. As you know from subsequent correspondence,

a decision had not at that time been made

about whether or not publicity for Grey would

be desirable. After seeing the "Sunday Times"

article and the reactions to it, which as we

reported to you were slight, we decided that

the best policy would be not to encourage

publicity on our own behalf, though

le did nowwww agree that I.R.D. should use the article,

together with other material, in a campaign

they are running outside this country to draw

attention to Chinese mistreatment of foreign

journalists as a whole. As a result of further

exchanges we have had about Grey, you have gr

сопрово

agreed (paragraph 5 of your telegram no. 48)

that publicity which might increase pressure

for retaliatory measures against, for example

N.C.N.A. in London should be avoided.

14.

Flag A

Flag B

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

We are sorry that the telegram reporting

Fray

Flag D

the intended publication of the article reached

you so late. There appear to have been a number

of such delays recently and we are having a

check made on how long telegrama take to reach

It had not occund to us. I am afraid.

you.

We-had, of course, ne inkling/that the

Sunday Times would get in touch with Agence

Pothing

France Fresse Jand it had been, our object to let

In the WoÀ

you know what was likely before the article

actually appeared on Sunday. As regards the

contents, everything of substance was reported

in Foreign Office telegram no. 31; the remainder

was a rehearsal of well-known facts about the

(F... Felegram to 32)

Grey case. The Reuters staterent as

unremarkable (a copy is enclosed).

5. We have already taken Reuters to task about

not keeping us informed on David Chipp's

activities in Hong Kong and elsewhere.

this occasion they sight, it is true, have tried

to put greater pressure on the Sunday Times not to publish. But once they had agreed it would have been quite impossible for us to have

intervened further.

Indeed to have done so

might have resulted in, the publication of a

from ou badY { new, {

leas sympathetic article than in fact appeared.

Zthan

when all these happened I

hav

was myself

route for Tokys,

but I have been

怂

Rod

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I do not

Srim

полу

imts have you much couts

think that ar

batte the w

git, and with a littl

bad back, it couts all hav

для

CONFIDENTIAL

M: Dough

I sh? be grateful Ift reply.

CONFIDENTIAL

PEX. 3

Drup

Dear Peter,

Densu

187;

office of The British ECEIVED IN

Chargé d'Affaires,

Peking.

9 January, 1968.

ARCHIVES No.31

1 8 JAN 1968

Fe13/18

See reply

مان

x130 De

We were naturally a little baffled here about the way in which publicity about Grey eventually broke. You will remember that we had suggested that the time was coming when we should try to promote this and were shot down by yourselves and Reuters on the grounds that it was too early and we should wait at any rate until the end of the Parliamentary reces8.

As a

Reuters then apparently agreed with the Sunday Times behind your backs that a story should be published. result, when the Agence France-Presse man told me that he had been asked for details, I told him in confidence that both Reuters and the Foreign Office were against publicity at the moment, and so ersuaded him to send the minimum. A few hours later, we received Foreign office telegram No. 27, telling us that Reuters had, in fact, agreed with the Sunday Times that the story should be published.

Coupled with David Chi, p's unannounced galliventings round the Far East, I think this latest incident shows up Reuters in a very bad light. We have not, of course, yet seen the full text of the Sunday Times article, nor of the Reuters' statement released afterwards, but all this could have been very much better done if it had been properly co-ordinated, especially with messages from the Western co: respondents here. I hope that someone will not fail to take the opportunity to tell Reuters what we think of their publicity technique. Grey is one of our major problems here and it is going to need a great deal of delicate work to get him out. Fortunately, I do not think my relations with the Agence France-Presse man have been compromised, as he is particularly friendly. Incidentally, it is essential that telegrams like telegram No. 27 should have a grading higher than priority if is de to reach us in reasonable time. If I had received it early on Saturday morning instead of late in the afternoon, I could have briefed the Agence France-Presse man more sensibly.

you

Donald

(D. C. Hopson)

F. A. Milkinson, Esq., C.H.G.,

D.9.0.. 0.B.Z.,

ssistant Under-Secretary of State,

Foreign Office,

London 3.7.1.

CONFIDENTIAL

LAFI

| 127

rop COPY

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat A

H PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 48

128

15 JAN 168

FL13/8

15 January 1968

Seperate subenision

CONFIDENTIAL

fanunty.

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 48 of 15 January Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

127

Your telegram No. 49: Grey.

I think that first question to decide is what action if any we are prepared to take against NCNA in London. For the reason given in my telegram No. 42, which crossed yours, I think that action such as restraint on moves would be ill advised and would rebound on my staff here.

2. A threat to close NCNA office would almost certainly fail to make Chinese release Grey. We should therefore have to carry the threat out which would deprive us of hostages while having Grey in Chinese hands. Closure might provoke Chinese with persona non grataing some of my staff. This has superficial attractions but as explained in previous correspondence the Chinese would probably choose those members we could least afford to lose at present. Most important, closure of NCNA office or restraint on their movements would be an act of escalation and would reverse the trend towards a detente which I am convinced we must maintain if we are to extricate Grey or ourselves. It would add rather than remove difficulties.

3. I

I, therefore, recommend that at this stage we should confine ourselves to action on residence permits as suggested in my telegram. I agree with your telegram No. 52 that any renewals might be for 3 months only.

4. If it is felt we must go further in answer to public pressure it might be possible to convey thoughts in a Parliamentary statement or that if no progress is made over Grey serious consideration would have to be given to further steps and we might have to look closely at the position of NCNA in London. This would not commit us to action and would be noted by the Chinese, but has risk of getting us on slippery slope towards escalation.

5. As regards publicity for Grey's case there may be advantage in our giving the Press some guidance, providing always we are sure of not making it hard to confine ourselves to action as in paragraph 3 above. If there is any doubt on this point the less publication the better.

6. The essential point about Grey is that his fate is related to prisoners, particularly NCNA prisoners, in Hong Kong; strong action against NCNA in London is unlikely to help him. His best chance is if we can maintain move towards detention and arrange their release or deportation. The fact that Hsueh was initially cool to the idea of a

/head

CONFIDENTIAL

Peking telegram No. 48 to Foreign Office

- 2 -

head for head exchange should not deter us from the above course. It would seem worthwhile to take Mr. Royle into our confidence on the Grey issue and get something of this over to him.

Commonwealth Office pass Hong Kong 26.

Sir D. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

News Dept.

Consular Dept. Personnel Dept. J.I.R.D.

0.0. H.K. Dept.

F.E.P.D. News Dept.

CONFIDENTIAL

Q0000

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

F2:278

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP CU!

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

TEL NO.49 12 JANUARY 1968 (F.E.D.)

CONFIDENTIAL

127

LAST

RES

| 113

Now

see tekings reply: tel

по крв

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 49 OF 12 JANUARY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

118

p.a

MY TELEGRAM NO 27.

SUN DAY TIMES ARTICLE HAS AROUSED LITTLE INTEREST. AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE AND/OR QUESTIONS ARE HOWEVER LIKELY AFTER PARLIAMENT REASSEMBLES ON 16 JANUARY AND THIS WILL PROBABLY INCREASE PUBLIC INTEREST.

2. WE SHALL BE CONSIDERING EARLY NEXT WEEK WHETHER WE SHOULD OURSELVES GIVE PUBLICITY TO GREY'S CASE IN THIS COUNTRY. (1.R.D.

ARE ALREADY PUBLICISING THE STORY ABROAD IN THE GENERAL CONTEXT

OF CHINESE TREATMENT OF FOREIGN JOURNALISTS BUT THIS IS UNLIKELY TO BE PLAYED BACK HERE.) THE ADVANTAGE OF TAKING THE INITIATIVE WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD BE BETTER PLACED TO SEE THAT THE STORY WAS PUT ACROSS IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY. WE WOULD NOT SEE THIS AS NECESSARILY CONFLICTING WITH SEPARATE ATTEMPTS BY MEANS OF ADMINISTRATIVE RELAXATIONS TO IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS FOR YOU AND FOR THE CHINESE MISSION HERE.

PUBLICITY, WHETHER INSPIRED OR NOT, IS HOWEVER LIKELY TO LEAD TO PRESSURE FOR ACTION AGAINST NCNA IN LONDON IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY MOVE BY THE CHINESE, LAST YEAR WE ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES IN SECURING INTERDEPARTMENTAL AGREEMENT TO CLOSE NCNA IN RETALIATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF GREY. SUBJECT TO THE VIEWS OF OUR OWN MINISTERS, WE MAY RETURN TO THE CHARGE AND TRY TO OBTAIN AGREEMENT TO THREATEN THE CHINESE WITH CLOSURE UNLESS THEY RELEASE GREY, BEING READY IF NEED BE TO CARRY OUT THE THREAT,

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS BY A.M. MONDAY, 15 JANUARY ON WHETHER YOU STILL SEE VALUE IN PUBLICITY OF GREY'S CASE EVEN IF IT LEADS TO THE CONSEQUENCES REFERRED TO IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH.

SOSPA

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:

FO: F.E.D.

NEWS DEPT

CONSULAR DEPT

CO: HONG KONG DEPT

CONFIDENTIAL

1833/12/1

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No. 128

DEPARTMENT

F.E.D

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

PRIORITY MARKINGS

Date)

"Top Seared"

-Secret- Confidential -Restricted

Unchssified

-Emergency}

Immediate

- Routine

* Date and lime (G.M.T.) telegram should

reach addressee(s)

12:

YER

Despatch

- En Clair, Code- Cypher

Draft Telegram 10:-

No.

PEKING

(Date)

And to:-

[

Security classification

CONFIDENTIAL

A INI I

IMILIMANIMA

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed 10.

יור

Peking

telegram No.....

...(date)

-----

12/1

12 1

And to..........

repeated for information to

Hong Kong

Saving to

- L

Repeat to:

HONG KONG

Saving to:--

Distribution:-

F.E.D.

