FCO 21/496 Visits to detainee Anthony Grey

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(Part A) 426 OF ANTHONY GREY:

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CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COPY

LASH PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Tel No.403

CONFIDENTIAL

10 July 1969

pajanya. 1/2.

Addressed to FCO telegram No.403 of 10 July,

repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Your telegram No.219.

R. LIN

10 JUL 1969

FEC 124/1

Ministry of Foreign Affairs have agreed to visit to Grey by myself and one other member of the staff on same conditions as last time. They proposed and I accepted 3.00 p.m. on Monday 14 July. They did not (repeat not) insist that a

I said visit in Hong Kong should take place before this. that conditions for a visit there would be same as on last occasion and that arrangements would be worked out between themelves, Political Adviser's office and NCCA. They did

not dissent,

2. Any messages for Grey should reach me by morning of 14 July at latest. I see no objection to their being sent

en clair.

3. I propose to say nothing at the moment to colleagues or journalists and will telegraph separately about question of publicity after visit has taken place.

FCO pass Flash Hong Kong.

Mr. Denson.

[Repeated as requested.

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:

Far Eastern Dept

Consular Dept

Hong Kong Dept

I.P.D.

I.R.D.

ADVANCE COPIES SENT:

199

News Dept

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NO.444

UNFIDENTIAL

TOP CUPY

TO HONG KONG

4 JULY 1969 (FE¶__

134/1 pa je 877

DDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.444 OF 4 JULY

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.

YOUR TELEGRAM NO.341 (NOT TO ALL): GREY,

WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THIS FULL AND THOROUGH ASSESSMENT.

2. WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY OF TRYING TO ARRANGE FOR THE

PREMATURE RELEASE OF THE ELEVEN NEWSWORKERS BY MEANS OF A COVER

STORY, WE AGREE THAT EVEN IF YOU WERE ABLE TO CONTRIVE A REASONABLY

GOOD COVER-STORY, IT WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE TREATED AS SUCH BY

THE PRESS AND MIGHT IMPAIR CREDIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE.

THEREFORE ACCEPT THAT, AT THE STAGE WHICH WE HAVE NOW REACHED IN THIS DIFFICULT PROBLEM, THE LEAST UNSATISFACTORY COURSE

IS PROBABLY TO HAVE THE NEWSWORKERS COMPLETE THEIR SENTENCES

IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.

4. HOWEVER, IF IN THE EVENT YOU WERE TO DECIDE AS SEPTEMBER APPROACHES, THAT A TIME HAD COME WHEN THE PREMATURE RELEASE OF

THE NEWSWORKERS BY A MATTER OF A FEW WEEKS WOULD BE REGARDED BY

THE CHINESE AS A GESTURE OF ACCOMMODATION RATHER THAN AN ACT OF

WEAKNESS, I SHOULD NOT WANT YOU TO EXCLUDE THIS.

5. ACCORDING AS THE BROOKE CASE DEVELOPS, WE SHALL IN DUE COURSE BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU FURTHER ABOUT THE LINE TO BE TAKEN TO COPE

WITH COMMENTS ATTEMPTING TO LINK THE BROOKE AND GREY CASES.

STEWART

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

FAR EASTERN DEPT

HONG KONG DEPT

P.U.S.D.

NEWS DEPT

CONFIDENTIAL

Registry No. FE

DEPARTMENT

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

reach addressed(s).

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date).........

Toppiperet

4/7

Confidential

impredlace}"

Despatched

13.

HINDlırrı

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PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

"Routine

Security classification"

if any

CYPHER

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CONFIDENTIAL

]

Privacy marking --if any

[Codeword-if any)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

But

175026

En Blair.

Code

Cypher

Addressed to

Draft Telegramdo:-

CON

HONG KIẾNG

telegram No..

Gov HONG KONG

44H

JJLLL

(date)

4 July

No.

And to

PARAPHAHTILLILL-kakkar ma

(Date)

repeated for information to

PEKING

➖➖➖ - -‒‒JILLL-I. L

And to

4/7/69/

Saving to

Your telegram No. 341 Flag C_7 (not to all):

Repeat toy

PEKING

Grey.

Saving to:-

Distribution:- Departmental

FED

HKD

PUSD

NEWS DEPT.

Copies to:-

We were grateful for this full and thorough

assessment.

2. We understand the difficulty of trying to

arrange for the premature release of the eleven

newsworkers by means of a cover-story.

We agree

that even if you were able to contrive a reasonably

good cover-story, it would certainly not be treated

as such by the press and might impair credibility

for the future.

3. I therefore accept that, at the stage which we

have now reached in this difficultę problem, the

least unsatisfactory course is probably to have the

newsworkers complete their sentences in September

and October.

4. However, if in the event you were to decide

las

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

CONFIDENTIAL

as September approaches, that a time had come

when the premature release of the newsworkers

by a matter of a few weeks would be regarded by

the Chinese as a gesture of accommodation rather

than an act of weakness, I should not want you

to exclude this.

According as the Brooke case develops, we

shall in due course be in touch with you further

about the line to be taken to cope with comments

attempting to link the Brooke and Grey cases.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

•

EN CLAIR

PRIORITY HONG KONG TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELNO 528

4 JULY 1969

UNCLASSIFIED

RECEIV REGISTR

-7 JUL 1969 1

Addressed to FCO telegram No. 528 of 4 July. FEC

Repeated for information to Peking.

Your telegram No. 219 [? to Peking][Grey].

No objection.

SIR D. TRENCH

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.3.D.

H.K. DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

I.P.D.

I.R.D.

CONSULAR DEPT.

AAAAA

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 219

CONFIDENTIAL.

3 JULY 1969. (PEC

134/1

разм

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO 219 OF-3 JULY REPEATED FOR

FORMATION TO HONG KONG.

OR TELEGRAM NO 380: GREY.

18546

PROVIDED THAT THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG SEES NO OBJECTION TO A

SPECIAL VISIT TO THE NEWSWORKERS AT THIS LATE STAGE, WE AGREE THAT

YOU WOULD APPROACH NEWS DEPARTMENT AND REQUEST A FURTHER VISIT TO

GREY.

2. IT MAY WELL BE THAT GREY IS NOW AWARE FROM LISTENING TO THE

WIRELESS THAT ALL ELEVEN NEWSWORKERS ARE DUE OUT BY OCTOBER AND HAS

DRAWN THE APPROPRIATE CONCLUSIONS: IN WHICH CASE THE NEED TO SEE

HIM IS LESS URGENT THAN A MONTH AGO. ON THE OTHER HAND HE MAY FIND

CONFUSING THE DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS GIVEN IN STATEMENTS AND

COMMENTARIES ON THE LIKELY DATE OF HIS RELEASE. ON BALANCE THEREFORE THERE WOULD STILL SEEM TO BE A CASE FOR ENSURING THAT HE HAS AN

AUTHORITATIVE ACCOUNT OF THE PRESENT SITUATION.

3. IN SPEAKING ABOUT HIS RELEASE, YOU SHOULD BASE YOUR REMARKS CLOSELY ON THE STATEMENT OF THE CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES TO MORETON

ON 19 MAY. NO DOUBT THE CHINESE WILL MAKE A RECORD OF YOUR CONVERSATION, AND THIS WILL PUT THEM ON NOTICE THAT WE REGARD THE STATEMENT AS A FIRM ASSURANCE OF THEIR INTENTIONS.

4. PUBLICITY WILL STILL NEED TO BE HANDLED CAREFULLY. IT IS

WIDELY ASSUMED HERE THAT GREY WILL BE RELEASED FOLLOWING THE

RELEASE OF THE NEWSWORKERS IN EARLY OCTOBER, AND THIS HAS REDUCED

THE PRESSURE FOR ACTION ON OUR PART. LAST WEEK'S REPORT ON THE

IMPROVEMENT OF HIS CONDITIONS OF DETENTION HAS ALSO SERVED TO

ALLAY ANXIETY ABOUT HIS TREATMENT. HOWEVER, SHOULD YOU DISCOVER THAT HIS HEALTH HAS DETERIORATED WE SHALL NEED TO CONCERT

CAREFULLY WITH YOU THE LINE TO BE TAKEN WITH THE PRESS.

STEWART.

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.E.D.

I.P.D.

H.K.D.

I.R.D.

NEYS DEPT.

CONS DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

Registry No. F

DEPARTMENT

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

SECPEC Confidential

Flash

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

reach addressco(s).

(Date)..

Despatched

------

t.. -----

г.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

3/7

18152/

PRIVACY MARKING

In-Confidence

En Clair.

Cypher

Draft Telegram :-

No.

PEKTING

219.

3/7

[Secu

Security classification] if any

[ Privacy marking

-if any

{Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

telegram No.....

And to

]

CONFIDENTIAL

-----OS PESEPIIN MOZDO

219

9 (daie)

(Date) July repeated for information to

And to:-

/Repeat to:

HONS

Saving to:-

Distribution:---

(imm

Departmental

FED HKD 3 News Dept.

IPD IRD CONSULAR

U/C 3/7

Saving to.....

PEKING

.-.

здиву

HONG KONG FEDIATE

Your telegram No. 380: [Grey.]

-- IL

Provided that the Governor of Hong Kong sees no

objection to a special visit to the newsworkers at

this late stage, we agree that you would approach

News Department and request a further visit to Grey.

2. It may well be that Grey is now aware from

listening to the wireless that all eleven newsworkers

are due out by October and has drawn the appropriate

conclusions: in which case the need to see him is

less urgent than a month ago. On the other hand he

may find confusing the different interpretations

given in statements and commentaries on the likely

date of his release. On balance therefore there

would still seem to be a case for ensuring that he

has an authoritative account of the present situation. 3. In speaking about his release, you should base

/your

CONFIDENTIAL

your remarks closely on the statement of the Chinese

Chargé d'Affaires to Moreton on 19 May. No doubt

the Chinese will make a record of your conversation,

and this will put them on notice that we regard

the statement as a firm assurance of their intentions.

Publicity will still need to be handled

carefully. It is widely assumed here that Grey

will be released following the release of the

newsworkers in early October, and this has reduced

the pressure for action on our part. Last week's

report on the improvement of his conditions of

detention has also served to allay anxiety about

his treatement. However, should you discover that

his health has deteriorated we shall need to

concert carefully with you the line to be taken with

the press.

0337 17 E W.& S.,Ltd. 164m 3/67.

CONFIDENTIAL

Mas

3 July.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Cypher/Cat A

IMMEDIATE

Telno 380

CONFIDENTIAL

PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMKONTEALTH OFFICE

28 June 1969

R CLIRYNJU

FARY

CONFIDENTIAL

- 1 JUL 1969

FEC 1341

Addressed to FCO telegram No. 380 of 28 June. Repeated

for information to ong Kong.

Your telegram No, 207: Anthony Grey.

I think it would still be desirable to try to visit Grey. If Chinese agree, I should be glad to have guidance as to what I should say about likelihood of his release, in view of statement in Hong Kong by kinister of Derence that he could "probably be free in October" (wrich Grey may well have heard on 3.B.C.). Beforehand I hope I could at least go as far as first tro sentences of draft reply to Mr. Lolloy's Parliamentary Question (FCO telegram No, 405 to ilong Kong). Subject to your views, I will scek an interview with News Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs this week.

FCO pass to Hong Kong.

Mr. Denson

PILES F.E.D.

H.K.D.

No.s D.

CONSULAR D.

SIA J. JCHNSTON SIR A. GALSWORTHY

EEEEE

[Repeated as requested?

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

CONFIDENTIAL

EN CLAIR

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO PEKING

4 JUNE 1969 (FEDX_

PRIORITY

NO 188

UNCLASSIFIED

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 188 OF 4 JUNE.

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

YOUR TELNO 343: VISIT TO GREY/.

WE AGREE.

STEWART

FILES

F. EASTERN D.

CONS. D.

NEWS 0.

SIR S. TOMLINSON

QQQQQ

TOP CUPT

pale06/0

[

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

But

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

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

reach addressee(s)

- 4 JUN 1900

Despatched 6050

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date)

}

Secres Confidential Kestricted

Unclassified

Emergency Immediate Priority

En Clair.

[

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Draft Telegram to:-

raft Telegr

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76. P. S. Farkers

188

Security classification

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Peking

Addressed to

telegram .............

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----------------▬▬▬▬▬TITIMTI▬▬▬▬‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒--111|

(date)

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4/6

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mometer ------nin¬ım hırımı qaçm

H. June

D-TOTOHANAdd to opp

Hang Kang

No. 343 [Visit (5 fry]

We egne. agro.

Pm 4/6

CYPHER CAT A

IMMEDIATE

TELNO 343

CONFIDENTIAL

TC.

PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

4 JUNE 1969

ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 343 OF 4 JUNE.

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

WILSON'S LETTER OF 22 MAY:

VISIT TO ANTHONY GREY.

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY N".50

на

- 4 JUN 1969

TEC 134/1

THE CHINESE MAY ASSUME THAT LORD SHEPHERD'S-VISIT TO

HONG KONG HAS SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR GREY CASE AND THAT SOME

SUBSTANTIVE MOVE IS IN PROSPECT. I SHOULD THEREFORE PREFER TO

DELAY AN APPROACH ABOUT A VISIT UNTIL LATER IN THE MONTH.

FCO PASS IMMEDIATE TO HONG KONG.

MR. DENSON

FILES

F. EASTERN D.

CONS. D.

NEWS D.

