10 FEC 13/3
FILE No.
PART
DO NOT RETAIN FILES AND PAPERS UNNECESSARILY
RETURN THEM TO REGISTRY FOR BU OR PA.
STAMP
YEAR
1070
SECI
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UP
(N,B. The gracing of this jacket mut be the same as that of the highest graded document contained in it. The appropriate upgrading skip must be affixed when ever necessary,Į
CONFIDENTIAL
H.M. DIPLOMATIC SERVICE
FILE No.
DEPT.
POST FAR EASTERN
FEC
TITLE: PROVISION
Book
ON
REFER TO
13/3.
OF MATERIAL FOR
Сни
of
Contents checked for transfer to
(5gd.).
Dabe..
DLO.
10 AIM 1874-
(Part)
FOR. ANTHONY... CAR.. GREY
HIS DETENTION IN CHINA...
REFER TO
6C
.235
REFER TO
NAME
TO
NAME
TO
NAME
DATE
TO
DATE
(and dept when necessary) SEE:
(and dept. when necessary) SEE:
DATE
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M. Appleyard Mr Crowsn Lu
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1940
2210
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|
(N.B. The trading of his jacket must be the same as that of the highest graded document contained in it. The appropriate upgrading the mat be affzed when ever necessary.)
CONFIDENTIAL
CLOSED UNTIL
2001
Registry Address
Room No. Atsarvete
K27/
1.
King Charles Street.
YEAR STAMP
1970
UMOLASSIFIED
FEL 12/1
20/10/70 Despatched
Far Eastern Department,
20 October, 1970
I anclose a copy of a rother illiterate letter from
Antony Grey about some of the stuff which he left behind
in Peking. If there is anything which anyone can do to
bring out the stuff, I am sure he would be extremely
grateful.
J. Milan, Eay,
YEKING.
L
L
(L. V. Appleyard)
に
LAST PARLA
Exter
La Landelle
Route des Landes St. Ouen Jersey C. I.
Jersey West 854
5 October 1970
Dear Len
FEC 13/3
I had a copy of your letter and inventory from Mr. Livingstone today to advise on that should be done witht our stuff there.
Remember when we had dinner I said there wate a ome odd items I fancied as memento value. I've told
Livingstone what they are but none are at the Mission. If it becomes possible to get access to the house or wherever the junk pile of furniture is I have asked that
two Chinese stools, a half moon coffee table, a
Chinese typewriter table with shelf and a few crocks with dragon motifs be taken to the Mission for me.
I don't know for sure how much it would cost to ship them home but since none of the items are worth much I thought some friend of yours might stick them in his lift van to bring home for me. That's why I'm writing this letter to you. In the unlikely event of all this working out is there someone at present in Peking who you could ask to do this favour for me.
It was jolly nice to see you all again at the Brli. Shirley sends here best wishes to you and Elizabeth. Ifyou wanted to be super too, you could post the Deighton book back to me here. (It was a present from Shirley in our early days') Hen hao etc.
Yours,
Tay
THE
вид
Buy to In Jahr morgen
Blay
c.c. Mr. Marshall J.R.
c.c. M. Hayor
A
40
Mu
Treasury Chambers, Great George Street, S.W. 1
I
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to su
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01-900 1234
12 October 1970
Mi Robert's
FEC
tare.
You wrote to Haydon (F.C.0.) on 18th September enclosing an extract from a letter you had received from Gerald Long of Reuters about tax relief for Anthony Grey. This correspondence was copied to Inland Revenue, who have suggested that you might wish to base the substance of your reply on the lines of the attached draft.
I am copying this letter to Godden (Private Secretary to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, F.C.0.)
(N. A. Nagler)
Сьогоде
2. Colson
D. J. D. Maitland, Esq., C.M.G., O.B.E.
t
This
Grey
I seem
For put
1
on the sport. I
imagine he will have
difficulty in proving that
his book was written
"whilly abroad "
Popkom
187x
DRAFT REPLY
"The Inland Revenue have been in frequent communication
with Mr. Grey's accountant. They still have not received all
the information they require in order to determine whether
Mr. Grey has any liability to tax in respect of his earnings
from writings and television interviews about his experiences.
They have, however, been able to agree that Mr. Grey should
be treated as not resident and not ordinarily resident in the
United Kingdom for the year 1969-70 and also, provided the
circumstances remain unchanged, for the year 1970-71. This
means that Mr. Grey will not be taxable on the profits
derived from a book written wholly abroad while those
circumstances continue, whether the book is published here
or elsewhere, but he may be taxable on the profits derived
from television interviews and articles in United Kingdom
newspapers, These aspects are, however, still the subject
of correspondence and no final view has been reached,
The Inland Revenue are well aware of Mr. Grey's
sufferings, and they are proceeding as sympathetically as
they can, but they cannot give any final answer until they
have complete information."
t
FEC
13
Registry No.