Newa

Consular

JIRD_C". H.K.D

Copies to:-

My telegram No. 27 Grey

Sunday Times article has aroused little

interest. An adjournment debate and/or Questions

are however likely after Parliament reassemblea

on 16 January and this will probably t

increase public interest.

2. We shall be considering early next week

whether we should ourselves give publicity to

Gray's case in this country. (I.R.D. are already

publicising the story abroad in the general

context of Chinese treatment of foreign journalists

but this is unlikely to be played back here.) The

advantage of taking the initiative would be that

we would be better placed to see that the story wa9

put across in the most effective way. We would

not see this as necessarily conflicting with

separate attempts by means of administrative

relaxations to improve working conditions for you

and for the Chinese Mission here.

CONFIDENTIAL

13.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Publicity, whether inspired or not, is however likely to

lead to pressure for action against NCNA in London in the

absence of any move by the Chinese. Last year we encountered

difficulties in securing interdepartmental agreement to close

NCNA in retaliation for the treatment of Grey. Subject to the

views of our own Kinisters, we may return to the charge and

try to obtain agreement to threaten the Chinese with closure

unless they release Grey, being ready if need be to carry out

the threat

4. Grateful for your views by a.m. Monday, 15 January on

whether you still see value in publicity of Grey's case even if

it leads to the consequences referred to in the preceding

paragraphs.

(23247) (7)

HIVES AR

FZ13/2

Cypher/Cat A

120

123

CONFIDENTIAL

FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

Telegram No. 46

CONFIDENTIAL

11 January, 1968 (FED)

123

Your telegram No. 35: Grey.

Reuters confirm that Grey's mother received a Christmas cable. They only knew of one other, to themselves.

SOSFA

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$8388

CONFIDENTIAL

لاة

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

No. Fc1318

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

* Date and time (G.M.T.) adfegram should

reach addressee(s)

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date)

Despatche

Ruh

Immediate }

Priority Routine

וזוזז/ויוי

DAIZ|·

-IIII+WA

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair. Code Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

No.

Pering

(Date)

And to:-

Repeat to:-

Saving to:--

[Security classification]

[

Privacy marking -if any

[Codeword-if any).

Addressed to

-1-11 -ייי

Lebong

telegram No.

--------.........ILYJE

(date)

Hi..

And to

Distribution:-

As tet under

ein text.

Copies to:-

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repeated for information to

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CONFIDENTIAL.

--------

Your telegram No. 35:

Reuters confirm

Stristmas cable.

other to themselves.

That

Grey's

fry.

mother

received

They only knew of

80%

OKE

Dad will be ba

Eutes

SUNDAY TIMES

Cutting dated

- 7 JAN 1059

Reference.....

126

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

11 JAN 1968

FC13/8

Anthony Grey.. played tele- phone chess.

Forgotten prisoner of Peking

By Adam Hopkins

NEW MOVES are being made to free Anthony Grey, the 28- year-old British Journalist who has been in solitary confinement since July in his house in Peking. Mr Anthony Royle, the Conservative MP who is chair- man of the Commons all part committee on Hongkong. seeking an adjournment debat and other behind-the-scen Moves are going on.

Mr Grey, Reuter's correspor ent in the Chinese capital, was put under house arrest as a re prisal for the imprisonment of Communist Journalists In Hang- kong for inclting terrorism

Mr Royle has already asked the Foreign Secretary. Brown, to reimpose travel re strictions on the London staff of the New China News Agency, Outil November 22 tough re sirictions were in force because of the sacking of the British Muston in Peking--these were essed when the Union Jark was raised once more in China.

Mr Grey last went out of his house on July 21 when he was ) told by the Foreign Ministry that he was going to bẹ con Aned because of the British Government'; refusal to take note of repeated Chinese warn- ings about Fascut atrocities committed In Hongkong." This was shortly after a Chinese Journalist in Hongkong had been sent to prison for two years.

Chinese guards were put on the dear of the house, and his friends refused admittance. He used his phone for a month, occasionally playing telephone chess with diplomat friends, but this came to an end on August 18 when his house was invaded by Red Guards, Slogans were Glaubed on the inside wall, and

cholber Grey was hurt is unknown. He has not been seen Ance by any Westerner.

the

Mr Grey's Chines; publicly humiliated (masses in a football stadiuen.

He was accused of being "collaborator with the British spy imperialist journalist Grey."

A week after Britain Lifted travel restrictions on Chinese officials in London in November to their former 35-mile limit, Peking relaxed restrictions on members of the British mISSION in China. But Grey remained under house arrest.

Constant British attempts are being maile to gain consuler access to Grey. The two New China News Agency men prison in Hongkong are receiv- ing visits and the British argue that Grey should at least receive parily of traatment.

At the same time the British Government has been trying to strike some kind of hargain with the Chinese for Grey's release- but nobody is talking about this #t the moment. And Mr David Chipp, Reuter's manager for Ana, made a tour of several Far East countries to contact the Chinese and plead for Grey's release.

Things may recently have im proved for han On Decem ber 2 friends were allowed to drtiver a parcel to his house and during the week after Chrutioas be sent out a series of cables.

Grey joined Reuter four years ago from the Eastern Dally Press, where he won a travel award for being an outstand ing young journalist." Befor going to Peking a year ago, hi was Reuter's representative East Berlin.

CODE 18-76

1244)

Reference.

FC13/8

Kr. Wilson (FED)

When we were discussing the case of Anthony Grey, the Reuters correspondent, today I mentioned that we had had some success in placing China Topic Y.B. No. 446, "The Hazards of being a Foreign Journalist in Peking". enclose a cutting from the Ceylon Daily News of 20 December which carried the China Topic in full. The newspaper has always been a good user of IRD material but I think that the article also appeared because it repre- sented the Chinese government as obstructing the legitimate news gathering activities of all foreign correspondents based in Peking. As I said on the telephone, I am sure that this would be the most effective way of presenting the story abroad, if our objective is, as it must be, to achieve Grey's release by damaging China's image where it hurts.

son مرا به

I have already

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Greg

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(C. Wilson) 8 January, 1968

1sta 7239

publicsing the

abroad i

the context

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and g

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Mr. C. Wilson spoke to me Son's the same,

Fc13/18 (1124)

TODAY

'The hazards of being a foreign

journalist in Peking

The events

Y. Kupekor

2. Arsboer of 20

ordered to four by Dece

There are now said to be only & active foraign correspondents in China instead of the 35 esti- mated to have been based In Peking before August 1958. Some hare been expelled by the Chinese, others have been recalled by their offi- ces or else have decided not to return to Paking after home leave owing to the tucreasing diffi- cuifia, afieched to newsgathering in Ching.

and Ball, David Domes

Before be

leave they

dikelas what

Hazards of posters

thing the

Laber in 100g a Bosher.

dentist bow Bus

AMT".

Lana Jurlangde vette

Physical safety

Consorship continues

tos, both permita and

For the 20

the burling

Che

of reporting

Difficult to leava

Not

Loners the

danger, the

Ceylon Daily News

20.12.67.

CHINA

TOPICS

Kund

€13/8

Documentation on specific

current topics taken mainly from the Press and radio of the Chinese People's Republic

W-124)

YB No. 446 (International

lți ns Gun.ral 12)

November 10, 1967.

THE HAZARDS OF BEING A FOREIGN JOURNALIST

IN PEKING

There are now said to be only 5 active foreign correspondente in China insteal of the 35 estimated to have been based in Peking before August 1966. Some have been expelled by the Chinese, others have been recalled by their offices or else have decided not to return to Peking after home leave owing to the increasing difficulties attached to newsgathering in China.

Chinese Expel Foreign Journalists

The first foreign journalists to be expelled by the Chincee for reporting on the events of the cultural revolution were three Soviet correspondents, L.Y. Kosyukov of Izvestia, A. S. Krushinski of Komsomolskaya Fravda and G.K. Arslanov of Tass who were ordered to leave the country by December 25, 1966. The Chinese, who did not specify which of the six Soviet correspondents in China should leave the country, claimed that because there were only three Chinese newsxen in Moscow only three Russian reporters could be allowed in Peking. At the same time the Chinese made it plain that the reason for their new attitude was Soviet "slandering" of the cultural revolution. ▲ Soviet statement protesting against the Chinese decision pointed out that the Russians hao never sought to limit the number of Chinese reporters in the Soviet Union and described Peking's action as "an unprecedented act in relations between Socialist States".

The procedent was subsequently followed, however, by the expulsion in April 1967 of the Yugoslav correspondent of Tanjug, Branko Bogunovic. He was given 6 days notice and ordered to leave the country on April 13, five days before the expiry of his current visa. He was told that the reason for his expulsion was the consistently hostile tone of his reporting over a long period, which had been "distorted and slanderous".

One month later a fourth Soviet journalist, V. Pesenchuk of Pravda, was declared "persona non grata". In a statemont read to him on May ↳ by the Deputy Chief of the Press Department Pasenchuk was accused of slandering the cultural revolution and Mao Tse-tung. According to Pravda of May 5 the statement also contained "rude accusations against the CPSU, the Soviet Government and the Soviet people".

* Tass (1), AFP (2), Poland (1), N. Vietnam (1).

The most recent expulsion was of three Japanese correspondents: Eashira of Mainichi, Shibata of Sankei Shimbun and Tanaka of Nishi Nihun. The reason given by the Chinese for these expulsions was that the three men had sent home hostile reports on the cultural revolution and hat they supported the Sato government, which the Chinese described as "more reactionary" than any previous Japanese government. The New China News Agency (NCÑA) report of September 10 added:

"What is particularly intolerable is that they have viciously directed their spearhead against our most respected and beloved great leader Chairman Mao, the red sun that shines most brightly in the hearts of the people all over the world".