SIR S. TOMLINSON

/_REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

QQQQQ

CONFIDENT I AL

Smal

Far Eastern Department

P.o. lev. 2275

22 May, 1969.

DAR

VIÐIR JO ADIMONT

OX GALM

S&P

Hould you please refer to your letter 3/2 of 8 April to Jadae Murray in which you recomend that we try to arrange a further visit to Anthony Grey,

2. Ve hau hesitated hitherto to make plans for such a visit on the grounds that if it took plnou before we wars in a position to giva Grey so se fix indication of when his ordeal

Now is likely to end, it could only damge his morale further. that it is clear that Gong Chak will be released from prison on 4 watober, thus completing the release of the eluvon remaining nowaworkera, this difficulty has dead removed.

been

I am glad to see from Rebin McLaren's latter of 17 April that there is no objection at the Hong Kong and to a further round of visita,

les

3. I am perhaps idée sanguine than you about the chances of the Chinese permitting another visit in view of the damaging worldwide publicity they suffered following the visit in Novether 1968. We know that they were embarrassed by this publicity and may fear that we will use the opportunity in the same way again. Furthermore they my argue that as the nowɑ- workers are due for release by October and receive regular visita from their relativos that there is little advantage to

Nevertheless as you thes in conceding a further visit to Grey. ergue in your letter they may wish to reinforce the position or I the NCNA in Hong Kong by organising another round of visite, was interented to see in Robin MoLaren's letter that he has a hunch that the local Communista my themselves be about to request a further round of visits.

se agree with you that the main disadvantage of a visit from our point of view is the publicity which it will undoubtedly stimulate. I think you would agree that publicity on the sole which followed the visit in November is unlikely to help his case during these last few months, But we could not hope to escape answering questions on his health and conditions of imprisonment which as you know are sensitive issues. Publicity will clearly need saraful handling.

J. B. Denson, Esq., OBE,

PSKINO.

15.

5. This to a large extent affects the timing of your approach to the Chinese, För tactical reasons we would not want publi- city about the visit to break during Lord Shepherd's forthcoming visit to Hong Kong. I suggest therefore that you should seek an interview as soon as possible after ↑ June with the News Department of the MPA proposing a further round of visits on the sano terms as the last visit in November 1968 and on the under- standing that you will be allowed to visit Grey, Ön past form it will take a little time to secure Chinese agreement; and the visit to Gray is not, I should say, likely to take place before mic-Juce, By the time serious negotiations begin on the arrangements for the visit Lord Chepherd will have left Hong Kong.

6. Shen you or a member of your staff sse Gray, you will be in a posizion to tell him that provided they earn full remission, ali eleven newsworkers will have completed their sentences by 4 October and that the Chinese havo told us officially that he will be relegs when the plaven newsworkers and reïcased (our telegram No. 180 of 20 Hay). With a firm date in mind, we must hopu that Grey will not find it so hard to bridge the gap between June and then,

(C. Wilson)

Copy...

A. F. Maddocks, Esq., Hong Kong.

BKCRYT

SECRET

Mr. Moreton

Special Visit to Mr. Anthony Grey,

The Reuters Correspondent

سور

ช่า

Problem

There has been no visit to Mr. Anthony Grey, the

Reuters correspondent detained in Peking, since November

1968. On that and on a previous occasions (April 1968)

he was visited by members of the staff of the British

Mission in Peking in exchange for special visits by

representatives of the New China News Agency to the

communist newsworkers imprisoned in Hong Kong. Normal

consular access to Mr. Grey has not been permitted by the

Chinese authorities, although the Chinese newsworkers are

allowed visits from their relatives once a month.

Recommendation

2. I recommend that we now set in train the arrangements

for a further special visit to Mr. Grey. A draft letter

is attached, Hong Kong Department concur.

Background and Argument

3. There seems little doubt that the Chinese intend to

hold on to Mr. Grey until the eleven newsworkers are released.

Ten of the newsworkers are due for release in September and,

following the announcement by the Hong Kong Government on

9 May that the sentence on the eleventh newsworker, Wong Chak,

has been reduced from five years to three years, all eleven

newsworkers will be out by October. In view of the Chinese

BECRET

1 -

SECRET

Chargé d'Affaires's statement on 19 May that Grey will be

released when the eleven newsworkers are released we can

expect that Mr. Grey's ordeal will end shortly afterwards.

However, there is a strong argument for not allowing

the intervening months to pass without making efforts to

arrange a further visit. Hitherto we have not thought that

this would be desirable until we were in a position to

indicate to him with some degree of certainty the date on

which his detention was likely to end. To visit him

without being able to give him this assurance would, I think,

have depressed his morale. It is clear from Mr. Cradock's

last interview in November 1968 and from recent letters from

Mr. Grey to his mother that Mr. Grey is critical of our

refusal to make what he considers to be the necessary

concession to the Chinese, i.e. the premature release of

the eleven newsworkers. In a recent letter to his mother

he asked for precise details on the dates of release of the

newsworkers. At that time we were not in a position to

give him a reassuring reply in the case of the eleventh

newsworker, who was not due for release until February 1971;

but we provided Mrs. Grey with a form of words which we hoped

would not depress him. There is a lot to be said now for

putting his mind at rest on this point and for telling him

that the Chinese have told us officially that they will

release him when the eleven newsworkers are released. To

know that the end of the tunnel is in sight will I am sure

help him to get through the last few months of his detention.

SECRET

- 2 -

SECRET

5. One serious disadvantage is that a visit will be

bound to stimulate a good deal of publicity for the Grey

case with the risk of either encouraging pressures for

retaliation against members of the New China News Agency

office and other Chinese nationals in London or for the

premature release of the eleven newsworkers. Publicity

on the scale which followed the last visit to Grey in

November 1968 is hardly likely to help his case during

these last few months But in view of the widespread

concern about Grey's state of health and the conditions

of his detention it will be difficult to avoid answering

questions on these subjects. The handling of publicity

therefore will be a delicate matter.

For tactical reasons

I think that it would be better to delay an approach to

the Chinese until the beginning of June. It would be

unfortunate if publicity for the visit broke during Lord

Shepherd's discussions with the Governor of Hong Kong.

past form the Chinese will probably take time to agree the

arrangements which means that if the approach in Peking is

made during Lord Shepherd's visit he will have left before

serious discussions with the N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong get

under way.

6. On the other hand, we cannot be sure that the Chinese

will permit a further visit in view of the damaging world-

wide publicity they suffered following the visit in November

1968. We know that they were incensed and embarrassed by

SECRET

- 3 -

Flag A

Flag B

SECRET

this publicity and may wish to deny us an opportunity of

repeating our success. In any case they would want in

return a special visit to the newsworkers in Hong Kong.

They may well argue that as the newsworkers are due for

release by October and receive regular visits already

from their relatives, that there is little advantage to

them in conceding a further visit to Mr. Grey. Nevertheless,

they may see advantage in obtaining a special visit to the

newsworkers on the same privileged terms as last time which

would enable them to emphasise the special position of the

N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government see no

objection to another round of visits to the newsworkers and

have suggested that there are signs that local communists

themselves may be about to request one.

7. To sum up I think that the potential disadvantages

arising from publicity are far out-weighed by the importance

of informing Mr. Grey that the eleventh newsworker is now

due for release in early October. It should not be too

difficult for us to hold the publicity line.

Our major

concern during these last few months must be to maintain

Mr. Grey's mental equilibrium and this can be best served

by obtaining a visit soon. Both Mr. Denson in Peking and

the Hong Kong Government believe that a visit would now be

appropriate.

I agree.

SECRET

C. Wisson

(C. Wilson)

22 May, 1969.

241

CONFIDENTIAL

Erken {wasps

To my

Yes.

Ada se bog

leaving 221709;

Dear James,

Grey

Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires

Peking

RL 20 Fay, 1969

REG!""....

28 MAY 1969

屁

Ec lift

The BBC this morning reported that a ministim

sional statement had been made in

London about Grey about which we shall no

doubt be receiving a telegram.

This letter, written as the bag closes, is merely to say that I look forward, in due course, to having your views about the desirability of a further visit to Grey in the light of the considerations set out in my letter of 8 April.

James Murray, Esq., C.M.G.,

Far Eastern Department,

FGO

CONFIDENTIAL

مسرام

(J.B. Denson)

TS 1/68

SECRET

2......

FEC

[36]

Visit to Anthony Grey

17th April, 1969.

402015 p

You sent Arthur Maddocks a copy of your

letter 3/2 of 8 April to James Hurray. Arthur's absence on leave I am replying to the points raised in the last paragraph of your letter.

The last special visits to newsworkers went off smoothly and caused no great stir in the communist press. Five months have elapsed since then and we should certainly be prepared to allow another round of visits if this would secure access to Gray. There is unlikely to be much progress on reduction of sentences for some time and I do not think that this aspect of the problem need affect the tizing of the visits provided they are not unduly delayed.

Ve have

The two main local communist papers published an article about the nevsvorkers on 12 April, making the usual accusations of ill health as a result of naltreat ment and lack of proper aedical care. also had an exchange of messages with the N.C.N.A. about the health of LO Yuk-wo (the remaining N.C.X.A. correspondent), who has recently recovered from a bout of dysentery. It therefore seems possible that the local communists are themselves vorking up to a request for a new round of special visits.

20/0

(R.J.T. McLaren)

Assistant Political Adviser

J.B. Denson, Esq.

JBE,

British Charge d'Affaires,

PEKING.

c.c. J. Murray, Esq., CMG,

Far Eastern Dept.,

P.C.

LONDON, S.V.1.

SECRET

(2:0 13 0/1)

RESTRICTED

Far Eastern Department,

7 May, 1969.

38%

I enclose a note of the messages which Miss McGuinn asked should be passed to Anthony Grey is a future visit is arranged

d questiens she would like put to him. I have taken a copy to accompany this letter on our files.

2. It was most thoughtful of you to agree to break into your leave to meet relatives of British subjects detained in China. I am sure you will agree that the exercise was invaluable from " human relations point of view; relatives in the United Kingdom can now visualise an individual in Peking who is concerned for their particular case.

R. 1. Garside, Eaq.,

PEKING.

(E. J. Sharland)

RESTRIC

тра

Please tell Tony:

I post letters 3 or 4 times a week.

I still send the weekend crosswords, etc., and now also The Times every day.

I applied for a visa to visit him at Easter for 2 weeks but it was "not now appropriate" but the application is still with them for the future.

What the shouting was (Party Congress in April).

New telephone number 725-8563 (ex directory but the operator will put him through).

Please try to find out:

How many letters he's getting.

Did my cable before Easter arrive?

Why he wants ear plugs?

I think he's "not bad".

יו

pu 42012/5

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on FEC

Orgiaal

FEC 14/1

Record Mastur

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R.R. Jaside and of Baksh Subzel

ऊ

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Relatives

detained in

and Friends

China

Miss Shirley McGuinn (Girlfriend of Mr. Anthony Grey)

Kiss HcGuinn told me that she had heard from Mr. Grey that he was not now receiving all the letters which she had been writing to him, indeed the number of her letters which he was being permitted to receive had been drastically curtailed. She had been writing to him three or four times a week but he had received only two letters in January and two in February. She said that the length of his letters to her and to his mother varied from month to month and she claimed to be able to tell from the way in which he used the paper on which the letters were written that the amount of paper given to him was being varied from month to month and

She on one occasion had been reduced to a single sheet. gave me a short list of questions and messages to be used if we should succeed in obtaining another meeting with Yr. Grey and I have agreed with Kr. Sharland that these should be sent out to me by bag. Kiss McGuinn said that Mr. Grey's most recent letter had been more emotional and more personal than previous ones and this was causing her some concern. However, she seemed fairly relaxed and was certainly not unduly worried about Mr. Grey's state of health or mind.

S.OR.T

Suter

MF Baylor..

1714

3/2

A famely intervento.

We have lunety

Dear James. The buyer for

Office of the British Charge

Visit to Anthony Grey

d'Affaires

Peking

8 April, 1969

FEC

In my telegram No. 137 I recommended that we should not try to arrange another visit to Anthony Grey and you agreed (PCO Telegram No. 89). This was at a time when there seened some hope of Grey being released before September, Lince these hores have now apparently disappeared, I think

should look again at the question of a visit.

The arguments are fairly evenly balanced. Against are:-

(a) It would not be possible during the visit to hold out hope

to crey that he would soon be released. It might therefore do more harm than good. Grey might be primed

by the Chinese to complain about our lack of effort on his behalf, and to ask embarrassing questions.

(b) Some statement would have to be made to the press about the

visit and about Grey's physical and mental state,

This

would certainly stimulate publicity, probably for action against the New China News Agency in London.

accepted Grey's detention and this would delay his ultimate release.

(d) Another visit in Hong Kong would enhance NCNA's "official"

status.

(1)

(11)

(111)

Arguments in favour are:-

That however bitter Grey may feel, a visit would indicate that we are still concerned about his welfare and would enable us to make some judgement of his mental and physical state,

Since there is a chance that the Chinese will permit a visit, we are under an obligation to try to arrange one both for reasons of humanity and because it is part of our consular responsibility to a British subject.

There might well be Parliamentary and public criticism if I do not make an effort to see Grey. To the informed it is well known that two other visits have been arranged in exchange for special visits in Hong Kong. It would therefore be difficult under close questioning to maintain that my general request for access to British subjects could be held to cover Grey.