DRAFT
lete
Type 1 +
From
To:-
M. Cluney
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
Donald Maitland ts Q
lo Down
Downing St.
Telephone No. & Ext,
Department
FOLD BRAFT
pending
Robin Haydon has passed
/confinator for / Your letter of
Hi Marshall
れ
at 1.R. A
whom I have
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18
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tax relief for Anthony Grey, the
fome
Renters correspondent
abouret
Petting.
After Long wrote to hand Shepherd
in April
fact
he did in
conduct the
Treasury
the
Inland Revenue.
The Treasug
then wrote that
(134393) 14. 737113-1504 470 Hw.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
(FEC 13/3)
کھنے
RESTRICTED
Despatched 2/10/70
79
Far Eastern Department
2 October, 1970.
Tax Relief for Anthony Grey
(20)
As agreed on the telephone this morning, I am now sending you a copy of the letter with enclosure we have hađ from Maitland at No. 10. I am assuming that you already have a copy of Long's letter of 3 April to the then
Foreign Secretary.
2*
I am grateful for your help.
(P. J. Roberts)
J. Marshall, Esq.,
Private Secretary to the Chairman,
Board of Inland Revenue,
Somerset House,
LONDON, W.C.2.
RESTRICTED
(134392) DL. 737115 750M 4/70 10w.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
FEC
Registry No.
13/3
DRAFT
late
Type 1 +
From
मै
2/10
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top-Secret
Secret.
Sonfidential,
Restricted.
bircissified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
To:-
J. Marshan
Private Secretary
to the Chairman,
Inland
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
Revenue
Brand of
Somerset House
W.6-2
Tax Relief for Anthony Grey
As agreed on.
ал a
the tel
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Sending you empty
with enclosure
copy of the letter five
morning,
a
at 380
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and at
assuming
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have had
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copy of Long's leet of 3 Agil
to
then Foreign Secretary,
1
an grateful for your help.
Fore
Dear Robin,
12 J
Ð IN
FED-fucdvice pleas
V Na. 30 21 SEK1970
FEC 13/3.
Mr Appleyard
(Q10, Downing Street,
Whitehall.
September 18, 1970
I enclose an extract from a letter I have
received from Gerald Long of Reuters which refers
back to his letter of April 3 to the then Foreign
and Commonwealth Secretary about tax relief for
Anthony Grey.
Would you please let me know how I should
(38)
reply.
Yours
242,
Donald
W. R. Haydon, Esq.
(DONALD MAITLAND)
I have not seen correspondance on this matter: but I suffose any fafers will be with you and/or FED?
Private Secretary
ul. Hay da
1879
EXTRACT FROM GERALD LONG'S LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 15
XXXXXXX
Last April, I wrote to Michael Stewart to ask
for his benevolent intervention in securing
some tax relief for Anthony Grey. I had an
acknowledgement from Lord Shepherd, saying that
he was looking into the matter and would write
again, but he never did, and circumstances have
since ensured that he never will. I think it
is quite likely that this matter has not been
passed on, and so I write to you to enquire what
you think my best course might be. I enclose
a copy of my letter to Mr Stewart.
send a similar one to the present incumbent, or
do you think this intervention is quite futile?
I would be very grateful to have your advice.
XXXXXXXX
Should I
THER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
R.
MIEDIDE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO PEKING
TELNO 301
CONFIDENTIAL.
REGISTRAN
11 SEPTEMBER 1970 (PB)
FE.C 13/31
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 331 OF 11 SEPTEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG WASHINGTON.
YOUR TELNO 577: TV COVERAGE OF FIRST OCTOBER CELEBRATIONS.
PLEASE APPROACH THE CHINESE ON THE LINES YOU SUGGEST ON BEHALF OF BBC TV, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEND TO PEKING A CREW CONSISTING OF A REPORTER, A CAMERAMAN AND A SOUND RECORDIST, THEY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER THE CHINESE WOULD IMPOSE ANY CONDITIONS OR STIPULATIONS. BBC CANNOT PROVIDE NAMES OF CREW, UNTIL THEY KNOW WHETHER MEMBERS MUST GO FROM THE UK OR NOT.
2.
VISNEWS HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM THE CHINESE,
THEY WILL NOT WISH FOR ANY SEPARATE ARRANGEMENTS,
3. MORGAN HAS MENTIONED THIS IDEA TO MA AT RECEPTION FOR THE AIRCRAFT DELEGATION BUT MAKING IT CLEAR THAT FORMAL APPROACH IS BEING MADE BY YOU. MA WAS ENTHUSIASTICALLY NON- COMMITTAL.