However since six other Japanese journalists, some of whom had also written outspoken reports on the situation in China, were allowed to remain it is believed that the real reason for the expulsion of their three colleagues was that the latter had been over-enthusiastic in collecting information from posters.

Problems of reporting on Chine

Control over the collecting and despatching of material by foreign correspondents tightened in early 1967, The job of news- gathering had never been made casy. A Japanese correspondent of Asahi wrote in July 1966 that he had only attended two press conferences since his arrival in September 1964, and that contacts with the ordinary Chinese people were severely limited. For instance foreign newsmen were treated in the same way as all foreign visitors, and on entering a restaurant were invariably, regardless of their wishes, ushered into a special room segregated from the Chinese clientele.

In the early stages of the cultural revolution foreign corres- pondents were encouraged to publicise what was going on without reserve, They were permitted to road wall posters and even to photograph "powerholders" in Junce's caps being paraded through the streets. However on December 13, 1966, Router reported from Tokyo that Japanese correspondents had been refused permission to send radio photograph. of Red Guard cartoon postera attacking the former Mayor of Peking, Peng Chen, and on January 6, 1967, the Reuters correspondent in Poking was not allowed to transmit reports of the appearance in the city of posters attacking Chou En-lai. "Revolutionary workers" at the telegraph office refused to transmit both the report and also the account of its censorship. In June an order was issued fɔrbidding foreign correspondents to read or take notes from wall postors at all.

The Hazards of Reading Fosters

Even before tho June order foreign journalists had on occasion been harrassed by groups of Red Guards and had their film or notebooks confiscated. The Jepanose nowa agency Kyodo raported on August 27, 1966, that Red Guards had surrounded and repeatedly questioncd_the correspondent of Chunichi and finally confiscated his film. On February 3, 1967, the Feking correspondent of the Czech news agency, CTK, was surrounded by revolutionaries, who daubed his car inside and out with anti-Soviet slogans. Prague radio (February 3) claimed that officials of the Chinese Tourist Bureau had tried to extract a statement from him that he was serving Soviet "rovisionism". Later the same month a correspondent of the Bulgarien nows agency, ETA, was "maltreated and offended" (BTA, February 8, 1967).

On May 15 the Canadian correspondent of the Toronto Globe and Mail, David Oancic, was attacked by a crowd of Chinese when he tried to take photographs of anti-British alogane pasted up outside the house of the Routers correspondent, Anthony Grey. A crowd closed round him and he was forced to remin sitting smoking calmly in his car for

half an hour while the mob rocked the vehicle from side to side.

Eventually he was allowed to leave. Later in May a leuter report described how East European correspondents had been prevented by Red Guards from taking notes from posters. One was surrounded for ho an hour, accused of being a spy and finally made to relinquish his notebook. On June 22 BEA reported "increasing discrimination against certain socialist correspondents accredited to Peking", saying that many were being refused permission to visit towns usually open to foreign visitors and were not being invited to attend official meetings and rellies.

Physical Safety in Question

After Juno it was unsafe for all but the Japanese correspondents, who were able to mingle more easily with the crowds, to study the wall posters; and even for the Japanese this was a hazardous undertaking Kyodo reported on July 18 that Junichi Konno, staff correspondent of the Japanese Communist newspaper Akahata, and two Japanese Communist Party (JCP) members had been ordered by the JCP to return home because Chinese "repression" had not only made their activities impossible but was even "endangering their lives".

A typical incident occurred during a public demonstration in July involving the Canadian correspondent, Cencia, the Norwegian journalist Harald Hunthe-Kaas and the Swedish cultural attaché. For 90 minutes the three men were besieged in their car, which was battered and jumped on by the angry crowd. The car windows were smashed and the men were cut by glass splinters and punched and spat upon. They were then taken for separate questioning to the Public Security Bureau and Dancia was accused of allowing an illegal tape recording to be made. For several hours officials tried to persuade him to sign a confession that he had "provoked the masses" but he refused. After this incident Oencia was recalled by his head office. The following month Munthe-Kaas was recalled after being warned by the Chinese that his news reporting was "unfriendly towards China"

Difficulty in Leaving Feking

Not all foreign Journalists, however, have been fortunate enough to be able to leave Chine without trouble. One of the three Japanese correspondents expelled in September has recounted in his ncwspaper Mainichi (September 21) how despite the expulsion order he was unable to obtain an exit permit owing to the refusal of the Press Bureau of the Chinese Foreign Ministry to have dealings with one who was "no longer a correspondent in Peking". The Transport Corporation in turn refused to pack his possessions until he obtained an exit permit. Before he and his family were eventually allowed to leave they were taken to a spucial investigation room in the Customs House near Canton where he was interrogated and where their baggage, including the children's toys, wes cxtensively soarched. Altogether, he recalled "I was treetod rs a spy". Less fortunate still is the Reuters correspondent, Anthony Grey, who has been held under houso arrost and incommunicado in Fokin, since mid-July and against whom no charges of misreporting nows have yet been made.

Physical Violence Stops but Censorship Continuge

Thysical attacks on foreigners, both journalists and diplomats, have virtually ceased following an order by Chou En-lai banning violent demonstrations against foreign establishments in Peking. This order was issued shortly after the burning and sacking of the British Legation in Peking at the end of August.

However although their personal safety may no longer be in danger, the work of foreign correspondents is still severely hampered. Censorship, which did not in the past feature among the limitations pled by the Chinese on foreign newsmen, has now been added to the problem of severely restricted access to information. Since the Wuhan incident in July, when Mao's envoys to that city were kidnapped by the local military commander acting in conjunction with local opposition elements, cables have been closely scrutinised. The Canadian reporter Oanciz has related how on July 22 he and a French correspondent were told that cables they had prepared on street demonstrations and other subjects had not been transmitted. The Peking correspondent of the Japanese paper Nihon Keizai has also told how the Post Office refused to accept his cable reporting an incident involving several Japanese businessken who were taken out of their hotel bedrooms on July 24 and manhandled by a crowd in the corridor while Fublic Security men searched their rooms. Under the present circumstances the foreign press corps in Feking has been reduced by about half and only five foreign correspondents remain active.

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

IORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 35

10 January, 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COPY

RECEIVED IN "ARCHIVES No.31

11 JAN 1958

F43/8

123

Your telegram No. 1134.

A member of my staff has heard from Grey's (Reuters) girl friend in England that she received a greetings telegram from Grey over Christmas.

Do you know if Grey's mother also received a cable?

Sir D. Hopson

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

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bbbbb

CONFIDENTIAL

Ansard

cofrica Pak.

Paking

DESAS: FOLI....

I I

RECEIVED IN

NË

૩૧

ARCHIVES No.3LL RESPONDENT

8 JAN 1968

рос

ра

A STATEMENT TODAY

175 PEKING

L MO MAS BEEN UNDER HOUSE ARREST

of Agures, . GERALD LONG, SAID: AAT EFFORTS TO SECURE HIS NET SO FAR PROVED

FRAZIT IN PEKING SINCE

Kata Noimu‹ITIES PLACED HI

THE ILLEGAL PERSECUTION OF MUA CHEZ CHIRA) NEWS AGENCY

■

TELEM

ST T 2 LONDON

DAYS EARLIEN A REPOSTER OF THE OFFICIAL CHINESE NEWS GATI THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY, WAS JAILED FOR TWO YEARS IN

REPORTER, SICH PING, HẠ

INGESTED DURING A BIS

ITIC. DEMONSTRATION AND MAENGGED WITH UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY PERT IN AN INTIMIDATING ASSEMBLY, HSIER CLAIMED HOPED BY THE POLICE'LL CLAYING OUT A

ATF

THE UST DAYS OF HIS pose AAXEST MR. GREY WAS IN SÍT., DO IMAGŘES LA PERING BUT ON AUGUST OF AID C.

LEADED HIS HOUSE.

...AT TIME THE TELEPHONE JAS VT MO NO WORD WAS 1. PADA MÍM UNTIL 11-INTRAS.

HIS MOT..

MRS A. GILY, LI 1755 IN SCONE,

*US-IKE, AND HR L?

THEN KEVEIELO CABLES SIGNED BY KR

BY 1.: wich he SAID HE i

122 AT THAT TIRE TO-7 AT 1AUT MAU PARCEL HAD BEEN CELIVERED

EALTH, IT WAS

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LS · ‚:AS DÈEN GRANTED.

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ITS SINCE. GREY'S ARREST WE

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TO FLY TO ANY PART OF THE

J 7: MATTER WITH THE

KATE TOPLALED TO

To The AD OF THE INFORMATION

1207

En Clair

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

Telno. 32

CLASSIFIED

7 January 1968 (IN)

FOI

My telegram No. 31.

Statement by Reuters General Manager today_recapitulates history of Mr. Grey's house arrest and of Hsuch Ping's conviction and imprisonment.

Statement also outlines efforts made to secure Grey's release and describes Reuters offer to send representative anywhere to discuss matter with Chinese authorities,

SOSFA

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F.0.

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F.E.D.

77777

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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Top Secret Secrec

Confidencial

Unclassified

Immediate

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair.

Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

PERING

No.

Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should reach addressee(t)

(Date)...

Despatched

MENU ---

[Security classification]

-if any

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ILIIL-

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F-11.

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

- 8 JAN 1968

FC13/8

יוריו

---

------IIILILLJE

-----------‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒AZNAN

FEL

------------‒‒‒ - -‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒------------ . ..

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Statement by Reuters General Manager today recapitulates history of Mr. GREY'S house arrest

of HSUEH PING'S

imprisonment.

and

conviction and

Statement alas outlines efforts

made to

Secure

Grey's release and

send

describes Reuters offer to

representative ampohere to discuss matter with Chinese authorities.

1815.