I believe that the Chinese Lovernment would probably allow the visit, provided that the Hong Kong government were

Janes Kurray, Esq., C.M.G.

Far Eastern Department,

FCO

SECRET

/willing

SECRET

willing to allow another special visit under the same conditione as last time. I do not think that a visit would in fact delay Grey's release as I am sure this will depend on whether the Chinese think they have gained a sufficient "victory" by the commuting of the sentence of the prisoner due for release in February 1971 if this takes place, and the consequent release of all 11'newsworkers by September. On past experience, it would seem possible to control pressure for ill-advised retaliatory action in London. On balance, therefore, I would favour asking for a visit.

I should be glad if the Political Adviser in Hong Kong, to whom I am copying this letter, could let us know whether the Hong Kong government would see objection to our trying to arrange a visit and whether they think the possible release of prisoners contemplated under the procedure set out in Hong Kong telegram No. 232 of 18 March has any relevance to the timing. As seen from here, I doubt if it has.

Hours evier,

John

(J.B. Denson)

SECRET

CONFIDENTIAL

12 Boy, 13

Office of the British

3/3

Charge d'Affaires, nin

Peking.

3/2

سعا

Dear comin

сб

Fire 14,

24 March, 1969.

EC 134, @

188) on FEC

Thank you for your letter of 13 March to John Denson about Miss Shirley McGuinn's attempt to obtain an entry visa from the Chinese. While, as you say, the Chinese refusal does not appear to be as categorical as might have been expected, I do not think there is any chance of them granting a visa in present circumstances.

2. We agree with the line that you took concerning

so far the story seems not to have been

publicity;

published.

3. As to Grey's letter to his mother, as you say in your Secret letter (also of 13 March), we seem to have come through relatively unscathed on this.

Ут

السميد

J. N. Allan

C. Wilson, Esq.,

Far Eastern Department, F.C.O.

CONFIDENTIAL

(9782). 037601. 1,200 pads (9966), 391955. 1,000 pads)

Code or CodeR>

INWARD TELEGRAM

(173)

PSY 16

ساتا

Cypher, P

FROM.

Peking.

Mr Cradock

[Distribution

Heading]

Fea

D 0733. hrs.

[Signature]

No.:

[Date]

16/12/68

R. 230

Pare

[Priority]

bonfidential

hrs

RECEIVED ARCHIVES No 31 1 * * .968

Your telegram no. 985: Grey.

FELISel

I have written to Mas Grey

day FED

and

GÁRSIDE

[3]

■

Miss Me GüINN.

Letters

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in bag leaving

here 18 december.

Felin Tynit 15-

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Mr Bak

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ADVANCE

COPIES TO:-

FC13/8

170

FEC139/1.

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO PEKING

Telno 985

CONFIDENTIAL

13 December, 1968

"..

pak2017/12

(FE)

Your telegram No.345 [of 24 April] Visit/Grey.

After the April visit Weston wrote personal letters to Mrs. Grey and Miss McGuinn.

2. Could you please confirm that someone will do same again?.

STEWART

FILES F.E.D.

88888

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No. FEC 136

FEC1391

DEPARTMENT

SECUNTY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Tox Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

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B3 Dec *

มุน

167

-----

HANN------

Confidential.

Code Cypher

Draft Telegram to:- PEKING

985

(Date)

And to:-

Repeat to:f

Saying to:-

[Codeword if any]

Addressed to

telegram No..

.............

-‒‒‒ITTILIIN | LI

And to

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b. -dLLLL

(date)

----------

Your Teleno 345 of 24 April]. Visit/Grey

After the April visit Weston wrote personal

letters to MB Gray and Miss McGuinn,

2. Could

you please confirm that someone will

do same & again?

Distribution:---

Files. FED

Copies to:-

።።

172017

مما

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CYPHER CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COPY

PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

PRIORITY

TELNO 1098

KYFIDENT 1 AL

گا

10 DECEMBER 1968 RECEIVED IN

L ́ARCHIVES No.31

1/p 1 1 DEC 1968

ADDRESSED TO FCO TELMO 1098 OF 10 DECEMBER. REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

YOUR TELMO 969: GREY.

FELIBell

ON BALANCE I SHOULD PREFER MISS MCGUINA NOT (REPEAT NOT) TO APPLY FOR A VISA, FOR REASONS GIVEN IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 4. CHINESE NIGHT ALLOW SUCH A VISIT AS A MEANS OF PRESENTING THEMSELVES IN A MORE FAVOURABLE LIGHT AND BUYING TIME.

YOU MAY THEREFORE WISH TO SAY TO MISS MCGUINN THAT WE DOUBT WHETHER AN APPLICATION WOULD BE WISE, MAKING THE POINT IN FIRST SENTENCE OF YOUR PARAGRAPH 4. IF, HOWEVER, SHE IS DETERMINED TO TRY, I THINK IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO CONTINUE ATTEMPTS TO DISSUADE HER.

FCO PASS TO HONG KONG.

MR. CRADOCK

FILES

F. EAST. D.

H.K.D.

NEWS D.

SIR J. JOHNSTON

SIR A. GALSWORTHY

MR. MORETON

CONS. D.

MR. MASON

00000

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

CONFIDENT FAL

CYPHER/CAT A

Fecise/!.

CONFIDENTIAL

PRICRITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 969

6 DECEMBER 1968 (F)

3u2012/12

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 969 OF 6 DECEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

ANTHONY GREY.

MISS MCGUINN, GREY'S GIRLFRIEND, HAS ASKED WHETHER WE SEE ANY CBJECTION TO HER APPLYING TO THE CHINESE FOR A VISA TO VISIT PEKING AT CHRISTMAS.

2. IN VIEW OF THE PUBLICITY GIVEN TO YOUR RECENT VISIT TO GREY, THE CHINESE MAY BE RELUCTANT TO PERMIT ANOTHER ONE SO SOON AFTERWARDS. HOWEVER, IF THEY DID GIVE HISS MCGUINN A VISA WE PRESUME THEY WOULD ALSO ALLOW HER ACCESS TO GREY. ON THE OTHER HAND IF THEY REJECTED THE APPLICATION, THEY WOULD HAVE TO RECKON 0: FURTHER UNFAVOURABLE PUBLICITY IN THE PRESS.

3. IN THE PAST THE CHINESE HAVE ALLOWED VISITS TO FOREIGN NATIONALS IMPRISONED IN CHINA BY THEIR MOTHERS (THE CASES OF DOWNIE, FECTEAU AND REDMCAD), BUT SO FAR AS WE KNOW NOT BY GIRLFRIENDS. 4. OUR MAIN CONCERN IS LEST, BY ENDORSING MISS MCCUINN'S PROPOSAL WE MIGHT SEEM TO THE CHINESE TO BE ACCEPTING THE PROSPECT OF A FURTHER INDEFINITE PROLONGATION OF GREY'S DETENTION, YOU MAY ALSO FEEL THAT A VISIT FROM MISS MCGUINN MIGHT POSSIBLY BE UPSETTING TO GREY IN HIS PRESENT CONDITION.

5. APART FROM THESE POINTS ON WHICH WE WOULD LIKE YOUR VIEWS, WE SEE NO OTHER REASON TO DISSUADE MISS MCGUINN FROM APPLYING FOR A VISA,

STEWART

FILES

FAR EASTERN DEPT. HONG KONG DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

SIR J. JOHNSTON SIR A. GALSWORTHY MR. MORETON

CONFIDENTIAL

را 3

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

Fe43c/1

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIORITY MARKINGS

Flash Immediato Priority

}

(Date)

Despatched

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

reach addregaon(s)..........

118)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

16502 6/13/68

CONFIDENTI AL

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair.

Code

Cypher

Draft Telegra to:- X Peking

No.

7969 Date 6/17

And to:-

[Security classification"

-if any

Privacy_marking -if any

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

]

PEKENG

telegram No........

969

...(date)

ILIJILLIJI LII'

And to

---------

repeated for information to

Repeat to:-

Hong ong

Saving to:-

Distribution:-

Files FS10

Hong Kong Dept. News Dept.

Copies to:-

Saving to

Anthony Grey.

6 December

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Kiss McGuinn, Grey's girlfriend, has asked whether we see

any objection to her applying to the Chinese for a visa to

visit Paking at Christmas.

2. In view of the publicity given to your recent visit to

Grey, the Chinese may be reluctant to permit another one so

soon afterwards. However, if they did give Hies McGuinn a

visa we presume they would also allow her access to Gray. On

the other hand if they rejected the application, they would

have to reckon on further unfavourable publicity in the press.

3. In the past the Chinese have allowed visits to foreign nationals imprisoned in China by their mothers (the cases of

Downie, Fecteau and Redmond); but so far as we know not by

girlfriends.

4. Our main concern is lest, by endorsing Kiss McGuinn's

proposal we might seem to the Chinese to be accepting the

indefinite

prospect of a further/prolongation of Gray's detention.

/Tou

(10382)_DH_392045°154mm (77 soru) 1768;G.W.Blad. Ga34)

You may also feel that a visit from Kiss HcGuinn might

possibly be upsetting to Grey in his present condition.

5. Apart from these points on which we would like your

views, we see no other reason to dissuade Kiss McGuinn from

applying for a visa.

Дат

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

EN CLAIR

ROUTINE PARIS

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

3 DECEMBER 1963

に

ヒ

TEL : 1219

U ASSIFIED

TOP CORY IN

ADDRESSED FCO TEL NO 1219 OF 3 DECEMBER RFI PEKING.

ANTHONY GREY.

ARCHIVES No.31

-4DEC 1968

FEC139/1

THE LEADING FRENCH DAILY NEWSPAPER, LE MONDE (INDEPENDENT), REPORTED ON 28 NOVEMBER THAT THE VISIT OF THE BRITISH CHARGE D'AFFAIRES TO MR. GREY ON 26 NOVEMBER WAS ONLY THE SECOND WHICH HAD BEEN ACCORDED BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES SINCE GREY WAS IMPRISONED 16 MONTHS AGO. LE MONDE SAYS THAT GREY HAS HAD NEITHER A CHARGE NOR A TRIAL. HE APPEARS TO BE SUFFERING FROM BRONCHITIS, AND TO BE UNDER MENTAL STRAIN CAUSED BY HIS LONG IMPRISONMENT, AND ESPECIALLY BY THE LACK OF READING MATTER. THE ROOM IN WHICH

HE IS KEPT IS ONLY FOUR SQUARE METRES LARGE WITH A DOOR ALWAYS

OPEN DESPITE THE COLD.

2. THE SAME NEWSPAPER REPORTED ON 4 NOVEMBER THAT MR. CHOU EN LAI HAS REFUSED TO RECEIVE A TELEGRAM FROM THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF JOURNALISTS REQUESTING THE LIBERATION OF MR. GREY.. IT ADDS THAT THE FEDERATION GROUPS TOGETHER JOURNALISTS, UNIONS AND ORGANISATIONS FROM SEVERAL PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND NOTABLY FROM EUROPE.

FCO PASS PEKING BY COMMERCIAL CHANNELS.

MR. SOAMES

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUȚION

F. EAST. D.

HONG KONG D.

CONSULAR DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

I.R.D.

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

-2DEC 1968

Mr. Moreton

Mr. Godden

FEC

To ou

Tom

tw 2/12.

Efe

Mr. Anthony Grey of Reuters

Following a meeting with Lord Shepherd this morning to

discuss tactics in the handling of the Grey case, it was

agreed to proceed on the lines of the attached telegram.

2. Subsequently we have received Peking telegram No. 1060

Flag A 2)(attached) which contains Mr. Cradock's comments and

recommendations which, with one exception do not differ

from the proposals which we are submitting.

Mr. Cradock's

telegram suggests that representations to the Chinese should

be made simultaneously in Peking and London. For the

reasons set out in the telegram we think it would be more effective to separate the two sets of representations by a

few days.

3. A copy of this telegram is being sent to the Secretary

of State.

Copies to: Mr. Williams

Mr. Baker

As Love Shepherd has left

speaking to Mr. Godder,

правит

-Wilson

(C. Wilson)

27 November, 1968.

I have after

despatched the tele grows.

CONFIDENTIAL

Volwal

zaki

Flag (11

Flag B

Mr. Hopeton

Mr. Goddeni

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Anthony Grey

of Reuters

Mr. 6.28

Exter

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

- 2 DEC 1968

Focused!

Mr. Cradock saw Mr. Anthony Grey, the Reuters

correspondent, for 25 minutes on 26 November. An account

of his meeting is contained in Peking telegram No. 1055 of

to corespondent's the same date, the larger part of which was released in

a statement in Peking. News Department have made the text

of this statement available to the press here.

Reuters and Mrs. Grey were given the details in advance

of publicity here. Reuters have since informed us that

their correspondent in Karachi will be seeking the views of

the Secretary of State on Mr. Cradock's report. Copies of

the Peking telegrams referred to above have been telegraphed

to the Secretary of State together with guidance on the line

he should take in answer to questions. News Department are

telegraphing separately to Mr. Haydon the line which they

are taking with the press here.

Clearly the account of the petty restrictions and

difficult conditions to which Mr. Grey is being subjected

by the Chinese will arouse an outcry in the press and

Parliament. We are now awaiting Mr. Cradock's detailed

comments and recommendations and in the light of these will

/ be making

CONFIDENTIAL

be making further recommendations to Ministers.

Wiferen

(C. Wilson)

26 November, 1968.

Copy to: Mr. Williams

Voloch

CONFIDENTIAL

Zolai

Cypher/Cat. A.