4. YOUR PARA 2 DESPITE MANY OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY THESE RECEPTIONS CHINESE HAVE NOT MENTIONED GREY BOOK. PRESS COVERAGE HAS BEEN WIDE BUT NOT SENSATIONAL.
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES
G.I.P.D. NEWS D.
F.E.D. I.A.D.
MR. WILFORD
CONFIDENTIAL
+
Ben
21/9.
L
L
C
+
1PHER/CAT A
PRIORITY PEKING
TEL NO
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL'
TOP COPY
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
08 SEPTEMBER 1970
ADDRESSED TO F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 577 OF 8 SEPTEMBER R F I
TO HONG KONG.
T.V. COVERAGE OF FIRST OCTOBER CELEBRATIONS.
IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES MAY TRY TO SEND
TELEVISION CAMERA TEAMS TO COVER THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS.
37
FEC 13/3.
AN ITALIAN TELEVISION TEAM WERE ALLOWED TO FILM LAST YEAR AND
FRENCH TEAMS HAVE RECENTLY FILMED SIHANOUK AND ACCOMPANIED THE
BETTENCOURT MISSION, A NORWEGIAN JOURNALIST HOPES TO BE HERE ON
FIRST OCTOBER AND THE CURRENT VISIT OF EDGAR SNOW MAY ENCOURAGE
OTHERS TO TRY AND MAY INDICATE INCREASING WILLINGNESS OF CHINESE
TO RECEIVE FOREIGN PRESS. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER
VISNEWS (SEE BRINSON'S LETTER OF 21 AUGUST TO LAUGHTON NOT COPIED
TO HONG KONG OR OTHERS E.G. THE B B C) HAVE HEARD ANYTHING ON THIS
SUBJECT.
PBAG/301/1(r)
2. WHILE THE PUBLICATION OF GREY'S BOOK MAY INCLINE THE
CHINESE TO REFUSE AN APPROACH FROM BRITISH ORGANISATIONS TO SEND
CAMERAMEN I SHOULD BE WILLING TO HAVE A MEMBER OF MY STAFF
APPROACH CHINESE AT WORKING LEVEL ABOUT THIS. BRITISH PRESENCE
WOULD HAVE COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES AND, IF HANDLED PROPERLY,
COULD ALSO PRODUCE POLITICAL DIVIDEND. SINCE, HOWEVER,
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MORE PRESSING QUESTIONS IN SINO-BRITISH
RELATIONS, I WOULD NOT RPT NOT WISH TO PITCH OUR APPROACH TOO
HIGH AT THIS STAGE. TIME IS SHORT AND AN APPROACH WOULD HAVE
TO BE MADE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. I SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL
FOR EARLY REPLY.
MR. DENSON
FILES G.I.P.D.
NEY'S D. I.A.D. F.E.D.
+
CONFIDENTIAL
P
Помывоч
+
<
+
L
1
7
4
Cekiny Grey's
File Coppery
Book)
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
середи
ba
Cetting An Explanation
Fee is/s
י
1
Mr Michael Stewart, Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, pushed a red box of du Maurier cigarettes towards me across the white blotter on his desk and said how glad he was that at last I was sitting there beside him. It was the late afternoon of November 6th, 1969 and I had been home from Peking just over three weeks. The meeting took place in Mr Stewart's office in Whitehall at his invitation. Mr Stewart was the man who all along had the power to order the release of imprisoned Com- munist newsmen in Hong Kong and so free me from my solitary confinement. Some British newspapers had campaigned editorially for this, criticising Mr Stewart for not ordering the release of the Chinese carlier. Many of my fellow journalists too had expressed strong feelings, both privately and publicly, about this failure to act sooner. As I have already shown, my own feelings as I sat alone in Peking month after month were often bitterly resentful.
I had waited in the corridor outside briefly while an usher had checked whether the Minister was ready to see me. A private secretary who had come from an adjoining office said to me confidentially as we waited, 'He's had a hard day, you know'. I suppressed a smile in the dim corridor wondering whether the secretary was half-expecting me to go in waving my arms and remonstrating wildly with his tiring chief.
I was announced and shown into a very large room lit by a number of table lamps. The high walls of the room held long narrow mirrors and possibly some paintings but it was not easy to see in the gloom beyond the glow from the lamps. Mr Stewart stood waiting for me behind his desk, a shortish man in a grey suit and waistcoat with grey hair and slightly pouched cheeks. He offered his hand, I said 'How do you do' and after the formal handshake, I sat down in the chair offered, close against the side
324
J
1
GETTING AN EXPLANATION 325
of the rather small desk. Mr Stewart spoke with a slight north- country accent and chose his words when speaking formally with great ration, clearly considering carefully what he was com- mitting self to before uttering them. Mr Stewart offered me a cigarette from his red box of filter-tipped du Maurier and after I declined, lit one himself.