Copies to:-

чит

7/1

EN CLAIR

FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

IMMEDIATE

TELNO 31

UNCLASSIFIED

7 JANUARY 1968 (FED)

惑

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO 31 OF 7 JANUARY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION ROUTINE TO HONGKONG FOLLOWING ARE EXTRACTS FROM AN ARTICLE ENTITLED QUOTE FORGOTTEN PRISONER OF PEKING UNQUOTE

OF FOREIGN NEWS PAGE OF TO DAYS SUNDAY TIMES.

NEW MOVES ARE BEING MADE TO FREE ANTHONY GREY THE 29 YEAR OLD BRITISH JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT SINCE JULY IN HIS HOUSE IN PEKING. MR ANTHONY ROYLE THE CONSERVATIVE MP WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMONS ALL PARTY COMMITTEE ON HONGKONG, IS SEEKING AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE, AND OTHER BEHIND-THE-SCENES MOVES ARE GOING ON.

MR ROYLE HAS ALREAD ASKED THE FOREIGN SECRETARY MR BROWN TO RE-IMPOSE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON THE LONDON STAFF OF THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY. UNTIL NOVEMBER 22 TOUGH RESTRICTIONS WERE IN FORCE BECAUSE OF THE SACKING OF THE BRITISH MISSION IN PEKING- THESE WERE EASED WHEN THE UNION JACK WAS RAISED ONCE MORE IN CHINA. MR GREYS CHINESE DRIVER WAS PUBLICLY HUMILATED BEFORE THE MASSES IN A FOOTBALL STADIUM. HE WAS ACCUSED OF BEING A QUOTE COLLABORATOR WITH THE BRITISH SPY IMPERIAL 1ST JOURNALIST GREY UNQUOTE. A WEEK AFTER BRITAIN LIFTED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON CHINESE OFFICIALS IN LONDON IN NOVEMBER TO THEIR FORMER 35-MILE LIMIT, PEKING RELAXED RESTRICTIONS ON MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH MISSION IN CHINA. BUT GREY REMAINED UNDER HOUSE ARREST. CONSTANT BRITISH ATTEMPTS ARE BEING MADE TO GAIN CONSULAR ACCESS TO GREY. THE TWO NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY MEN IN PRISON IN HONGKONG ARE RECEIVING VISITS AND THE BRITISH ARGUE THAT GREY SHOULD AT LEAST RECEIVE PARITY OF TREATMENT. AT THE SAME TIME THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN TRYING TO STRIKE SOME KIND OF BARGAIN WITH THE CHINESE FOR GREY'S RELEASE BUT NOBODY IS' TALKING ABOUT THIS AT THE MOMENT. AND MR DAVID CHIPP, REUTERS MANAGER FOR ASIA, MADE A TOUR OF SEVERAL FAR EAST COUNTRIES TO CONTACT THE CHINESE AND PLEAD FOR GREY'S RELEASE.

SOSFA

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NEWS DEPT.

C.0.

H.K.D.

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

Far Eastern

* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

reach addressee(s)

RECTIVED IN LARGHIIV=YN6.31

8 JAN 1958

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date)

Tap Sacgat

Secret

Flast

Despatched

mcretiace} Inmediare

Confidential

sericted Unclassified

PHORCY Reatine

1145

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31.

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telegram No.

(date)

7/1.

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article entitled

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In the Nineties

Blake for the Sikilea

new

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Children's Hqfr" time. Next week Fleetway's comic. * Valiant". Isunches strip-cartoon devoted to Blake's adventures. And at the same time novels In paperback are being produced at the rate of one every two or three weeks.

One remarkable feature of the revival is that all of the writing teams involved in it are work- ing quite independently of one another. Hames may have be longed only to Conan Doyle, Bond only to Fleming (though, by ang bent, other hands

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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

1145

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

Far

Eastern

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Top Secret

Secres

Confidential

Nestricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair. Code Expher

Draft Telegram to:-

PEKING

Ho.

(Date) Y

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Distribution:

F.E.D. HK. Dept.

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moves are going on.

Mr Grey, Reuter's correspond- tegram should ent in the Chinese capital, was put under house arrest as a re- prisal for the Imprisonment of Communist Journalists in Hong (/hefts for inciting terrorism.

[Security classificatio

[

Security classificatio

if any

Mr Royle has already asked the Foreign Secretary, Mr Brown, to re-impose travel re strictions on the London staff of the New China News Agency. Until November 22 tough re

strictions were in force because of the sacking of the British Mission in Peking-these were eased when the Union Jack was raised once more in China.

Me-Gray last went out of kis- house on July 21 when he war told by the Foreign Minjafry that he was going to be con-

Privacy marking fined because of the British

-if any

Government's refusaf" to take note of repeated Chinese warn ings about Fascist atrocities

[Codeword-if any] committed in Hongkong." This

Addressed to

telegram No.

And to

was shortly after a Chinese journalist in Hongkong had been sent to prison for two years,

Elmese guards" were-put-on- the door of the house, and his, friends refused admittance. Be used his phone for a month, Dccasionally playing telephone chess with diplomat friends, but this come to an end on August 18 when his house was invaded

repeated for informati by Red Guards. Slogans were

Saving to....

Follumi

article entit

i řekurz 4 today's

น

С такав

daubed op the inside walls, and whether Grey was hurt is still unknown. He has not been seen gthee-by any Westerner

Mr Grey's Chinese driver was publicly humiliated before the masses in a football stadium. He was accused of being a "collaborator with the British apy imperialist journalist Grey." A week after Britain lifted travel restrictions on Chinese officials in London in November

their former 35-mile limit, Peking relaxed restrictions on members of the Briush mission in China. But Grey remained under house arrest.

Constant British attempts are being made to gain consular access to Grey. The two New China News Agency men in prison in Hongkong are receiv ing visits and the British argue that Grey should at least receive parity of treatment.

At the same time the British Government has been trying to strike some kind of bargain with the Chinese for Grey's release-- but nobody is talking about this at the moment. And Mr David Chipp, Reuter's manager for Asia, made a tour of several Far East countries to contact the Chinese and plead for Grey's release.

cutting ]

D IN No.31

11.

PIL

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Ivan

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CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat A

FLASH PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 18

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES N6.31

- Я JAN 1968

6 January 1968

FC 13:8.

COFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 18 of 6 January. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

French[sic] Press Agency correspondent informs me that he has received telegram from his agency saying Sunday Times would appreciate news of Grey. He feels obliged to send some reply and after consultation with me has agreed to send only brief service message saying there is no change i.e. no visits allowed yet etc. and asks for more details of requirements if story is required.

2. You may wish to get in touch with Sunday Times direct or through Reuters to discover what they are up to and perhaps dissuade them from publishing story. Publicity soon is probably inevitable but it would be a pity if it went off at half-cock.

Grateful for news.

F.0. pass Immediate Hong Kong 7.

Sir D. Hopson

per

[Repeated as requested]

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

Consular Dept.

News Dept.

0.0. G. & S.A.D.

QQQQQ

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

PRIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

LNO. 27

5 JANUARY 1968

(F)

118

•OP COPY

CONFIDENTIAL

F#13/F.

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 27 OF 5 JANUARY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG AND SAVING TO WASHINGTON,

GREY.

SUNDAY TIMES HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY INTEND THIS WEEKEND TO PUBLISH, WITH REUTERS AGREEMENT, A PIECE ON GREY. WE HAVE PERSUADED THEM NOT TO INCLUDE ANY REFERENCE TO THE IDEA OF EXCHANGES, ABOUT WHICH THEY HAD APPARENTLY HEARD. THE ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN

CRITICISM OF FOREIGN OFFICE QUOTE INEFFECTIVENESS UNQUOTE IN THE FORM OF QUOTATIONS FROM AN ARTICLE IN AN EAST ANGLIAN NEWSPAPER

BY MR ANTHONY ROYLE M.P.: BUT WE DO NOT KNOW IN DETAIL WHAT THE LINE

WILL BE.

GIST OF THE ARTICLE WILL BE TELEGRAPHED EN CLAIR. WE SHALL

ALSO TELEGRAPH ANYTHING NEWS DEPARTMENT SAY UNATTRIBUTABLY IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS. IT IS NOT (REPEAT NOT) OUR PRESENT INTENTION TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON THE RECORD AT THIS STAGE,

HOWEVER DEPENDING ON HOW THE STORY APPEARS AND REACTIONS TO IT WE SHALL CONSIDER WHETHER TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICISE THE MATTER FURTHER.

SOSFA

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

NEWS DEPT. J.I.R.D.

CONSULAR DEPT.

c.o. H.K. Dept.

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No. F

DEPARTMENT

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date)..

Couldential Restricted

Flat

Priority

Despatched

----------------

Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

reach addressoc(3).

6/7

+++

--------DAN

PHE

CONFIDER

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No:3+||

- 8 JAN 1968-

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En-Clair esto Cypher

Draft Telegram te

No.

Pekin

(Date)

And to:-

wwwww

727.

"Security classification] -if any

[Sect

[ Privacy marking

if any

[Codeword-if any)..

Addressed to

telegram No...

And to

LI..

.....repeated for information to

.1.T. יזו

Peking

(date)

Repeat to:-

Hong

Kong

Kong /37

Saving to:-

washing yon

Saving to

--------------➖➖➖ILIJJ

lington

GREY

M++++++

Sunday Times have told us that they intend this

weekend to publish, with Reuters agreement, a piece

on Grey. We have persuaded them not to include any

reference to the idea of exchanges, about which they

had apparently heard. The article may contain

criticism of Foreign Office "ineffectiveness" in the

14 Sev. form of quotations from an article in an East Anglian

newspaper by Mr. Anthony Royle, M.P.; but we do not

know in detail what the line will be. Reutere will

themselves probably issue a statement on Sunday.

2. Gist of the article Gai-tie statement will be

tdegraphed en clair. We shall also telegraph anything

unathibcita!

Distributi

Departmental

F.3.D.

News Dept. J.I.R.D.