27.

ADOO. 101

RECEIVED, IN ARCH.No.31

CONFIDENTIAL

2.1968

PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

1F2434/11

PRIORITY PEKING TELNO. 591 TO HONG KONG OF 29 NOVEMBER, 1968.

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No. 591 of 29 November Repeated for information to Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

P.C.0. telegram No. 952 to Peking: Grey.

Please confirm by immediate telegram that the arrangements described in your telegramstics.536 of 27 April and 540 of 30

April are still in force. B 3T FLE. FRIS/B. Dr.A

The Bus

Form

In addition I should welcome any details which would support protests on

(a) disconfort caused to Grey by excessive heat in his room in the summer and excessive cold in the winter. Are cells cooled in sunner and heated in winter ?

(b) access to officials: one of Grey's bitterest complaints is way in which his various requests are dealt with or more often ignored totally, and the absence of any authority to whom he can put direct requests and complaints. I would welcome some details of access prisoners enjoy to prison authorities.

(c) Surveillance: Grey suffers from the knowledge that he is under almost constant surveillance by day and that there is an uncurtained window through which the guards can glance at any moment in the night. Are cells open to warder's gaze at all times or is there some inspection shutter which has to be opened before a warder can look into the cell ?

(a) Are incoming and outgoing letters subjected to any delay ?

3. I am seeking interview for the morning of 30 November. It would be best therefore that your reply came en clair. MR. CRADOCK.

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.E.D.

H.K.D.

Cons. Dept.

News Dept.

I.R.D.

Res, D. I.P.D.

JJJJJ

CONFIDENTIAL

75880

EN CLAIR

TOP COPY RECEIVED IN

ARCHÍVÉS No.31

FLASH HONG ZONG TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE HONG HONG TELEGRAM NO. 421 TO PEKING

CLASSI RIED.

-2 DEC 1968 ・Feckett.

29 NOVEMBER, 1968

AUDRESSED PENTIS TELEHRAM 10. 421 OF 29TH NOVEMBER REPEATED FCO.

(üun TELEGRAM NO. 951 : GREY.

PLEASE SEE MY TELEGRAM NO. 420. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS IN YOUR

FARAGKAPR 2 ARE AS FOLLOWS :-

(A) CELLS ARE NEITHER HEATED NOR COOLED BUT WORKSHOPS HAVE OVERHEAD

FANS FOR ušć In SuNNER.

(b) A PRISONER HAY AFFLY TO SEE A PRISON SUPERINTENDENT ON ANY

WORKING DAY. HE IS NORMALLY SEEN BY THE SUPERINTENDENT 2ND 1/C.

· IF ME IS NOT SATISFIED HE CAN ASK TO

SEE THE SUPERINTENDENT 1/C. PRISONERS ARE ALSO ENTITLED TO RAISE

MATTERS WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS ON HIS WEEKLY ROUNDS AND

WITH THE VISITING J.F.'S CONE OFFICIAL AND ONE UNOFFICIAL) WHO

GO TO STANLEY EVERY FORTNIGHT.

CELLS ARE PROVIDED WITH INSPECTION COVERS WHICH HAVE TO BE OPENED

BE'OKE JAKDENS CAN SEE IN.

(U) ThanĒ IS LITTLE OR NO DELAY IN DEALING WITH INCONING OR OUTGOING

KAIL.

FCO FLEASE FASS FLASH PEKING.

SIR D. TRENCH

FILES

(REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

F. EAST DEPT.

H.K.D.

CONS. DEPT,

I.R.D.

RES. DEPT.

I.P.D.

NEWS DEPT.

PRIVATE SECRETARY

P.U.S.D.

SIR J. JOHNSTON

MR. KORETON

ADVANCE COPIES SENT.

CONFIDENTIAL

CYRKER/CAT A

HG KONG

PUNG KONG TALIS 420 TO PEKING

FLASH

VAL

FOREIGN AND COM

KELEIVED ARCHÍVU) No 31

2DEZ 1963

TOP COPY

Fecse

LASPESSED FEKING AS MY TELEGRAM NO. 420 DATED 29TH GOVINDER, BERKATED

FOR INFORMATION TO FOO,

FOC TELEGRAM HO. 952 TO YOU: 0REY,

1318.

117H

DETAILS OF TREATMENT OF CONFRONTATION PRISONERS IN NY TELEGRAMS NOS,

536 AND SAD REMAIN VALID,

2. AS YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS ALL THESE PRISONERS HAVE

PEEN PROVÍ IG AND SO MAKE ARC KEPT LOCKED IN THEIR CELLS DURING THE

DAY. IN GENERAL THEY ARE TREATED IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS ANY

OTHER PRISONERS. THEY LEAVE THEIR CELLS AT 9 A.M. AND, EXCEPT ON

SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS UREN THEY ARE LOCKED UP FOR A FEY HOURS IN THE

VIRCLE OF THE DAY, THEY DO NOT RETURN ITIL 5.30 TO 6 P.R., OR, IN

SME CASES, UNTIL 9 P.M. THEY ARE THEREFORE IN CONSTANT CONTACT

WITH! FELLOW INNATES. AT BEEKENDR THERE ARE FACILITES, ENJOYED BY

GROUPS OF PRISONERS IN TIEN, FOR WATCHING FILKS, OR PLAYING FOOTBALL.

GEEN 3. TETIC RESPECTS CONDITIONS FOR PRISCHERS GENERALLY HAV-/IMPROVED

TVO

SPICE MY TELEGRAMS INDER BEFENCHCE:-

(A) TELEVISICH SETS ARE PEING INSTALLED IN STANLEY PRISON AD ALL

PRISAPORE WILL SPORTLY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO WATCH PROGRAMMES: AND

(P) A REVISED SCALE OF CLOTHING HAD BEEN APPROVED URICH, INTER ALIA,

ALLOWS FOR ADDITIONAL VARII GARMENTS IN WINTER IF REQUIRED.

4. 12: ADDITICH, AMENIVENTS TO PRISON REGULATIONS ARE UNDER

CONSIDERATION UNICH, IF ACCEPTEN, WILL FOMIALLY INCREASE THE THE

OF VISITS FROM 15 TO 30 MINUTES AND ALLOW EACH PRISONER TO URITE THO

LETTERS PISTEAD OF QUE A MONTH.

FCC PLEASE FASS FLASH PEKING.

SIR D. TRENCH

FILES

F.E.D.

4.K.DEPT.

CONSULAR DEPT. I.A.D.

RESEARCH DEPT.

1.P.D.

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

NEWS DEPT.

PRIVATE SECRETARY

P.U.S.D.

SIR J. JOHNSTON

KR. KORETON

CONFIDENTIAL

ADVANCE COPIGS

Sevi

CYP...

IMMEDIATE

TELEGRAM NO. 301

PENTIAL

to.?...

then Enter 48 27|||

COPY.NO. COP

"ONFIDENTIAL

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Far Eastem

OFFICE to enter)

~ FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE-

26 NOVEMBER 1968

ADDRESSED TO FCO TELEGRAM NO. 381 OF 26

NOVEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.

FOLLOWING FOR DAY FROM MAITLAND,

RECEIVED IN APCOV ́S No.31

29 NOV 1968

FECIB/

ANTHONY GREY.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS BEEN ASKED BY THE PRESS TO

COMMENT ON REUTER'S REPORT OF CRADOCK'S VISIT TO

GREY. HAYDON IS SAYING THAT MR. STEWART CANNOT DECIDE

WHETHER ANY COMMENT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE UNTIL HE

HAS SEEN CRADOCK'S REPORT.

2. PLEASE HAVE CRADOCK'S REPORT REPEATED TO US

WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMENT.

FCO PASS PEKING

MR. STOUT

PRISEC

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

CONFIDENTIAL

(See 68 4 pm)

FEC130/1.

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

EDIATE FOREIGN AND COLECOUTEALTH OFFICE TO PEKING

TELNO 951

CONFIDENTIAL

27 NOVE BER, 1968 (F)

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 951 DATED 27 NOVEMBER

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG POLAD SINGAPORE RAWALPINDI ( FOR HAYDON SECRETARY OF STATES PARTY)

ANTHONY GREY.

NEWS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY ON THE RECORD:~

QUOTE WE DEPLORE THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH MR. GREY HAS BEEN HELD, REVEALED BY YESTERDAY'S VISIT. AS THE PRIME MINISTER SAID LAST EVENING OUR OVERRIDING CONCERN REMAINS TO SECURE MR. GREY'S RELEASE, WE ARE IN URGENT CONSULTATIONS WITH H.M. CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES IN PEKING ABOUT THE MOST EFFECTIVE STEPS TO ACHIEVE THIS UNQUOTE.

2. THEY ADDED UNATTRIBUTABLY:-

QUOTE WE MAY EMPHASIZE THAT WE SHALL BE MAKING THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE REPRESENTATION ABOUT THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH MR. GREY IS BEING HELD.

STEWART

FILES.

F. EAST. DEPT.

CO.¡SULAR DEPT.

I.K.D.

NEWS DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

FE4391.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Top Secret

Secret Confidential

UnglSavilled

Immediate

(Date)

* Date and time (G.M.T',) telegram should

reach addressco(s).

27/0

TER

Despai hed

777777

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

Ex Clair.

Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

Nb.

Pekay (951 22/4

Security classification Lif any

[Security

f Privacy

Privacy marking -if any

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

Piking

CONFIDENTIAL

telegram No.

951

------

(date)

27 November

And to

(Date) 27/11 repeated for information to Hory Kory and four digge

And to:-

Repeat to:-

Hang Номд Коду POWAD Suny spare landafiri (For Hoydon, Sewer any

gitates

Saving to:-

(Partiz

Saving to

HPIDON

Ravedefine (For Hey fun fanter of

Studie Pardiny)

Buy

Y el tot broy.. No Arthony.

News Department said Aday

on the record :-

Ive deplore the conditions in which Mr. Sey has

been held revented by yesterday's visit

fine intimistis said last evening

to aur

On the

werriding

Lovcem Thiam!.

M Gay's sense. He

Distribution:

are in urgent, sourultation:

witt

4.M Shaye d'

Gffaires

leking about

the most

effective steps

Files

Fe-d Consular dept

B.ED. Non Dept.

Copies to:-

to achieve this.

They added unattributably

may emphasize

That

Ave

shall be making

dole may

The strongest possible representation about the

consilions in which M. Grey is being held

EN CLAIR

TE FOREIGN AND COM ONWEALTH OFFICE

OFFICE TO

PEKING

TELNO 953

27 NOVEMBER 1968 (FE)

UNCLASSIFIED

ADLERSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 953 OF 27 NOVEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG RAWALPINDI (FOR HAYDON SECRETARY OF STATE'S PARTY).

(2)

MY INKEDIATELY PRECEDING TELEGRAM: PRESS REPORTS. REPORTS OF YOU VISIT TO GREY WERE CARRIED PROMINENTLY BY ALL MAJOR U.K. DAILIES TO-DAY. IN ADDITION THREE MAJOR PAPERS CARRIED EDITORIALS ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:

(1) THE GUARDIAN. THE EDITORIAL POINTS OUT THAT GREY WAS DETAINED REPRISAL FOR EIGHT CHINESE JOURNALISTS IMPRISONED IN HONG KONG BUT THAT THE CASES WERE NEVER COMPARABLE AS THE CHINESE WERE SENTENCED AFTER DUE PROCESS OF LAW, WHEREAS GREY HAS NOT BEEN ACCUSED OF ANYTHING. EDITORIAL SUGGESTS THAT REPRISALS AGAINST CHINESE WOULD NOT REPEAT NOT HELP EITHER GREY OR OTHER DETAINEES BUT THAT THE CHINESE DO VALUE THEIR POSITION IN COMMUNIST AND UNCOMMITTED COUNTRIE AND THE BBC MIGHT USEFULLY EXPAND ITS COVERAGE OF THE

CASE IN CHENESE AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES. EDITORIAL ENDS BY SUGGESTING THAT THE INJUSTICE OF GREY'S DETENTION IS SO FLAGRANT THAT PEKING MAY FEEL IT CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE IT MUCH LONGER.

(11) DAILY TELEGRAPH. UNDER HEAD ING QUOTE TORTURER MAO UNQUOTE EDITORIAL AGAIN POINTS OUT THAT GFEY HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH NO REPEAT 110 OFFENCE AND THAT ALL EIGHT CHINESE IN REPRISAL FOR WHOSE SENTENCING IN HONG KONG HE WAS DETAINED, HAVE NOW BEEN RELEASED. IT SUGGESTS THAT THE CHINESE REGIKE MAY BELIEVE THAT BY ILL-TREATING QUOTE FOREIGN DEYILS UNIQUOTE IN THIS WAY THEY MAY LOSE FACE BUT SUGGEST THAT IT IS THE REPUTATION OF THE CHINESE THAT SUFFERS. EDITORIAL ENDS BY SUGGESTING ACTION AGAINST NONA IN LONDON. (111) DAILY KAIL. UNDER HEADING QUOTE THE TORTURE OF THE MIND UNQUOTE EDITORIAL REVIEWS GREY'S CONDITION AND AGAIN POINTS OUT THAT THE CHINESE, FOR WHOM HE WAS HELD HOSTAGE, HAVE NOW BEEN RELEASED. IT ENDS BY SUGGESTING THAT HNG HAS USED UP THE NORMAL CHANNELS OF DIPLOMATIC PROTEST AND THAT WHEN A MAN IS AS NEAR COLLAPSE AS GREY IT MAY BE TIME TO QUOTE RAISE HELL UNQUOTE.