Consular Dep

Copies to:-

Hong Kong

Durt

EXAMINED AT 20.10/5/1

SIGNATURE

News Department-say/in reply to questions. Gedo

Lour present intentions not (repeat not) Entend to make a statement on the

record at this stage.

13.

0327 17 E.W. & S..Lad. 164m 3/67,

Houeurs,

3. Depending on how the story appears and

reactions to it, we shall

consider early-

next week whether to use this opportunity to

matas

publicise the further.

San

で

Vam.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat A

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 2

TOP C

RECEIVED IN

;

CONFIDENTIAL

1 January 1968

· ARCHIVES No. 14) | 2-JAN 1308

FC138

pe ise

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 2 of 1 January Repeated for information to Hong Kong

Ky immediately preceding telegram."

FP13/8/59.

West German News Agency correspondent told me last night that his East German colleague had just given him some news about Grey. East German apparently said he had been told by Chinese official in Press Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Grey's conditions of confinement had recently been improved. Up to 3 weeks ago he had been confined to one room in his house and had been having ordinary Chinese workmen's food.

Now he was allowed to use

Chinese official is

2 rooms and was getting good food. alleged to have suggested to East German that he should pass this information on.

2. It looks as if this devious Chinese manoeuvre is part and parcel of their publicity operation about prisoners in Hong Kong, is calculated to improve their own propaganda position about Grey and may imply threat that his conditions could become more severe again if we do not meet their demands.

Foreign Office please pass Hong Kong 2.

Mr. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

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D.D. & P.U.S.D.

J.I.P.G.D.

News Dept.

C.O. H.K. Dept.

I. & G.D. News Dept.

CONFIDENTIAL.

"Keleived IN

ARCHIVES No.31

24 DEC

Cypher/Cat A

SECRET

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Terno. 377

SECRET

TOP COPY (116

28 December 1967

Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No. 196 of 28 December, Repeated for information to Foreign Office.

ל1

My telegram No. 375: Grey.

I have just seen Hong Kong paper on deportation of Communist prisoners and detainers enclosed with Elliott's letter to me of 24 December. I agree with the point in paragraph 21 that such a phrase as "released to China" is much preferable to the words "deportation" and if approach were authorised I would propose using it. Care would have to be taken, however, to stick to such a phrase not only in presentation to Peking but also in Hong Kong, particularly if deportation was a continuing operation and further "releases" were envisaged.

2. I note that paragraph 16 of the paper says two NCNA officials will be anxious to return to China. If this is so, it strengthens argument for using a swop for Grey as first test of Chinese attitude on deportation.

Foreign Office pass Immediate Hong Kong 196

Mr. Hopson.

سم

ثم laber

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

News Dept.

F.0. F.E.D.

C.0.

Consular Dept.

H.K.D.

асса accor

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

DDDDD

SECRET

Cypher/Cat

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No 31

2 DEC 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

FC 138. JOONE

115

COPY

27 December, 1967

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 375

NFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office Repeated for information to:

telegram No. 375 of 27 December.

Hong Kong.

Hong Kong telegram No. 1910: Prison Visits.

FP13/8/53.

I agree that best course might be for me now to approach the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs broadly on the lines suggested in paragraph 5 of telegram under reference. I think that it would be necessary to make quite clear to the Chinese that concession of special New Year visit to NCNA prisoners would depend on assurance from them that Grey would be given the same privileges for mail and monthly visits as the NCNA already have as well as special New Year visit.

2. If the Chinese raise clothing I could explain possibility as given in paragraph 3 of telegram under reference. We are not repeat not) in fact interested in getting clothing to Grey. As regards foodstuffs, if asked I should like to be able to say that providing the question of visits were arranged (which is most important for Grey) there was a possibility that food parcels for NCNA could be arranged. Otherwise I would have to say that the matter was under consideration.

3. It occurs to me that if we are going to get into negotiations of this complexity about Grey we might just as well go the whole hog and try to get him out. I could at least cast a fly over the Chinese about the possibility of swapping Grey for Hsueh Ping, as suggested in previous telegrams by enquiring on a personal basis whether the Chinese would be prepared to accept Hsueh on deportation (if this proved possible) and allow Grey to leave the country. After all the idea has already been mooted in your letter to Ch'en Yi.

I understand the difficulties created by discriminatory treatment in prison. Would it be possible to ease this by somehow housing NCNA separately?

Foreign Office pass Immediate Hong Kong No. 194.

Mr. Hopson

[Repeated as requested).

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

News Dept.

Consular Dept.

C.O. H.K. Dept.

uuuuu

ADVANCE COPIES SENT.

Sepert ph

ро

CONFIDENTIAL

TELEGRAM SECTION Room 124 K.C.S.

Commations Department

FED

E13/3 113

YTC/1

Please send copies of the following-telegram

• Copy/ies of the following telegram has/have been sent

[*delete as applicable

TO:

375

from Pething

27/12

Hong Kong

N.C.N.A. Reporters

Dist.

(Initials)

(Signed)

(Department)

(Date)

Action taken in Communications Department :

(Date)

28/12..

AFTER ACTION THIS FORM SHOULD BE SENT TO

THE APPROPRIATE ARCHIVES DIVISION FOR RETENTION

FC13/8

CYKOR/CAT.A.

TOP COPY

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

TELNO. 1134

27 DECEMBER, 1967

(FED)

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 1134 OF 27 DECEMBER REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

GREY.

REUTERS HAVE RECEIVED A CABLE FROM GREY ADDRESSED TO LONG AND

SENT THROUGH NORMAL COMMERCIAL CHANNELS. GREY THANKS THEM FOR

THEIR GOOD WISHES (CABLES FROM LONG AND UNDERHILL) WHICH HE RETURNS AND CONFIRMS HE IS IN GOOD HEALTH.

NEITHER REUTERS NOR WE WILL GIVE PUBLICITY TO THE ABOVE AT LEAST UNTIL WE HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FULL DISCUSSIONS.

SOSFA

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

R.0. F.E.D.

0.0.

D.D. & P.U.S.D.

NEWS DEPT.

J.I.P.G.D.

J.I.R.D.

HONG KONG DEPT.

F.E. & P.D.

SOUTH ASIA DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

ре

Registry No.

Top Secret,

F.E.D.

EMERGENCY

IMMEDIATE

PRIORITY

Secret.

Confidential.

ROUTINE

Restricted.

with

Open.

priority

* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

reach addressee(s).

(Dak) F

PHE

Despatched.

A.B EW LI6. G#.665

MARGIN.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

POZN

27/2 12352 27/02/27

Draft.

Telegram to:

Retang

No.

1134 (Date) 22/12/67.

And to :-

without

DEFERRED

[Se

Security classification] -if any

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to..........

telegram No..........

TILLI

LILI

PILLO

PEKING

1134

CONFIDENTIAL

JULLIDILLLI➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ ➖➖ ➖➖ b‒‒‒‒‒‒ILL

(date)......

27/2

+HIHHENNAFA

repcated for information to Ranting to Hory Kory.

APOROSAAJKYO--------

The..

frey.

GREY

Reuters have received a cable from frey

Repeat to :

Mary Mary 2625

Herf

The Clair.

Code Cypher

६.०.

Distribution :--

F.E.D. D.J. a P.U.S.D. News Dept.

J... P.G.D. J.1.R.D Copies bet

н.к. дерв

c.o.

F.E.AP. Dipt. б. Сільки дерев News Dept.

الثة

nomal commercial chanuts.

Only

addnized to Lory

and

bunt through

Grey thanks

LON4

wishes (.

cables from Long

and Underhill)

which he stums.

and

confirms he

in good

health

them for their good wishes

Lavor we

Nicker Reuters will have to publicity Neither [will give

at lead with

opportunity of g for fell discussions.

BCC 27/12

☆ the above mention

eve have had

Cypher/Cat A

AIORITY

PEKING

Telno 369

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENT LAL

RECEIVED IN FOREIGN OFFICE

No 31

2... 1967

F2:13/8

F(113

23 December 1967

TOP COPY

See seperate

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 369

Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

23 December,

(10

Hy telegram No. 358; Reuters.

ре

کے

Since sending my telegram under reference we have taken another look at Grey's case and I have come to the conclusion that the time has come for us to give serious consideration to an early approach to the Chinese offering an exchange of Hseuh Ping, and possibly other N.C.N.A. staff in detention in Hong Kong, against Grey.

2. It is clear from terms of Chinese news release in July when Grey was put under house arrest that he is being held against Hseuh Ping and we can expect no substantial progress until we make orter of an exchange. It is true this was included in your message to Ch'en Yi in early September but context was wide one of general Anglo-Chinese relations; moreover, the situation was much more tense both here and in Hong Kong than now. In the currently improved atmosphere if we were to put forward this specific proposal on its own it might produce results for Grey. The Chinese readiness in recent border talks to consider the return of Knight suggests they may be responsive to this kind of swap. Some such deal might have resulted eventually from Chipp's contacts with the Bank of China had these not proved abortive. Now that actions against Ta Kung Pao and wen Hui Pao have been shelved it may be possible to take up the threads again. Certainly we would lose nothing by trying and we might learn something or the Chinese attitude on the question or deportation, which could be relevant to our own case.

5. There may well be difficulties with the Chinese over attempts to deport Hseuh Ping and I appreciate there can be no question or setting him at liberty in Hong Kong, But this might be overcome by presenting the deal as one of mutual deportation. Grey would have

to leave China at once and we would have to persuade Reuters not to send replacement for some time.

4. we should also have to make up our minds on whom, apart from Hseuh, we would be prepared to hand over. The Chinese may well ask for more than one man.

5. if this proposal is approved I would make an oral approach here, probably to the west European Department, with the initial offer of Hseuh. if we decide to make such an approach it would probably be better to withhold the publicity suggested in my telegram No.558.

I realise this proposal will pose considerable problems for Hong Kong but should be grateful if it could be examined urgently

/in

wai

CONFIDENTIAL

Peking telegram No. 369 to Foreign Office

in detail and for your and the Governor's comments.

Foreign Office pass Priority Hong Kong No. 192.

Mr. Hopson

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.0.

F.E.D.

D.D. & P.U.S.D.

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J.1.P.G.D.

J.I.R.D.

C.0.

NNNNN

F.E. & P.D.

S.Asia Dept. H.K. Dept. News Dept.

CONFIDENTIAL

والأحادي OP

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

TELNO 1123

22 DECEMBER, 1967 (F)

(112)

pete

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 1123 OF 22 DECEMBER REPEATED FOR INFOR- MATION TO HONG KONG AND RAWALPINDI,

YOUR TELNO 358: GREY.

WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH CHIPP OF REUTERS. HE IS CONCERNED AT YOUR REPORT OF THE IMPRESSION IN PEKING THAT REUTERS ARE DOING NOTHING TO HELP GREY IN THE INTERESTS OF MAINTAINING THEIR ''POSITION' IN CHINA. IN HIS VIEW REUTERS HAVE NO "POSITION" TO MAINTAIN, AS HE DOUBTS WHETHER THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SEND ANY OTHER CORRESPONDENTS TO PEKING IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. THEIR PRESENT CONCERN IS ONLY FOR GREY, CHIPP DOES NOT KNOW WHAT FURTHER ACTION THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN APART FROM PUBLICISING THE CASE

AND UP TO NOW WE HAVE ALL CONSIDERED THIS THE WRONG COURSE. THE PURPOSE OF REUTERS' MESSAGES TO THE CHINESE AND ATTEMPTED CONTACTS THROUGH THE PAKISTANIS AND IN HONG KONG WAS TO KEEP AS MANY LINES AS POSSIBLE OPEN IN ORDER THAT THE CHINESE WOULD HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND IF THEY SO WISHED. WE SYMPATHISE WITH REUTERS AND HOPE YOU WILL DO WHAT YOU CAN TO DISPEL ANY MISTAKEN IMPRESSION ABOUT THEIR ATTITUDE. WE HAVE ASSURED CHIPP THAT IF DIRECT CONTACT IS MADE WITH GREY, YOU WILL TELL HIM THAT REUTERS ARE IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH HIS MOTHER AND ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN ON HIS BEHALF.

/ F.N. 2.

CONFIDENTIAL

FOREIGN OFFICE TELEGRAM NO.1123 TO PEKING

-2-

2. CHIPP STILL HAS DOUBTS ABOUT PUBLICITY BECAUSE HE FEARS THAT IT MAY CAUSE THE CHINESE TO BRING CHARGES AGAINST GREY OR MAKE OUR COMPLIANCE WITH DEMANDS OVER HONG KONG THE PRICE OF HIS RELEASE. THESE ARE POSSIBILITIES THAT YOU HAVE NO DOUBT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. CHIPP ADMITS HOWEVER THAT SOME OF HIS COLLEAGUES WITHIN REUTERS NOW FAVOUR PUBLICITY AND THAT, IN ANY CASE, IF NO PROGRESS IS MADE AFTER THE NEW YEAR PUBLICITY WILL BECOME INEVITABLE. WE ACCEPT THIS AND HAVE AGREED THAT THE MATTER SHOULD BE REVIEWED SHORTLY BEFORE PARLIAMENT REASSEMBLES ON 17 JANUARY, IN THE MEANTIME, WE SHALL CONTINUE TO AVOID PUBLICITY AND WOULD BE GLAD IF YOU WOULD DO THE SAME, IF A STATEMENT IS TO BE MADE, THERE MIGHT BE ADVANTAGE IN ITS BEING MADE OUTSIDE PEKING, POSSIBLY BY REUTERS IN LONDON. BUT WE SHALL WISH TO CONSIDER THIS FURTHER WITH YOU.

SOSPA

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.0. F.E.D.

NEWS DEPT.

J.I.P.G.D.

J.I.R.A."

C.O. F.B. & P.D.

S.A.D.

H.K.D.

NEWS DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date)......

Despatched

}

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

Flash Immediate Priority "Koutina

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair. Code Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

Peking

No.

[Secu

Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

reach addressce(s).

23/12/67 (112)

------------

CYPHER

Security classification" -if any

[ Privacy marking

-if any

[Codeword-if any]

PEKING

1103.

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to

telegram No......

P. TH-------------- 1.7.

LII

(date)

23 December

1/23

And to

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

(Date) 22/12 repeated for information to TRANA KONG AND BAÐALEINDI.

And to:-

Saving to...

ין

Repeat to:- Hong Kon29616 Rawalpindi

Saving to:-

1683

Your telegram No. 358: Grey

Chat/Re

We have discussed the matter with Chipp of

yout repent of Reuters. He is concerned/tt/the impression [has-been

erested in Peking that Reuters are doing nothing to

help Grey in the interests of maintaining their

In his view "position" in China. He does not think that Reuters

have"position" to maintain,

"position" to maintain, as he doubts whether

they would be able to send any other correspondente

to Peking in the foreseeable future. Their present

concern is only for Grey. He/does not know what 22. further action they could have taken apart from

I.P.D. agree

John Denson

Distribution:- Departmental

F.E.D.

News Dept.

J.I.P.G.D.

J.I.R.D.

case winery

publicising the case

up to now we have all con-

sidered the wrong course. The purpose of Reuters*

C.O. F.B. F.D. messages to the Chinese and attempted contacts

S.A.D.

Dependent

Territories Division

12- 22/12

H.K.D. News Dept.

through the Pakistanis and in Hong Kong was to keep

as many lines as possible open in order that the

Chinese would have every opportunity to respond if they

/30

so wished. We sympathise with Reuters and hope

you will do what you can to dispel

impression about their attitude.

[any

mistaken

We have assured

Chipp that if direct contact is made with Grey, you

will tell him that Reuters are in constant touch

with his mother and are doing all they can on his

behalf.

thas doubts about

Chipp #still

edes publicity because

I bring he fears that it may cause the Chinese toeke

There and

possibliter

that

Yum

dust take into

charges against Grey or make our compliance with

Within

↓

demands over Hong Kong the price of is release. Chiffer!

some of his colleagues admits however that he is in minority within how's facut puttuity PACITY Reuters and that, in any case,if no progress is made

fand

after the New Year publicity will become inevit-

able. We accept this and have agreed that the

matter should be reviewed shortly before Parliament

reassembles on 17 January. In the meantime, we

shall continue to avoid publicity and would be glad

if you would do the same. If a statement is to

be made, we think there might be advantage in its

being

outside Peking, possibly by Reuters in London. But we shall wish to consider

further with ym.

032717 E.W.6 5.,Ltd. 164m 3/67.

22.

XII.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Cypher/Out &

CONFIDENTIAL

-^(r) COPY

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31 21 DEL 1967

P...

TC FOREIGN OFFICE

358

20 December 1967

Te.

CONFIDENTIAL

€1378

ressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 358 of 20 December, Repealed for information to Hong Kong and Rawalpindi.

M. drey of Reuters has now been under house arrest for five months and incommunicado for four. As you know, we succeeded recently in getting a parcel and some correspondence delivered to him with agreement of the Chinese authorities. In spite of repeated requests we have however not yet succeeded in gaining access to him. Following on Mr. Hsueh's statement on 27 November that access to him depended on access by NCNA to their imprisoned correspondents in Hong Kong we sent Note to Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming that access in Hong Kong was being granted on a regular basis. We have recently addressed further Notes to Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting facilities for delivering a Christmas parcel to Grey and also asking for a special visit at time of Christmas.

2. If these requests are not granted then I think the time has come to give fullest treatment in the Press to Grey's sit- uation. I would propose to wait until after the New Year (if Chinese are going to make any concessions they might prefer to make them at the New Year rather than at Christmas) and then, if Chinese have not yet granted both facilities a parcel and acceso to make a full statement on the record to Wester Correspondents here who are anxious to co-operate. It should be possible to avoid publicity being extended to our own sit- uation which we wish to avoid at present.

3. You may think it necessary to consult Reuter's about this. If so I hope you will be able to persuade them that the time has now come to put some pressure on the Chinese who would certainly find such publicity embarrassing. It looks as if Pakistani ploy has fallen through. Their Ambassador tells me that he has heard nothing more from his Government who have not informed him about Mrs. Grey's letter to High Commissioner in London. He is not therefore proposing to do anything at present though he thinks something may be said to the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires in Rawalpindi. I doubt this and in any case do not

think it could do any good.

4. I hope therefore you will agree and will if necessary be able to persuade Reuter's to action being taken as I have suggested above.

/There is

wish & recad the wilt A lectays weely

CONFIDENTIAL

You. See Xeleglom

You Rule

may

Ревіз

reply

Poliglam of Chile. Is it intended & rend a

to Felig!

тебя

CONFIDENTIAL

PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 358 TO FOREIGN OFFICE

There is already considerable surprise (to put it at its lowest) among both Diplomats and Press hure that nothing is apparently being done to help Grey. Reuter's in part- icular are being criticised for trying to maintain their "position" in China at expense of Grey. In my view the

time has come in this case to put on pressure. telegraph your comments before New Year.

Please

Foreign Office pass Hong Kong, 185, kawalpindi M129

Mr. Hopson.

[Repeated as requested]!

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O.

F.E.D.

D.D. & P.V.3.D.

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J.1.R.D.

C.0.

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DDDDD

S.A.D.

H.K.D.

wews Dept.

CONFIDENTIA].

(PC 13/8)

آب

D: =D.

A. C.

12/12

(110)

FOREIGN OFFICE, 3.W.1.