.2.

PRESS CUTTINGS FOLLOW BY BAG.

STEWART

FILES

FAR EASTERN DEPT.

CUNSULAR DEPT.

HONG KONG DEPT.

HEYS DEPT.

рес

дом

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

تا

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Top Secret

Secr

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

Fish Immediate

Priority Beutine

[Security_classification]

any

(Date)

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

Despatched

reach addressee(s)

27 NOV 2

1855

+ Provid

ще

27/11

-יויי--י

Demontarmony inkort Hou

En Clair.

[

Privacy marking -if any

Code Cypher

[Codeword-if any)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

953 (date)

Addressed to

PEKING

Draft Telegram to:-

Peking

No.

(Date)

953

And to:-

27/"

telegram No.

No.......

And to

Immels.com Repeat (to:-

Xxx Honything

Rawolfindi (For Haydon Securay Caftiles Party)

XX -

172.3

Saving to:-

Distribution:

Files FED

Consular Dept. Hong Kong Dept. News Department Copies to:-

(Imatik)

-JILLLZI

----|

ror

- ------

repeated for information to HONG KONG, POLAD SINGAPORE-

יו

PIN' ILZI

Saving to

י די

(Immediata) Rawolfinds (from Haydon Sacred of of

Sl-chi Pandiy)

My immediately preceding telegram: Press reports,

Reports of your visit to Grey were carried prominently

by all major U.K. dailies to-day. In addition three major

papers carried editorials on the following lines:

(1) The Guardian

The editorial points out that Grey was detained in

reprisal for eight Chinese journalists imprisoned in Hong

Kong but that the cases were never comparable as the Chinese

were sentenced after due process of law, whereas Grgy has not

been accused of anything. Editorial suggests that reprisals

against Chinese would not repeat not help either Grey or

other detainees but that the Chinese do value their positi on

zuncommitted

in Communist and unaided countries and the BBC might usefully

expand its coverage of the case in Chinese and foreign

languages. Editorial ends by suggesting that the injustice

of Gray's detention is so flagrant that Peking may feel it

/cannot

ZOOL

cannot afford to continue it much longer.

(ii) Daily Telegraph

Under heading "Torture Mao" editorial again points

out that Gray has been charged with no repeat no offence

and that all eight Chinese in reprisal for whose

he was

Zeen

sentencing in Hong Kong been detained, have now been

released. It suggests that the Chinese regime may believe

that by ill-treating "foreign devils" in this way they may

lose face but suggest that it is the reputation of the

Chinese that suffers. Editorial ends by suggesting action

against NCHA in London.

(iii) Daily Vail

Under heading "The Torture of the Mind" editorial

reviews Gray's condition and again points out that the

Chinese, for whom he was held hostage, have now been

released. It ends by suggesting that MC has used up the

normal channels of diplomatic protest and that when a man

is as near collapse as Gray, it may be time to "raise hell".

Press cuttings follow by bag.

(10387) De 342005° 154m (77 sorts) 1/64]G.W.B.Lad. Gp.163

سلحه

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

ISEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELECRAN NUVBER 952

CONFIDENTIAL.

TOP COPY PEKING

27 NOVEMBER 1969 (FE)

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 952 OF 27 NOVEMBER REPEATED

INFORMATION TO HONG KONG AND RAWALPINDI (FOR MAITLAND SECRETARY STATE'S PARTY).

YOUR TELMO 1066; GREY,

IN VIEW OF THE REPORT CF YOUR VISIT TO GREY WE AGREE THAT YOU

SHOULD SEEK AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO PROTEST AT THE CONDITIONS OF HIS CONFINEMENT

AND TO REQUEST IMPROVEMENTS,VE THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND THE CHINESE OF THEIR STATEMENT OF JULY 1967

AND TO DEMAND GREY'S RELEASE.

2. IN ADDITION TO REFERRING TO DELAYS IN HIS MAIL, THE UNSATISFACTORY LIVING CONDITIONS OF HIS HOUSE AND THE LACK OF READING MATERIAL

HE AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD ASK FOR A THOROUGH MEDICAL EXAMINATION GF GREY.

3. FOR THE PURPOSE OF YOUR INTERVIEW WE PRESUME THAT THE COMPARATIVE NATERIAL ON THE TREATMENT OF CHIKESE NEWSWORKERS IN HONG KONG SPICH WAS TELEGRAPHED TO YOU FOLLOWING THE VISIT TO GREY IN APRIL (HONG KONG TELNOS. 536 OF 27 APRIL AND 542 OF 30 APRIL TO FOREIGN OFFICE REFER) IS STILL VALID. NO DOUBT HONG KONG WILL BE ABLE TO ADD ANY FURTHER POINTS ARISING FROM THE REPORT OF YOUR LATEST VISIT WHICH SHOW CUR PRACTICES IN A FAVOURABLE LIGHT.

4. WE WERE INTENDING TO SUMMOM SHEN P*ING TO SEE LORD SHEPHERD EARLY KEXT WEEK IN THE LIGHT OF THE CHINESE RESPONSE TO YOUR APPROACH. WE THINK TACTICALLY THAT IT WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE TO SEPARATE THE TWO SETS OF REPRESENTATIONS IN THIS WAY. THE REPORT OF YOUR VISIT TO GREY IS FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN ALL MAJOR BRITISH NEWSPAPEPS TODAY (SEE X.I.F.T. FOR PRESS SUMMARY) AND AS A RESULT PARLIAMENTARY PRESSURE IS LIKELY TO BUILD UP

OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS,

5. AFTER THIS DOUBLE APPROACH WITH ITS ATTENDANT PUBLICITY

WE THINK WE SHOULD AIM AT A PERIOD OF RELATIVE CALM IN THE HOPES

THAT THIS MAY MAKE IT EASIER FOR CHINESE TO RELEASE GREY WITHOUT

APPEARING TO DC SO UNDER PRESSURE.

6. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD TELEGRAPH REPORT O!! YOUR INTERVIEW WITH

THE MFA FOR RELEASE TO THE PRESS HERE.

STEWART

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F. EAST. DEPT.

H.K.D.

CONS. DEPT.

I.R.D.

RES. DEVT.

I.2.D.

NEWS DE T.

CONFIDENTIAL

при

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

Fé

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

PRIORITY MARKINGS

Top Secret 27/11 Flash

Sekret

Confidential

"Restricted

Unclarified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair.

Gode Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

Peking

952 (Date) __27/!! And Alo:

Imunalid Repeat or

Hong Kong

Immediate

Priority Routine

[Security

(Date)

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

reach addressee(s)

Despatched

27/11

Pendek----------------

CYPHER

ation]

Security classification" -if any

[ Privacy marking

-if any

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

CONFIDENTIAL

PEKING

telegram No......

952

•

(date)

IMTOM IITI

And to

.........MIJ.PIPILIPI

Immediala)

بلعـ

repeated for information to

HONG KONG

ILLILLIII LIK‒‒‒‒‒LIJJ L'ILI

------

27 November

LILILOILO

1777

1. I-ITE SIT

(N) Rawalpindi (for Maitland, Secretary of State's

itlane

Rawalpindi (for Secretary of State's Party)

Saving to:-

Distribution:

Departmental

FED

Hong Kong Dept.

Consular Dept.

I.R.D.

Research Dept.

Goblet

I.P.D. Flag

News Dept.

EXAS AT

Flag C

SIGNUTRE

W1746727

забра

Saving to

.וי

[or

Your telegram No. 1060 or 27 November] Grey.

Party)

In view of the report of your visit to Grey we agree that

you should seek an interview with the Kinistry of Foreign

Affairs as soon as possible to protest at the conditions of his

We think you should

confinement and to request improvemente.

take opportunity to remind the Chinese of their statement of

July 1967 and to demand Grey's release.

2. In addition to referring to delays in his mail, the

unsatisfactory living conditions of his house and the lack of

reading material we agree that you should ask for a thorough

medical examination of Gray.

ire

For the purpose of your interview Z presume that the

comparative material on the treatment of Chinese neweworkers in

Hong Kong which was telegraphed to you following the visit to Grey in April (Hong Kong telegrams Nos. 536 of 27 April and

540 of 30 April to Foreign Office refer) is still valid.

/doubt

doubt Hong Kong will be able to add any further points

arising from the report of your latest visit which show

our practices in a favourable light.

We were intending to summon Shen P'ing to see Lord

Shepherd early next week in the light of the Chinese

response to your approach. He think tactically that it

would be more effective to separate the two sets of

representations in this way. The report of your visit to

Grey is featured prominently in all major British news-

papers to-day (see MIFT for press summary) and as a result

Parliamentary pressure is likely to build up over the next

two weeks.

After this double approach with its attendant publicity

we think we should aim at a period of relative calm in the

hopes that this may make it easier for Chinese to release

Grey without appearing to do so under pressure.

Grateful if you would telegraph report on your interview

with the MFA for release to the press here.

(16382), Dd.392003′′154os (72 gort) 1/68;G.W,B,Lsé. GRIN

Youn

22/xi

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

REGISTRY

No.

(1) TELEGRAM SECTION,

FEC134/1.

REPETITION OF TELEGRAMS

FOREIGN OFFICE.

FER W. 64

27.11.68 28/11

(Date).

(Despatched)

Please repeat to the posts shown below telegram No.

from/tolking.

For Maitland Sec

бес

Slates Parking

Radpindi

En clai. Gode

Cypher

Folvo

No.

dated..

No. 1295

No..

No.

(Signed)

(Dept.)

(Date)

...

1060

27. Novater (Date) 27/11

celson

F.ED.

27.11.68

...M.

(2) DIVISION CONCERNED (FOR ARCHIVES).

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL •

20%

пр Op Choy

IK!EDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMKONWEALTH OFFICE

Telno 1060

27 November, 1968

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No 34

28NOV 19.8

FEC134/1

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to FCO telegram No.1060 of 27 November Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

My telegram No.1055:

Grey.

This was a difficult interview since Grey was agitated and resentful. He was at first unwilling to listen to messages from home and repeatedly asked how long his detention would go on. On being told of Êsuch's release he asked her many journalists remain in prison in Hong Kong and when they are due for release. I did what I could (allowing for presence of Chinese security officials) to cheer him up and explained that we were all doing our best for. him. I think this did sone good but I cannot pretend that I left him convinced,

Although Grey retained control of himself during

the interview, both Garside and I had the impression that if his confinement is much prolonged he may have a break-down. In his present state it would also be easier for the Chinese to try to win him over by exploiting his resentment and sense of being abandoned though I must add that we have no (repeat no) evidence that this has so far been tried.

3. Despite the general improvement in Sino/British relations his conditions have not only not improved since April but sem to have deteriorated in two respects (books and window).

This continuing hard line does not mean he could not be released suddenly, but in general supports view that Chinese for some unspecified time will use him to exert maximum pressure on us for concessions over prisesers in Hong Kong.

4. You will no doubt instruct me on representations on his case (ny tel-gram No.1042 paragraph 4). I suggest they are made both here and at high level in London; also that having warned Mrs. Grey and Reuters beforehand, concern should be expressed over his health and this point included in publicity. Representations should cover better conditions for him, in particular full medical attention and books.

FCO pass routine Hong Kong.

Mr. Cradock

[Repeated as requested]

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.East Dept.

H.K.D.

Cons Dept.

News Dept.

I.R.D.

Rea Dept. I.P.D.

88888

CONFIDENTIAL

帜

(19)

FEGBC/1.

водачи

COM

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

IMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NO. 1605

CONFIDENTIAL

FOR MURRAY FROM MORETON.

YOUR TELEGRAM FROM SEGUL NO. 313

TO HONG KONG

26 NOVEMBER 1919 (FED)

THERE ARE NO FRESH POINTS WE NEED ASK YOU TO DISCUSS IN HONG KONG.

STEWART

FILES:

FAR EASTERN DEPT.

HONG KONG DEPT.

CONFIDENT IAL

근

ทัน

川

Registry No.

Top

Secret

Confidential

icted

Draft.

Telegram fo:-

Mong

No.if 1605

EMERGENCY

IMMEDIATE

PRIORITY

ROUTINE

-priority

-DEFER ED

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

reach addresser(s).

Security classification

if any

[Codeword-if any)].......

Address to

(Date). 26/11 telegram No.

And to:-

Repeat to:-

(Date)

Despatched

+++

Confidential

Hoy hoay

repeated for information. t................

(date)

--------------‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒--------

Lang Ang MHHHH

え

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

En Clair Colle

Gair.

Cypher

Distribution:-

For MURRAY for MORETON.

FROM

Your Telegram from seral No: 313

no fresh

There

ро

požuto wre

need

ash

Files

← discuss

ча

in Hong Kong.

FED

MK BLAA.

Copies to:-

(4535) Wx.45573/46 200m 2/64 G.W.B.Ltd. Op.#43.

سلحه

...

26/20

EN CLAIR

водо

IKMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH' OFFICE

TELNO 1057

UNCLASSIFIED

26 NOVEMBER, 1968

ALTOLD TO FCC TELNO 1957 OF 26 NOVEMBER REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

YOUR TELEGRAM 950. PARA 3. GREY.

FOLLOWING IS TEXT.

BEGINS.