12 December, 1967.

F213/8/10

Although our Mission in Peking have not yet managed 104)to make direct contact with Tony, there has at least been

one encouraging piece of news which I think you would like to hear. Donald Hopson, our Chargé d'affaires, has just sent a telegram to say that they managed to get Chinese agreement to send a parcel to Tony containing a few things such as whisky, cigars and personal letters, and that the Chinese subsequently confirmed that the parcel and letters had been delivered to Tony. During the course of the discussion about sending this parcsi it became fairly obvious that Tony is still in his own house and attended by his Chinese servants. Donald Hopson has said that they are preparing another parcel for Christmas if there has still been no progress in all the other attempts to get direct access.

Even though this is a comparatively mall piece of progress, I think it is encouraging and shows that things may be moving in the right direction.

ре

pake

kra. Grey,

The Theel Inn,

Seone,

Perth.

(James Murray)

Par Eastern Department

*1378.

From the Parliamentary

Under-Secretary

5 December, 1967.

When we met on 19 October I told you that we would continue to do everything possible to gain access to your son in Peking and to secure his release.

We have kept up our efforts, but unfortunately so far without success. But I thought you would like to know that when our Chargé d'Affaires,

Mr. Hopson, was summoned to the Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs recently he again raised the question of access to your son. He was told that this had not been possible because permission had been refused for visits to members of the New China News Agency under detention in Hong Kong. In fact, such visits have been allowed; but it is possible that the Chinese in Peking were not aware of it. Mr. Hopson now has details of all the visits and will pass them on to the Chinese with a further request for access to your son.

In the meantime we were glad to learn that you had written to the Pakistan High Commissioner in London asking that the Pakistan Government should intervene with the Chinese. We very much hope that this, together with what we can do, will soon bear fruit.

We shall of course let you know as soon as there is any news, and you may rely on us to keep on doing everything we can.

Mrs. Grey

The theel Inn,

SCONE.

PERTH.

p.a.

William Rodgers

[

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

No.

Registry FZ38 DRAFT

letter

Top Secret. Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified.

Staff in Confidence.

To:-

Mrs.

Grey,

The Wheel Inn,

Scone, Perth.

Type 1 +

From Mr. W. Rodgers

Telephone No. & Ext.

Department

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When we met on 19 October I told you

that we would continue to do everything

possible to gain access to your son in Peking

and to secure his release.

We have kept up our efforts, but

unfortunately so far without success.

There

has however been a recent development which

leads us to hope that we may make some

progress. Following the decision to lift

the travel restrictions on members of the

Chinese Mission in London, the Chinese have

similarly relaxed restrictions on members of

the British Mission in Peking, and We hope

that/it-may-20

to leave Chink

be possible for some of them -

When our Chargé d'Affaires,

Mr. Hopson, was summoned to the Chinese

Ministry for Foreign Affairs recently to-

Learn of the Chinese decision, he again raised

the question of access to your son. He was

told that this had not been possible because

permission had been refused for visits to

members of the New China News Agency under

detention in Hong Kong. In fact, such visits

have been allowed; but it is possible that

the Chinese in Peking were not aware of it.

Mr. Hopson

(8635) D4.033274 300m 10/66 0.W.B.146. Gp.86)

Mr. Hopson now has details of all the visits

and will pass them on to the Chinese with a

further request for access to your son.

cannot of course forecast what the

Chinese attitude will be, but now that

relations have improved a little we should

be in a better position to tackle the Chinese

on your son's behalf. In the meantime we were

glad to learn that you had written to the

Pakistan High Commissioner in London asking

that the Pakistan Government should inter-

vene with the Chinese. We very much hope

that this, together with what we can do,

will soon bear fruit, and that we shall at

leset-be able

eon in Peking-

with your"

We shall of course let you know as

soon as there is any news and you may rely

on us to keep up the pressure

doing

everything

we can.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

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RCHIVE NOS CONFIDENTIAL = &DEL 1987

Kr. de la Kare

Kr. Samel

Jes

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108

to move as to NCN bittaut

Sole selexchen witt Grey -

dospit ht Me Hopson

MR. ANTHONY GREY

What

(Fohins 100)

I submit a draft telegram reporting Mr. Rodgers' talk

yesterday with Mr. Underhill, the Managing Editor of Reuters,

% of and a draft letter to Mrs. Grey, as requested.

Reconnant b Rocaftful seat 4.

2. Since Mr. Underhill's call, we have learned that the

Office of the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires have been enquiring

about the renewal of residence permits of five members of the

New China News Agency (N.C.N.A.) in London. As you will recall,

we have deliberately delayed renewing residence permits until

some progress was made over the removal of restrictions on

our Mission in Peking . In the interests of smoothing the way

in Peking, we should not, I think, be too negative in our

response. On the other hand, it might be possible to secure

some amelioration in Mr. Grey's treatment if we indicate that

the position of N.C.N.A. in London is linked with the treat-

ment of Mr. Grey. I therefore suggest the idea be put to

Mr. Hopson in the first instance.

A draft telegram is attached.

ひ

Janne Umney.

Copy to: Mr. Whyte, News Department.

(James Murray)

30 November, 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

draft

letter

I have somewhat amended the to Mas Grey, particularly the parage about The relaxation of restrictions., I do not think that it would make her feel any happies to be told that we hope to get our own people out of selling soon, her son is still

held.

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107

(Folins)

-Plag

(folio 98)

-Flag-B

Mr. SamueX

CONFIDENTIAL

MR. ANTHONY GREY

[ARCHIVE> No.31

-DEC 1967

*C13/5

aita.

Further to my submission of 24 November, Mr. Rodgers

should be aware at his meeting with Mr. Underhill tomorrow

of the development reported in Hong Kong telegram No. 1775

(attached). A meeting had been arranged between Reuters

and the Bank of China in Hong Kong to discuss Mr. Grey.

This was called off on 25 November, apparently because of a

judgment in the Hong Kong Supreme Court against the Communist

newspapers, Wen Wei Pao and Ta Kung Pao, charged with libelling

a Government servant.

2. There is a further new development (Peking telegram No. 273).

The Chinese are reported to have told Mr. Hopson that access

could not be granted to Mr. Grey because similar access had

not been granted to N.C.N.A. prisoners in Hong Kong. At

Mr. Hopson's request the Governor has sent details of visits

made to N.C.N.A. prisoners. Mr. Hopson will now presumably

approach the Chinese again and ask for access. His chances

of obtaining it have undoubtedly been lessened by the judgment

against the Communist newspapers, but we must wait and see

what happens.

Jam Denson

(J. B. Denson) 28 November, 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

17.44.

Mr. de la Mare

Kare

10 20 24

Kr. Samuel

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Anthony Grey

ARL

الاسد ناکام

FC 13/8.

106

(Folio 93)

Plag

Problem

Mr. Rodgers Was asked, with reference to Hong Kong

telegram No. 1747, what is the present position about Mr. Grey.

Recently Reuters have taken various initiatives with the

Pakistanis and with the Chinese in Hong Kong about which they

have not kept us properly informed. It is important that we

keep in step in the interests of Mr. Grey himself. It is

therefore desirable to discuss the position again with Reuters.

Recommendation

2. I recommend that Mr. Rodgers should ask Mr. Stewart

Underhill, the Managing Editor of Reuters, to call (the

Managing Director is out of the country) and raise the

following points:

(a) The precise nature of the various initiatives

which Reuters have taken and how they wish to

proceed;

(b) Future action if these prove unsuccessful;

(c) The question of publicity now and in the future;

(d) The desirability of the Foreign Office being

kept closely and constantly informed of what

Reuters are doing on Mr. Grey's behalf.

/Argument

CONFIDENTIAL

-2-

Argument and Background

3. You will recall that Mr. Gray was placed under house

arrest on 21 July in retaliation for the arrest and imprison-

ment of an N.C.N.A. correspondent in Hong Kong. On 19 August

all communication with him was cut off and we have had no

contact with him since then. No charges have been preferred

against Mr. Grey, although we know that his Chinese chauffeur has been accused at a public meeting of working for a foreign "spy". This could mean either that the Chinese are preparing a suitable dossier against Mr. Grey with the intention of putting him on trial, or that they are preparing a case to justify his eventual expulsion. So far as we know Mr. Grey

himself remains unharmed. He is still in his own house and

He has,

however, now been incommunicado for over three months and such

isolation must certainly be having a serious effect on his

Borale.

has at least one domestic servant to look after him.

4. Our Mission in Peking have made repeated attempts to gain

We access to Mr. Grey. These have all proved unsuccessful. have also tried to link the question of visits. to Mr. Grey

with similar visits to the N.C.N.A. correspondent in Hong Kong. The Chinese initially showed some interest in this but later dropped the idea. In fact we have very little bargaining room on this point since under Hong Kong Government regulations all prisoners are allowed a certain minimum of visitors and the Hong Kong Government are understandably not anxious to dis-

criminate against one particular prisoner.

CONFIDENTIAL

15.

CONFIDENTIAL

Ela

Folio (5)

5. Mr. Hopson reported in Peking telegram No. 255 that

his Pakistan colleague, following an approach by Reuters to

the Pakistan Government, had been authorised to intercede

with the Chinese about Mr. Grey on humanitarian grounds.

The Pakistan Ambassador thought that this could best be done

informally and on behalf of Mrs. Grey. We were asked to pas8

this on to Reuters. It turned out on investigation that the

idea had been put to the Pakistanis by Mr. Chipp of Reuters

who had made a special visit to Pakistan for the purpose.

He then went on to Hong Kong where he has been in touch with

the New China News Agency and the Bank of China. The latter

have apparently been authorised to talk to him (Hong Kong

telegram No. 1755).

6. We were unaware of these initiatives by Reuters until

we were informed by Peking and Hong Kong. Mr. Hopson has

Faili Shiled Complained, justifiably, that he was not kept in the picture

(Peking telegram No. 266) and asked that Mrs. Grey now be

invited to write to the Pakistan High Commissioner in London.