گازم

RECEIVED 'N ARCHIVES No 31

27 NOV 1968

FEC135/1

GARSIDE AND I SAW GREY FCR 25 MINUTES AT HIS HOUSE THIS AFTERNOON.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME REMDERS OF THIS OFFICE HAVE SEEN HI

SINCE APRIL AND THE SECOND SINCE HIS DETENTIOR IN JULY 1967.

Za HE APPEARED IN REASONABLE FITYSICAL SHAPE SO FAR AS ME COULD

JUDGE, HE DID NOT LOCK TATH DUT HE WAS PALE AND SUFFERING FRC!!

A HEAD COLD. HE SAID HE HAD HAD CHEST PAIRS FOR THE PAST 3 G3 4

MONTHS. HE HAD ASKED FOR A DOCTOR ON NOVENDER 19. THE DOCTOR

EÁMINED HIM WITH A STETHOSCOPE,, GAVE HIM SOME MEDICINE AND

SAID PERHAPS HE HAD PROMOLITIS, GREY ASKED FOR AN XĦAY EUT

mas TULD IT WAS UNNECESSARY. HE CONTINUES TO HAVE E SPELLS OF

EXE..CISE IN Thë COURTYARD EACH NO LIMUTES LUNG EVERY DAY.

3. AS REGARDS MENTAL CONDITION, HE WAS OBVIOUSLY ZOTI AGITATED

AT SEEING US AID AS LIGHT LE EXPECTED UNDER CONSIDERADLE CENERAL

KENYOLS STRAL" AS A RESULT OF 11S LUNG SULITARY CONFINEMENT,

HE SAID THAT AT FIRST AFTER THE MED QUARD ENTRY TO HIS HOUSE

IST 1967 ME NAJ BEE, COMFILED TO A ROUIS FEET OQUARE IN

klo neové FROM MOVE DER 2 1967 HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO A Roci!

HAUT 12 FEET OQLARE AND 13 THERE STILL SOME OF ITS IMEONS

"ERE QUANDED UP IN MAY 1950 MLM Cubed but de vFENED, AND HE

PROPER FAL Tule Soil E..

¡T KAN MEEN VERY LOT. THE DOOR

"ZER KOT,'

/OF HIS

་

-2-

OF 113 ROOM WAS OPEN ALL DAY EXCEPT "HEN HE WAS ASLEEP CR DURING CALS. RESG.TLY JECAUSE IT WAS COLD HE HAD ASKED FOR THE DOCA, TỤ

BE CLOSED BUT HAS HAD NO REPLY.

5. LE RETAINED THE USE OF HIS STAFF AND HAD NO REAL COMPLAINT CR

CLOTHES OR DIET.

6. HE WAS DESPERATELY SHORT OF READING HATTER. IT SEEMS THAT EARLIER 7613 YEAR KE HAD BEEN ABLE TO GO UPSTAIRS FROM TIME TC TIE TO FETCH HIS BOOKS BUT SINCE AUGUST HE HAD BEEN TOLD HE MUST ASK FOR THE SOCKS AND LIST THE TITLES HE WANTED. SINCE HE DID NOT RENTEDER THE TITLES HE HAD HAD NO NEW BOCKS, HE IS ALLOWED THE PEOPLE'S DAILY (HE CA! READ ONLY CHE OR THE CHARACTERS)

MID THE PEKING REVIE1⁄4,

7. HE WAS ALLOWED TO WRITE A LETTER TO HIS MOTHER AND TO HIS GIRL FRIEND EACH MONTH. THESE LETTERS WERE KEPT BY NEWS DEPARTMENT FOR A MONTH BEFORE ZEING POSTED. THERE WAS ALSO DELAY ON 1 COMING MAIL. HE HAD NOT HEARD FROM HIS HOTHER SINCE

ÚCTOBER 14.

GENERALLY THE CHINESE ATTITUDE WAS SUCH AS TO DISCOURAGE HI FROM MAKING REQUESTS. THERE IS ALSO A LARCUAGE DIFFICULTY. HE HAD HAD NO CONTACT WITH ANY CHINESE OFFICIAL. HE LIVED IN A VOID.

9. THREE CHINESE SECURITY OFFICIALS (TUG TAKING NOTES) WERE

PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE INTER VI 2V.

ENDS

MR.CRADOCK

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F. EAST DEPT.

H.X.D.

CONS DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

I.R.D. RES DEPT. I.P.D.

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

144ACON

"CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat A

INMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICEAP

k..

1988

Telno 1055

CONFIDENTIAL

26 November 1968

FE2134/1.

Addressed to FCO telegram No. 1055 of 26 November. Repeated for information to Hong kong,

Oarside and I saw Grey for 25 minutes at his house this

afternoon,

After greetings I read out the message from his Hother and Reuters and gave him a very short background account of some of the events since April affecting him.

3. He appeared in reasonably good physical shape so far as we could judge. He did not look thin but he was pale and suffering from a head cold. He said he had had chest pains for the past three or four months. Fearing that this was tuberculosis he had asked for a doctor on 13 November. The doctor examined him

with a stethoscope, gave him some medicine and said perhaps he had bronchitis and not T.B. Grey asked for an ex-ray but was told it was unnecessary. He will ask to see doctor again, He continues to have 2 spells of exercise in the courtyard each 40 mimtes long every day.

As regards mental condition he was obviously both agitated at seeing us and under considerable general nervous strain as a result of his confinement. He said most of the day I sit clenching my hands and trying to keep sane". He was resentful about what he called failure of Her Majesty's Government and Reuters to do anything for him and asked several times how much longer his detention would last. He had hoped we might have come about his release but hearing it was merely Consular access had made him bitter and depressed.

He said in April he had deliberately under-stated things. At first after Red Guard entry to his house he had been confined to a room eight feet square, From 3 November 1967 he was transferred

to a room about twelve feet square. Some of its windowa were painted over in May 1968 and could not be opened, and he had no proper fan this summer. It had been very hot. The door of his room was open all day except when he was asleep or during meals. Recently because it was cold he had asked for the door to be closed but had had no reply.

He retained thuas of his staff and had no real complaint on clothes or diet.

} *

He was desperately short of reading matter. Earlier this year he had been able to go upstairs from time to time to fetch his books but since August he had been told he must ask for books and titles he wanted, Since he did not remember the titles he had had no new books, He is allowed People's Daily (he can read only one or two characters) and the Peking Review.

8. He was allowed to write letters to his Mother and Miss McGuinn each month. These letters were kept by the News Department for a month before being posted, There was also delay on incoming mail. He had not heard from his Mother since 14 October.

Generally the Chinese attitude was very unhelpful and such as to discourage him from making requests. There was also a

/language

CONFIDENTIAL

-2-

language difficulty since all requests went through his cook who speaks little English, In answer to my question he said he had not been accused of any offence and the Chinese had not discussed the conditions of release with him. He had had no contact with arly Chinese official. He lived in a void.

10. He gave messages to be transmitted to his Mother asking her not to worry and that he was as well as could be expected and also to Miss McGuinn asking her not to worry. Her letters were the only thing that had kept him sane.

PCO pass to Hong Kong

Mr. Cradock

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F. East D.

Hong Kong Dept.

Consular Dept.

News Dept.

I.R.D.

Research Dept. I.P.D.

EEEEE

CONFIDENTIAL

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

CYPHER/CAT A

TOP OOPY CONFIDENTIAL FEC1341.

IMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONLEALTH CFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 953

IDENTIAL.

ведеть

TO PEKING

25 NOVEMBER 1960 (FE)

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 95% OF 25 NOVEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 1851 OF 25 NOVEMBER: VISIT TO GREY.

WE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOU BRIEFING CORRESPONDENTS IN PEKING FOLLOWING YOUR VISIT TO GREY. WE SHALL CF COURSE WISH TO MAKE A STATEMENT HERE AS SOON AS WE HAVE YOUR REPORT. IN THIS CONNEXION

IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE THE TEXT OF YOUR REMARKS TO THE PRESS.

£. WE DECIDED THAT PUBLICITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO YOUR INTERVIEW WITH MEWS DEPARTMENT TO-DAY AND HAVE ISSUED A SHORT STATEMENT TO THE EFFECT THAT YOU WERE INFORMED THAT YOU COULD VISIT GREY TOMORROW.

2. PEUTERS AND CREY'S MOTHER HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE IMPENDING VISIT, REUTERS WERE SLIGHTLY PUT CUT THAT THEY COULD NOT BE ALLOWED EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE OF THE VISIT BUT ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT WESTERN CORRESPONDENTS IN PEKING SHOULD BE GIVEN A BREAK. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE REUTERS CHIEF TOKYO CORRESPONDENT, LEE CASEY, WILL TRY TO TELEPHONE YOU SHORTLY AFTER THE VISIT TO GREY, GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD FASS ON TO HIM THE TEXT OF YOUR REMARKS TO LOCAL

CORRESPONDENTS.

4. AGREE THAT YOU CANNOT AVOID SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT GREY'S HEALTH ON THE OTHER HAND IF IT APPEARS THAT CONFINEMENT HAS AFFECTED HIS HEALTH WE WOULD PREFER TO TELL RCUTERS AND HIS MOTHER FIRST BEFORE RELEASING IT TO THE PRESS.

5. IN GENERALI AGREE WITH THE PUBLICITY LINE SUGGESTED IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF YOUR TELEGRAM HUDER REFERENCE AND PARAGRAPH 5 OF YOUR TELEGRAM ULUBER 1642 OF 22 NOVEMBER, THIS IS THE LINE WHICH WE HAVE TAKEN LOCALLY WITH SOME EFFECT. SEE TIMES EDITORIAL OF 21 NOVEMBER ENCLOSED WITH WILSON'S LETTER TO CRADOCK CF SAFE DATE. STEWART

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F. EAST DEPT.

H.K.D.

CONS DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

I.R.D.

RES DEPT.

I.P.D.

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

FEC134/1.XX

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

PRIORITY MARKINGS (Date)

Top Stret

C#/ 25/11

Hah

Immediara

Confidential Restrict

Poutine

Llachssified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

Despatched

[Security_ classification

-if any

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

reach addressed(s):- ---

CY HER

CONFIDENTI AL

[Codeword-if any]

En Clatr.

[

Privacy marking -if any

Colle

Cypher

Draft Telegram for

PEKING

No.

950

And to

چر ھے

Addressed to...

telegram No. 950

(Date) 25!! repeated for information to

And to:-

PEKING

(date)

יו. יו-י

HONG KONG

25/11

Repeat to:-

Hayley

Saving to:

Distribution:-

Departmental:

F.E.D.

HONG KONG CONSULAR DEPT. NEWS DEPT.

I.R.D.

D4079-

RESEARCH DEPT. I.P.D.

1805 7251

Saving t

Your telegram No. 1051; of 25 November:

Visit to Grey.

We have no objection to you briefing

correspondents in Peking following your visit to

Grey. We shall of course wish to make a

statement here as soon as we have your report.

In this connexion it would be useful to have the

text of your remarks

to the press.

decided

We agree with the suggestion

in paragraph 5 of your telegram No. 1042 of 22

November that some publicity should be given to

your interview with News Department to-day and

have issued a short statement to the effect that

you were informed that you could visit Grey

tomorrow.

Reuters and Grey's mother have been informed of the impending vist. Reuters were slightly put

covergle

out that they could not be allowed exclusive story estem Comes fondents

ety of the visit but accepted the fact that these

Peking correspondens should be given a break,

is possible that the Reuters chief Tokyo correspondent,

Lee Casey, will try to telephone you shortly after

the visit to Grey. Grateful if you would pass on

to him the text of your remarks to local correspondenta.

4. I agree that you cannot har avoid saying something

about Grey's health. On the other hand if it

-ppears that confinement has affected him both

колок

he's

physically and mentally we would prefer to tell thic

o Reuters and his mother first before releasing

it by 15 the press.

puls

5. In general I agree with the publicity line

suggested in paragraph 3 of your telegram under

reference and paragraph 5 of your telegram No. 1042.

of 22 November. This is the line which we have

taken locally with some effect. See Times editorial

of 21 November enclosed with Wilson's letter tó

Cradock of same date.

fx 2011

Im (77 sorts)

Lat. Gp,843

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

زدا

Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

TUP CV

IZZIEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Telno 1051

NFIDENTIAL

25 November, 1968

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31!

25 NOV 1968

FEC134/1.

Hong Kong.

Addressed to FCO telegram No. 1051 of 25 Novembeu. Repeated for information to:

Grey.

On blicity I propose to follow April pattern. I could not try to exclude Western correspondents here (who are aware from NONA stat.ment on special visits that access is imminent without ruining relations with them. Nor do I think we could hold the publicity until after 26 November. I therefore propose to see Western Press correspondents, plus Tanjug representative (whose reports appear also in Western Press) at 6 pin. on 26 November. You will no doubt inform Grey's mother,

Kiss LcGuinn and Reuters that a visit will take place tomorrow.

2. As regards Grey's health, the Chinese are unlikely to have granted access if Grey were seriously ill so that it should be possible to give a fairly straightforward account. If however he is in poor health I think we should say so. In general, although we certainly do not want to be alarmists, I hope we can avoid too soothing a line on the health aspect in publicity on the visit, since to do so plays into the Chinese hands.

3. In speaking to the Presa I shall confine myself strictly to details of the visit, unless you see any objection I would however like to make the additional point, to be used unattributably,: that although all the Chinese referred to in the NCNA statement of July 1967 on Grey's detention have been released, Grey remains

in custody.

FCO pass Hong Kong Immediate.

Mr. Cradock

Repeated as requested_/

DEPARTHENTAL DISTRIBUTION

Far Eastern Dept.

Hong Kong Dept.

Consular Dept.

News Dept.

นนนนน

ADVANCE COPIES SENT.

CONFIDENTIAL

M. Ow. k

ab int

لام

раскозын

2.1

CONFIDENTIAL

印

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE

NO 1050

PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

CONFIDENTIAL

25 NOVEMBER 1968

{ RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

ADDRESSED TO FCO TELEGRAM NO. 1050 OF 25 NOVEMBER, REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

MY TELEGRALI NO. 1047.

25 NOV 1968

PEC1341

I WAS RECEIVED BY MISS CHANG OF THE NEWS DEPARTMENT WHO SAID THAT FOREIGN MINISTRY AGREED TO A CONSULAR VISIT TO GREY BY

2 CONSULAR OFFICIALS AT 3 P.M. ON 26 NOVEMBER, THE NAMES SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY BY 5 P.M. TODAY. SHE SET OUT RULES FOR THE VISIT, WHICH WERE EXACTLY AS IN APRIL (SIR D. HOPSON'S 34. TELEGRAM NO. 334) EXCEPT FOR REFERENCE TO CONSULAR OFFICIALS AND THE FACT THAT THE VISIT WOULD LAST FOR 25 MINUTES IN PLACE OF 20 MINUTES IN APRIL.

Dept

PRESSED FOR A LONGER VISIT WITH REFERENCE TO HONG KONG VISITS WHICH HAD LASTED ON AVERAGE 35 MINUTES, MISS CHANG SAID THAT IF WE WISHED TO GO ON LONGER IT COULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE PUBLIC SECURITY MAN ON THE SPOT.

I SAID THAT I WOULD MAKE THE VISIT ACCOMPANIED BY GARSIDE. SINCE THERE WAS SOM /GP UNDEC/ TO THE QUESTION WHETHER WE WERE CONSULAR OFFICIALS, T EXPLAINED THAT I WAS CONSUL GENERAL AND GARSIDE CONSUL. MISS CHANG DID NOT ACCEPT THIS THERE AND THEN BUT UNDERTOOK TO CONFIRM THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM OVER THE NAMES IN THE COURSE OF TODAY.

I SAID IN CONCLUSION THAT THOUGH I ACCEPTED THE OFFER OF ACCESS I MUST POINT OUT THAT GREY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED ALREADY, IN PARTICULAR SINCE ALL THE CHINESE REFERRED TO IN THE NCNA STATEMENT OF JULY 1967 HAD BEEN RELEASED, MISS CHANG REPLIED THAT SHE HAD INSTRUCTIONS TO INFORM US OF THE DETAILS OF THE VISIT AND COULD NOT DISCUSS OTHER MATTERS.

FCO PASS IMMEDIATE HONG KONG.,

MR. CRADOCK

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

FAR EASTERN DEPT.

HONG KONG DEPT.

CONSULAR DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

INFORMATION RESEARCH DEPT.

RESEARCH DEPT.

#FORMATION POLICY DEPT.

NNNN

fa See (59

CONFIDENTIAL

rop ca

CONFIDENTIAL

25 at FEC

Cypher/Cat A

IKMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMIONWEALTH OFFICE

Telno 1047 23 November, 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to FCO telegram No. 1047 of 23 November Repeated for information to: Hong Kong.

I have been asked to send a member of my staff to

י.

ARCESVL. 31

25NOV 1968

FEC134/1

paleo 25/11

a meeting with the News Department at 10 a.m. on 25 November

on a matter concerning News Department". I assume this refers to Grey and shall attend myself. Unless I hear to the contrary from you beforehand, I shall speak as proposed in paragraph 3 of my telegram No. 1042.

FCO pass Priority Hong Kong.

Mr. Cradock

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

Far Eastern Dept

Hong Kong Dept

Consular Dept

News Dept

Information Research Dept

Research Dept

Information Policy Dept

CONFIDENTIAL

bbbbb

EN CLAIR

FEC134/1.

TOP COPY

PRIORITY FOREIGN AND 'COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NO. 1591 15 NOVEMBER, 1968

UNCLASSIFIED

(F)

ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 1591 OF 15/11 REPEATED

FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.

YOUR TELNO 2183. GREY AND PRISON VISITS_/

WE AGREE AND SHALL ACT LIKEWISE,

STEWART

DEPARTIENTAL DISTRIBUTION

FAR EASTERN LEFT.

HONG KONG DEPT,

CONSULAR DERN

NEWS DEPT.

INFORMATION RESEARCH DEPT.

Ju pur

pur 18/10

XXXXXX

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

FEC139/1

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Top Secret Secret

Confidential

Kenzined

Unclassified

Infirecrata Priority

}

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

reach addressco(s).

(Date) 2 (Date)......

Despatched 97/

LILI

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair. Code Cypher

Draft Telegram to:- Hong Kong

No.....

יוייו

"Security classification]

[Sec

[ Privacy

Privacy marking -if any

4/c

[Codeword-if any).

Addressed to

telegram No....

And to

HONG KONG

1591. (date)

(Date) ___15/1 repeated for information to

And to:-

Repeat to:-

Pekar's

Saving to:-

Saving to...

15711

ILLU

PEKING

--------------------▬▬▬▬.....................P

Your Tee No 2/8 3

[Grey and Prison Vints]

agree

Water likewise

and shall act

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Distribution:-

Sear

سے

FED

Не верь Coumar News

EXANTED AT 17507091

57.

بدل

15/11

CONFIDENT IAL

CYFFER/CAT A

FEIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NO 2183

TO FOREIGN AND COTRONWEALTH OFFICE

15 NOVENSER 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED FCO

RFI PIKING.

い

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

J 8NOV 1968

FECI

TELEGRAM NO. 2183 DATED 15TH NOVEMBER

HKCK

小

12/28

MY TELEGRAM NO. 2176 : GREY AND FRISON VISITS.

WE SHALL HOT INTORM THE PRESS OF VISITS MADE BY N.C.N.A. TO THE

PRISON. ON 13TH ARD 19TH NOVEMBER BUT IT 13 LIKELY THAT THE MELS

WILL BE LEAKED IN THE COPPUNIST KEVGPAPERS, KO SMALL TIPW NO DOUBT

BL FRLOSED TO SAY WHETHER WE HAVE STRUCK A BARGAIN WITH THE PERING

GOVERMENT OVER A VISIT TO GREY, I SUGGEST HE SHOULD SAY IF ASKED

THAT THE KISSION IN FEKING HAS REPEATEDLY FRESSED FOR ACCESS TO GREY

AND US POPE THAT, AS IN AFSIL, THE VISITS MADE BY THE 1.C.N.A. AND

REFRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNIST KEYSPAPERS WILL SHORTLY ES FOLLOWED

BY THE GRANTING OF PERMISSION FOR THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES TO VISIT

GREY, BUT WE WOULD DO OUR BEST TO AVOID CONFIRMING EXPLICITLY THAT

WE HAVE STRUCK A BARGAIN.

FCO PLEASE PASS FRIORITY PEKING.

SIR D.TRENCH

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

HONG KONG DEPT.

PAR FASTERY DET,

INSULAR DEFT.

MAIS DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

Note Fo. 161

REIVED IN

No.31

- Sau 1968

Fe=134/1. pakonfi

The office of the British Chargé d'Affaires present their

compliments to the Consular Department of the Hinistry of Foreign

Affairs of the People's Republic of China and have the honour to

raise the following matter.

Er. Anthony Gray, Reuters Corres ondent in Peking, has been

held under house arrest without any charges having been made cœminst

him by the Chinese authorities since the 21st of July, 1967. During

this period despite repeated requests for consular access officials

of this office have been permitted only one short visit to Mr. Grey. The office of the British Chargé d'Affaires repeat their request

for immediate consular access to him.

The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires avail themselves

of this opportunity to renew to the Consular Department of the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China the

assurance of their highest consideration.

office of the British Chargé d'Affaires,

24 October, 1968.

CYPHER/CAT A

ROUTINE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 2163

SECRET

BLESSED FCO TEL NO.

SECRET

TOP

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

7 NOVEMBER 1968

2163 OF 7 NOVEMBER RFI PEKING,

MY TELEGRAM HO. 407 TO PEKING: GREY

RECEIVED IN ¡ARCEHVERN 3.

1Jbk

FEC1341.

CRADOCK'S REMARKS ABOUT GREY DURING HIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON 3JTH OCTOBER HAVE GIVEN RISE TO A GOOD DEAL OF HOSTILE COMMENT IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS, THIS HAS BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY A REVIVAL OF PUBLICITY ABOUT QUOTE ATROCITIES UNQUOTE COMMITTED DURING LAST YEAR'S DISTURBANCES, QUOTE MARTYRS UNQUOTE PRISONERS AND DETAINEES. ARTICLES HAVE BEEN ON FAMILIAR LINES AND REITERATE DEMANDS FOR RELEASE OF PRISONERS AND DETAINEES AND FOR ACCEPTANCE OF DEHANDS MADE BY QUOTE MARTYR'S UNQUOTE FAMILIES.

2. THIS SPATE OF ARTICLES IS NO DOUBT A REACTION TO CRADOCK'S REFERENCES TO GREY, WHICH HAVE EVIDENTLY HIT THE CHINESE ON A SENSITIVE SPOT. IT MAY BE THAT N.C.H.A. 'S REQUEST FOR A FURTHER ROUND OF SPECIAL VISITS TO IMPRISONED NEWSWORKERS SHOULD ALSO BE SEEN IN THIS LIGHT, AND THAT COMMUNIST PRESS WILL SEEK TO PRESENT THESE VISITS, IF THEY TAKE PLACE, AND ALSO HSUEH P'ING'S RELEASE ON 16TH NOVEMBER, AS QUOTE VICTORIES UNQUOTE KIICH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN QUOTE FORCED UNQUOTE TO CONCEDE UNDER COMMUNIST PRESSURE. THE EARLY RELEASE OF GREY SCARCELY FITS INTO THIS PICTURE. IT SEEMS POSSIBLE THAT H.C.N.A. AND THE LOCAL COMMUNISTS ARE MAKING A FINAL EFFORT TO PERSUADE PEKING TO RAISE THE PRICE FOR GREY'S RELEASE.

F. C.0. PASS ROUTINE PEKING.

SIR D. TRENCH

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:

FAR EASTERN DEPT.

S. B.A.D.

HUNG KONG DEPT.

INFORMATION POLICY DEPT.

INFOR AT ICH RESEARCH DEPT.

1473 DEFT.

CONSULAR DEPT.

(REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

from pm exp

CONFIDENTIAL

ри вр

FEC135/1

TOP COPY

расноар

CONFIDENT | AL

YPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 931

6 NOVEMBER 1968 (FE)

•

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 931 OF 611

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG,

나

YOUR TELEGRAM NO.1008: CHINESE PROTEST.

WE HAVE SOME SYMPATHY WITH YOUR DESIRE TO PUT THE CHINESE RIGHT. BUT ASSUME THAT THE CHINESE HAVE ADEQUATE MEANS OF FINDING OUT WHAT CRADOCK ACTUALLY SAID AND HOPE THAT THEIR PROTEST IS SIMPLY FOR THE RECORD. FROM YOUR ACCOUNT IT WOULD NOT APPEAR THAT THE CHINESE EXPECT A REPLY. IF THIS IS THE CASE, WE CAN SEE NO ADVANTAGE IN PROLONGING THE EXCHANGE. IF HOWEVER THE CHINESE REVERT TO THE ISSUE YOU SHOULD REBUT THEIR CHANGES.

2. WE PROPOSE THAT WHEN YOU NEXT VISIT THE M F A (AS SEEMS LIKELY IN THE NEAR FUTURE IN CONNEXION WITH GREY) YOU GO ARMED WITH THE TEXT OF CRADOCK'S REMARKS: BUT THAT IF THE CHINESE DO NOT RAISE THE MATTER AGAIN YOU DO NOT YOURSELF TAKE THE INITIATIVE

IN DOING SO.

STEWART

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

FAR EASTERN DEPT.

HONG KONG DEPT. CONSULAR DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

RESEARCH DEPT

INFORMATION' RESEARCH DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

FECIBCNX

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

PRIORITY MARKINGS (Date)

6/11

Top Secret

Flash

Secret

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

Priority Routine

Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should reach addresse(3)....

Despatched

1330

Security classification" -if any

TERASAL DA

CYPHER

[Se

En Clair.

[

Privacy marking -if any

CONFIDENTIAL

-----

Code

Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

PEKING

No.

(Date)

And to?

itang

931

Repeat to:--

Saving to:

Distribution:-

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

telegram No. 931

And to

611 repeated for information to

Departmental

F.E.D.

H.K.D.

Consular D. News D. **XXKA R.D.

I.R.D.

Saving to

PEKING

(date)

HONG KONG

ויזוחחח

Your telegram No. 1008: Chinese Protest

JIL

We have some sympathy with your desire to put

the Chinese right. But assume that the Chinese

have adequate means of finding out what Cradock

actually said and hope that their protest is simply

for the record. From your account it would not

appear that the Chinese expect a reply. If this is

the case, we can see no advantage in prolonging the

exchange. If however the Chinese revert to the

issue should rebut them, their clages.