We have been in touch with Reuters and gained the impression

that they themselves were not too clear about what Mr. Chipp

was up to. At one stage it was thought that the Managing

Director, Mr. Gerald Long, would visit Hong Kong but he has

apparently decided not to do so. There is no harm in having

various lines to the Chinese about Mr. Grey, but it is important

that we should know precisely what is going on. Reuters fully

accept this and have indicated that they would welcome an

/invitation

CONFIDENTIAL

Fomilos)

invitation to Mr. Underhill, who is temporarily in charge

of the office, to call on Mr. Rodgers. He is available at

any time in the week beginning 27 November.

Reuters agree with us that it is still undesirable to

encourage any publicity about Mr. Grey. If, however, the

approaches in Hong Kong and through the Pakistanis meet with

no success and in the light of any recommendations by Mr.

Hopson, we should consider whether in a few weeks' time there

might not be advantage in encouraging publicity. Peking have

already suggested in their letter of 3 November that this

possibility should be examined. If the Chinese are seeking

to rehabilitate themselves internationally and erase the

memory of some of the outrages committed during the Cultural

Revolution, they might be embarrassed by publicity about a

correspondent being held for months without any charge being

made against him.

8. Ultimately I think that our best hope of success lies in

arranging to exchange Mr. Grey for members of N.C.N.A. under

detention in Hong Kong, but this will depend on developments

there and on the general state of our relations with China.

It may take some time. Meanwhile it would be an advance if

we could at least get access to Mr. Grey.

Copy to: Mr. White, News Department

Jam Denson

(J. B. Denson) 24 November, 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

agree that it would be well Mm Rodgers would see My Underhill. when the Grey was first put under house destation Rentes did not seem anxious to have our helpo

phina's because they realized that in the circum- siances l'here was very little we could do. The problem is that however much we might like to deal with the Haughing pobolem as a separate

the dealt with on its own maiti Ihe Chine make it the rouchstone a Angls. Chinese relations. The Governa of Haskay was arrain wamed that

take stranger acum against Chinese-

inue

he may

have to

вать

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owned Communist newspaper in the colony: The mails of the case

In case he is absolutely right, but the effects of his action of be sakes it will be to make a settlement of in Grey's case mae

بانک سات مسلم اسی این باربی

M. Rodgers.

R. J. de Inlan

87/11

Mr. Rodgers Saw

saw Mr. Underhill on

29 September.

Separate surprinssiin.

Jim Denson

291

Reference

CONFT DENT I AL

(Solan)

(105)

глада

Plag B

Jame Kurray

c.c. Mr. Haydon, News Department.

Mr. Anthony Grey

Mr. Cradock's letter of 3 November (attached) again raises the question of whether we should give publicity to Hr. Grey's confinement.

I think that there may be a case for allowing publicity about Grey, but I agree, as suggested in your minute of 8 November, that we should wait to see

hether any progresa can be made by other means after the Chinese reactions to our lifting of restrictions in London are known. If, as we hope, exit visas for the staff begin to be granted, we can instruct Kr. Hopson to make a further approach on Grey's behalf. If that proves fruitless, we could consider stimulating publicity. In the meantime, I can see no harm in Mrs. Grey addressing a personal message to Chou En-lal. It would be preferable that this should not coincide with an official approach. It might be done soon after Mr. Hopson has told the Chinese about the lifting of restrictions.

3. In paragraph 3 of the letter, Mr. Cradock says that no reply has been received to Peking telegram No. 100. In fact, Hong Kong did reply in telegram No. 1487 to the Commonwealth office. It is possible that this ras not repeated to Peking or that they have destroyed it and forgotten its existence. we reply to the letter, I will send a copy saying that we do not feel in a position to contest the Governor'a viewe,

When

John Denson

(J. B. Theston) 9 November, 1967.

CONA'I DENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

105

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

- DEC 1967

Dear Johans

FC 13/8

Office of the British

Chargé d'Affaires,

FERING.

3 November, 1967.

We have been giving further thought to the worrying problem of Tony Grey.

There has been ne zore news er rumours on his whereabouts and condition since we last wrote. We assume that he is still In his house, theigh no one can be sura. We reported in our 81) telegram No. 179 some faint indications that certain letters

may be getting through to him. News Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remain unresponsive to our repeated telephone requests for consular access. We repeated this

On the other request in the form of a Note an 3 November. hand there has been no indication that the Chinese wish to develop the sinister theme of spying by Grey's chauffeur (John Weston's letter of 24 October).

3. Last month we had some telegraphic correspondence with Hong Kong on the question of access to Heueh Fing by relatives in Hong Kong. We remain strongly of the view that everything possible must be done to deny NCNA prissners any selace which is denied to Grey. Hong Kong have still not commented en sür 1b) telegram No. 100.

Hitherte sur view, shared I think by Reutera, has been that press publicity would probably prejudice Grey's chances of release. Now that three months have passed without any give on the Chinese side, I doubt whether such arguments are very valid I think we should now consider with Reuters the possibility of taking a different tack and stimulating publicity. I doubt whether the Chinese would be happy about steries in the world's press about a Reuter's journalist kept in selitary confinement in Peking with no charge for a period of three months and mere. So far the press have been hesitant about handling the Grey atery; but it may be that they only require encouragement. Pieces along the lines of the Sunday Telegraph or 22 October would be the least they could provide.

5. We should have to consider whether action along these linos Gould reduce the chances of success of a personal approach by urey's mother to Chou En-lai. (Your telègran No. 904). There is also the possibility that the talks on the Hong_Kong border any any casing of restrictions on Chinese officials in Louden will in any event bring some improvement in Grey's chances. This may be an argument for delay berere trying the line in paragraph 4, but we should, I think, have it ready and should. not assume tee readily that pruss publicity is incompatible with other courses of actien. comments and these of Hong Kong -

We would welcome jour

I am copying this letter te Anthony Elliott in Heng Kong.

Yours

Frey

(P. CRADOCK)

J. B. Denson, May., O.B.E.,

Far Sastern Department.

JUNFIDENNI

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

PR ITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 312

104

TOP COPY_

DIN

#5 No.31

-DEC 1967

5 December 1967

F213/8

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 312 of 5 December, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Not

Reuters telegram No. 127 of 17 November.

We sent a parcel of whisky cigars etc, and some personal letters to Ministry of Foreign Affairs under cover of à note requesting they be delivered to Grey. After 10 days Ministry of Foreign Affairs telephoned to say the matter should be referred to Diplomatic Service Bureaux. We took action accordingly: in

the course of discussion it became fairly obvious that Grey is still in his house and attended by his Chinese servants.

Diplomatic Service Bureaux telephoned today to confirm parcel and letters have been delivered to Grey. We are therefore preparing another [grp omitted] for Christmas.

Foreign Office pass Hong Kong 155.

The Tlurray

leller

Mr. Hopson,

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

News Dept.

C.0.

DDDDD

Consular Dept.

H.K.D.

CONFIDENTIAL

Sending & The Grey.

pa.

جمھورا

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

PRURITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 306

CONFIDENTIAL

ГОР С

СТА

103

RECEIVED

ARCHIVES No!!

VES

6 DEC 1967

4 December 1967

F213/8

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 306 of ↳ December. Repeated for information to Hong Kong and Rawalpindj

Your telegram No. 1051: Reuters. 13/8/100

On 2 December immediately on receipt of your telegram under reference I called on Pakistan Ambassador. Unfortunately, he had already had his meeting (a private lunch with Ch'en Yi).

He hopes however, that another opportunity for a word at high level with Chinese will come probably about mid-December.

2. On 29 November we sent a Note to Foreign Ministry giving details of access to Hsueh P'ing by his wife and NCNA colleagues as in Hong Kong telegram No. 633 to me.

5013/8/4

Foreign Office please pass Priority to Hong Kong 149,

Rawalpindi 122.

Mr. Hopson

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

News Dept.

Consular Dept.

C.O. H.h.Dept.

[Repeated as requested]

PPPPP

CONFIDENT1 AL

Reference

(102

Mr.D. Wilson,

Far Eastern Dept.:

was.

-50E 1967

Fring

Brian Horton of Reuters talked to me on Friday about the position of Mr. Anthony Grey in Peking. I mentioned this to Mr. Sharland

in your absence. The burden of what Mr. Horton said was that Reuters were becoming increasingly worried about Mr. Grey's conditions and were wondering, even, whether he was still alive. There was, after all, nothing to prove that he

They were also wondering whether the time had come to mount some kind of a press campaign or to take action with the Chinese authorities. This comes, as you know, after interest being shown by the Sunday Times and other newspapers. I am sure that they will not give Mr. Grey's detention publicity if we ask them not to and if Reuters agree that this is the right course.

However, I think that the time bas

now come when we ought to have another talk with Reuters. It is for consideration that Mr. Rodgers might like to talk to Mr. Horton or Mr. Gerry Long or both, and my recommendation is that this should be done as soon as possible.

R.H.

(W.R.Haydon)

20 November, 1967.

I submitted yesterday

Subject but I thute

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CONFIDENTIAL

Reference...

JOL

Mr. James Murray,

Far Eastern Dept.:

MR. ANTHONY GREY

R: WED IN

ARCHIVES No 31

-5DEC 1967

F213/8

Mr. Denson's minute of 9 November discusses whether we might start a publicity campaign about the detention of Mr. Anthony Grey of Reuters in Peking.

I think this needs very

careful consideration and I should like to

suggest that at some stage we should talk to Reuters again. In recent meetings with

members of Reuters, including Mr. G. Long, the General Manager, I found them increasingly disturbed but, like ourselves, uncertain about how to proceed. Even though they might not be able to come up with any positive or useful suggestion about next steps, I know they would greatly appreciate the opportunity of another talk with Ministers and/or officials

here.

ен

(W.R.Haydon)

copy to Private Secretary + copy of Mr. Denson's minute.

10 November, 1967.

Seperate submision-

CONFIDENTIAL