2. We propose that when you next visit the MF A

(as seems likely in the near future in connexion with

Grey) you go armed with the text of Cradock's remarks;

but that if the Chinese do not raise the matter again

you do not yourself take the initiative in doing so.

1155 20 4 1/5526 4/+/687

FEC132/1

AP COPY

4o 12/11

EN CLAIR

PIEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG

TELNO 1568

5 NOVEMBER, 1968 (F)

UNCL'SSIFIÐ

ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 1568 OF 5 NOVEMBER

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.

YOUR TEL NO 2153.

WE AGREE

STEWART

[DISCUSSIONS WITH NONA).

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

FAR EASTERN DEPT.

HONG KONG DEPT.

CONS'LAR DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

RESEARCH DEPT.

INFORMATION RESE:RCH DEPT.

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

FEC134/1

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Unclassified

Flash

Immediaza Priority Routine

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

reach addressee(s).

(Date)......

Despatched

שון ר־

1628

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair,

Sumber

Draft Telegram to:

Hồng Kong

10681

[Sec

Security classification" -if any

Privacy marking -if any

]

{Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

telegram No.

And to

Unclassified

----Feed Pr

qe qeAdemminilandubitaviti da se na kama

Home Kong

1568

No.1 repeated for information to

6/11

(Date)

And to:-

Repeat to:-

Peking

Saving to:-

Saving to.....

(date)

5 Lovember

Peking

----------gyulnunk kell

------

-----

You Tu No 2153:

Discussions with NCNA

We agree

with bathr

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MAREIN

paragraphs.

Distribution:-

Dept

میشه

HK Dept.

Commlar News Copies for

R2D IRD

P2 5/11

En Clair

Fecize/1.

TOP COPY

KLEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG

Telno 1563

UNCLASSIFIED

1 November, 1968 (HK)

Addressed to Hong Kong Repeated for information to:

telegram No. 1563 of 1 November.

Peking.

Your telegramo. 2137 Grey/

We agree with your paragraph 2.

Stewart

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

Hong Kong Dept.

Far Eastern Dept.

News Dept.

Information Policy Dept.

Information Research Dept. P.U.S.D.

UELIM

Вари

7/11

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

Registry No. K

DEPARTMENT

FEC3e/1

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

*Top Secret

Sere

Confidement

Kesuncteri

Unclassified..

Flask- Immediate

Routina

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

reach addressee(1)-

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date).....

-1 NOV 1968

Despatched

748

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

[Security classification

-if any

Unclose fund

[

Privacy marking ]

if any

God Coppher

Draft Telegram to:- GAY HONG KONG

(Date)

And to:-

1563

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

OAG Hong Kong,

telegram No....

1563

And to

(date)

I hovember

Hom

[repeated

repeated for information to -

Pekering

|--TI‒‒‒‒‒‒‒DJELLI.

DOMAIN mad

Repeat to:-

PEKING

Saving to........

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

Your telegram No. 2137

[Grey]

Saving to:-

DUNIA Da saga D

ague with your paragath a

Distribution:-

As for Hangthang telegram 2137 Departmental 1 Hing Keng Defe-

Coples

For fasten Antiers 9.PD I.R.D

Political Affairs Deft

Claufundir challenged For 1/1

besue

ANG

$ 1.11.6.

FEHIB/1.

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

$...

TOP COPY

EDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM MUKEER 2153

TO FOREIGN AND COPHONEALTH OFFICE

5 NOVEMBER 1968

COFFIDENTIAL

Reph, sent

ра вр M

FEC134/1.

ADDRESSED FCO AS MY TELEGRAF NO. 2153 DATED 5TH NOVEMBER FFI FEKING.

FY TELEGRAM NO. 2149: DISCUSSIONS WITH M.C.MA.

THE ASSURANCES ABOUT ACCESS TO GREY I FEKING TELEGRAM NO. 1902

SEŁM TO BE AS HUCH AS WE CAN EX ECT.'POLITICAL ADVISER WILL THEREFORE

ARRANGE ANOTHER KEETING SOON WITH N.C.N.A. TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS

OF THE VISITS HERE.

2. HE WILL REFUSE TO CONCEDE THE TWO FOINTS REQUESTED BY N.C.N.A.

(PARAGRAPH 3 OF MY TELEGRAM UNDEP PEFERENCE). THOSE CONCESSIONS

WOULD BE FOST UNWELCOME TO THE PRISON AUTHORITIES. IT SEEKS UNNECES

ARY AND UNRISE TO MAKE THEM. CRADOCK AGREES.

szync.

FCO PLEASE PASS IITEDIATS PEI

SIR D.TRENCH

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

ADVANCE COPIES SENT.

FAR EASTERN DEPT. HONG KONG DEPT.

CONSULAR DIPT.

NEWS DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat A

TOP COE

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Telno 1008

CONFIDENTIAL

5 November, 1968

Addressed to FCO telegram No.1008 of 5 November, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

►

FECIBC||

My telegram No.1002, Hong Kong telegram No.407, your telegram No.923.

Would you see objection to me sending text of Cradock'à comments on Grey to M.F.A. with Note referring to my interview of 2 November and pointing out for the record that 2Cradock said nothing factually inaccurate.

FEC25/2

2. If you agree with the above proposal I would delay telling Chinese of Denson's nomination until after Cradock returns to Peking.

FCO pass routine Hong Kong.

Mr. Weston.

[Repeated as requested]

reply sent

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

Far Eastern Dept.

Hong Kong Dept.

Consular Dept. News Dept.

88888

CONFIDENTIAL

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

EN OLAIR

TOP COPY

PRIORITY HONG KONG TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE PRIORITY HONG KONG TELEGRAM O. 407 TO PEKING 4 NOVEMBER, 1968

1868

UNCLASSIFIED

RECENED ADERESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 407 OF ↳ NOVEMBER. RE BASED ON St

FOR INFORMATION TO FCO.

YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 1002 TO FCO.

| -5.0V 1968

pupasto Japest FECI

FOLLOWING REMARKS ABOUT GREY WERE MADE BY CRADOCK IN RESPONSE TO

VARIOUS QUESTIONS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON 30TH OCTOBER:

QUOTE I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO TONY GREY, AS YOU KNOW, MR.

GREY HAS BEEN UNDER WHAT AMOUNTS TO SOLITARY CONFINEMENT SINCE JULY

OF 1967 UNQUOTE.

QUOTE WE HAD ACCESS TO HIM ON APRIL 23RD OF THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST

AND ONLY TIME SINCE HIS CONFINEMENT. SINCE THEN, THAT WAS SIX MONTHS

AGO, WE HAD NO FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT HIM, THOUGH OF COURSE, VE

HAVE REQUESTED MANY TIMES FOR FURTHER ACCESS UNQUOTE.

QUOTE SINCE APRIL WE HAVE NOT SEEN MR. GREY UNQUOTE.

QUOTE FROM TIME TO TIME WE ARE TOLD BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THAT WE

ARE WELL AWARE OF WHY MR. GREY HAS BEEN TREATED IN THE WAY HE HAS.

OF COURSE, THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT BECAUSE MR. GREY HAS

BEEN TREATED ACCORDING TO NO NORMAL STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR. HE HAS

NOT BEEN SENTENCED IN ANY COURT OR ACCUSED OF ANY CRIME. HE HAS

SIMPLY BEEN HELD WITHOUT EXPLANATION UNQUOTE.

QUOTE ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT MR. GREY, WHO IS AN INNOCENT MAN, HAS

BEEN HELD IN HIS HOUSE, AND IN ONE ROOM IN HIS HOUSE, SINCE JULY OF

1967 AND THIS, IS A SCANDALOUS THING, AND I HOPE AND I PRAY THAT IT

WILL COME TO AN END VERY SOON UNQUOTE.

QUOTE THERE WAS ONE OCCASION WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO GET A PARCEL TO HIM

AND THAT WAS LATE IN 1967. SINCE THEN WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET

ANYTHING TO HIM FROM OUR MISSION UNQUOTE.

QUOTE TO TAKE THE OUTSTANDING INSTANCE OF MR. GREY, WE HAVE NOT SEEN

HIM SINCE APRIL, THAT IS SIX MONTHS, AND I WOULD NOT LIKE TO

SPECULATE ON WHAT HIS STATE OF HEALTH IS UNQUOTE.

PCO PL'ASE PASS PRIORITY PIKING SI. D. TREKCH

/ REPEATEL AS REQUESTED_/

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT S.L.A.D.

HONG KONG BEPART. INT

HE IS DEPARTIENT

INFORMATION POLICY DEPARTENT INFORMATION RESEARCH DEPARTMENT

CVRIOR/CAT A

CONFILARIAL

TOP COPY

TVED IN

TIRES 2137

1 VOYEURER 1568

* No 3+

Fecix/

TETIAL

DRESSER FOC TELEGRAM ". 2177 CF 131 VEWER SERIA

now Depth

PING TOLESPA" NO. 542 : CREY.

M.C.N.A. PASSED US THE FOLLO"1" "ESSACE THIS "ARNING: -

"THE RESPONSIBLE MEMEPS OF ESTUA MENS AGENCY ARE PREPARING

TO MEA SPECIAL VISIT TO SEE THE NOI KPW NEPOSTERS AS WELL AS THE

STEDE FATRISTIC JOURITALISTS WHO HAVE BEEN INJUSTIFIATLY NIPR 130MER

IT SEUSSY P*** LANKS, NE WILL TAKE ALONG THE PROPOVICIOLE MEURENS

CE THE VARIOUS PATRIOTIC PAPERS COMCERTE", "ILL YOU PLEASE ARRANGE

FOR A MEETING FOR US TO SEE THE FOLITICAL ADVISER SCHETIME TOMORROY

* SC TUT PROPER ARRAUMSCENTS CENTER KATE TO SALE VA TO PTH

1'S

PEOPLE I TE CORES DAYS,''

2. POLITICAL ADVISER HAS ARRANGED TO HEET THEN AT 10.30 A.M. 2ND

MOVENDER, HE "ILL ISIST ON THE NEED FOR A VISIT BY THE HISSION

TO GREY AND WILL STICK TO THE DETAILS OF THE VISITS "MADE HERE IN

APRIL.

FOO PLEASE PASS I'VEDIATE PEKING.

SIR D. TRENCH

/RELATED AS REQUESTED_/

DE ART ENTAL DISTRIBUTION

H.LG HONG DEPT.

FAR EASTERN DEPT.

HE'S DEPT.

LIFORATION POLICY DEFT.

INFORATION RESEARCH DEPT. POLITICAL AFFAIRS DEPT.

ADVANCE COPIES SENT.

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat A

SECRET

FEB/4211

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Telno 1002

SECRET

2 November, 1958

مل

Addressed to FCO telegram No.1002 of 2 November, Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

My telegram No.996.

Fecise/1

I was received by Miss Chang (Deputy Director of News Department) this afternoon. She read a short statement saying that Hong Kong branch of N.C.N.A. demanded that Hong Kong British authorities should arrange in the near future formal visits by responsible officials of N.G,N.A. and patriotic newspapers to the 14 N.C.N.A. journalists and patriotic news workers who we.e unjustifiably imprisoned in Hong Kong. Details for these visits could be arranged through direct contact between N.G.N.1. in Hong Kong and Hong Kong British authorities. After these visits had taken place, the Chinese side could arrange for a visit to Grey by British officers. She refused to be drawn on details of either the Hong Kong visits or the visit to Grey.

Chang went on to refer to a news conference which she said Cradock had given recently in Hong Kong. She alleged that Cradock had made "very vicious" comments about Grey, which were not conducive to solution of the problem.

3. In reply I said I could not accept the language in which the Chinese request was phrased. Journalists and news workers serving prison sentences in Hong Kong had all been charged, tried and sentenced under due process of law. There was therefore no question of them being unjustifiably imprisoned. I undertook to resort to you the substance of the Chinese request. I noted the Chinese side had raised the question of Grey who had been detained without charges in solitary confinement since 21 July, 1967, a period of 15 months. I reminded Chang that the question of visit to Gry had been raised in an interview between Cradock and his [? a omitted] on 6 July. Subsequent requests for Consular access had been made by this office on 19 August, 2 September, 14 September and 24 October. I took note of the fact that now at last the Chinese side had made an answer. As for the matter of Cr-dock's news conference in Hong Kong, I had not seen a text and would therefore make no comment.

Chang relied it was the N.C.N.A, in Hong Kong who were demanding the visits not the Chinese side who were responding to our requests. She concluded with a few accusations about unjustifiable imprisonment of Hong Kong prisoners which I rebutted.

5. Chang seemed anxious to lay up independent initiative of the N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong in asking for visits to Hong Kong prisoners. Her refusal in reply to my query, to confirm that arrangements would be anne as for April visits sugrests Peking may wish to give N.C.N.A. Hong Kong a free hand to press for minor concessions. As seen from here, the Chinese decision is not necessarily incompatible with a decision to release Grey after they get their visits and Hsuch is released. They may simply be trying to extract the last ounce of advantage from us before letting Grey out.

/6, Hong Kong

SECRET

-2-

Hong Kong telegram No.406 arrived after my interview.

FCO pass Inaediate Hong Kong.

Mr. Weston

[Repeated as requested]

DEPART!ENTAL DISTRIBUTION

Far Eastern Dept.

8.3.A.D.

Hong Kong Dept.

News Dept.

Information Policy Dept. Information Research Dept.

88888

SECRET

ADVANCE COPIES SENT