I waited politely for the Minister to begin, curious to know how he would approach the topic. He said how glad he was to see me there at last, then launched immediately into saying how he had felt unable to release the Hong Kong news workers before he did. It had been 'a diflicult decision', he said.
He had had to balance the facts and had thought of me sitting there in Peking alone for a long time. But there had been riots in Hong Kong and they felt that to release the convicted news workers would have jeopardised the security of the colony.
'I don't expect you to agree with the decision I made but I wanted to explain it to you,' said Mr Stewart.
He then discussed the question of retaliatory measures that could have been taken against Chinese in London, but said it had been felt that this would have been playing their game and that ultimately the Chinese would always go one better- or worse - and so this kind of action had been eschewed.
Mr Stewart then added that carly in the year an offer had been made to send the imprisoned news workers back to China, deport them from Hong Kong, but Peking had refused this,
I listened with great interest to Mr Stewart's explanation and told him that as he had expected, as the innocent prisoner who had suffered the solitary confinement, I did not agree with it. Had there been no possibility of releasing the news workers, say nine months earlier at the beginning of 1969? Mr Stewart repeated that this was not thought possible for reasons of Hong Kong's security.
I asked if the British Government had believed that the thirteen news workers were themselves likely to instigate fresh rioting and were they believed to be dangerous subversive elements in them- selves?
They were all 'skilful propagandists' he replied, and it was felt they would possibly have caused new riots if released.
I asked what had led to the release of Wong Chak two years early and the Minister said it was thought at that time it could be
[
326 HOSTAGE IN PEKING
done 'without risk to the situation'. I said that the British Govern- nient had not publicly admitted that Wong's release was connected
me and the Minister replied Ah well, that was a bit of
I said that while sitting in ignorance in Peking I had wondered whether Britain's broad policy of trying to draw China into the world community of nations had in any way been responsible for Whitehall's reluctance to submit to this kind of blackmail since it would not have encouraged China to behave with a sense of responsibility. To this Mr Stewart said no, he would not have hesitated for these reasons. The decision made was purely be cause of Hong Kong. He said this was Britain's long term view towards China and he thought perhaps 'internal pressures in China might eventually influence the leadership as they have done already in the Soviet Union'.
I told Mr Stewart that I was very glad to have had the opportunity to come to see him and to ask him questions and he replied that he hoped he had answered them all. But I stil! wondered how the press treatment of my case had been received in Whitehall.
'I've learned since getting home,' I said, 'of the considerable amount of - sometimes emotional - reporting of my confinement and its effect on myself, family and friends. Did this in any way affect your final decision?'
Mr Stewart thought for a moment before replying cryptically: *I am responsive to argument.'
I persisted. Had the publicity accorded to my plight in any way influenced the Government's thinking, had it had any effect?
The reply was perhaps a classic politician's evasion. 'Had we ever forgotten it,' he said after a pause, 'the publicity would have reminded us."
Mr Stewart then asked how I was physically and I told him I was well and briefly described some of the difficulties and strains of my home-coming and the difficulty I still found in meeting with people. He enquired after my mother's health and I said she was resting after the nervous excitement of it all. He asked too how I was spending my leisure and I explained how above all I loved walking in the park in the autumn sunshine.
Quite suddenly Mr Stewart leaned forward and in almost
!
H
can di
GETTING AN EXPLANATION 327
avuncular tone said, 'You know, I must say I admire the way you this all so calmly.' Then he asked in which park 1 Iks, where was I staying?
took my
I said I was staying in Camberwell and walked in Ruskin Park. Oh well, he too was a 'South Londoner' living in Lewisham and the conversation continued on these lines for a while. Mr Stewart had another cigarette and again offered me onc.
I returned to the Minister's starting point that it could hardly be expected that I would agree with the decision not to try to bring about my release earlier but added that there now seemed no point to me in coming along uttering recriminations. I was free now and very happy indeed to be so.
'But,' I added, 'sitting alone in that room in Peking I very often felt very resentful towards yourself and Harold Wilson and in fact everybody who seemed to be doing nothing."
"I bet you did,' said Mr Stewart quickly, in a manner that sug- gested he couldn't have agreed more. It was as if the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary was at last relieved that I had said what he might well have been expecting in a less friendly fashion,
We seemed to have exhausted the topic and I rose to go. Mr Stewart shook hands again and accompanied me across the room to the door and opened it for me to depart. The conversation had lasted some forty minutes.
Outside in Whitehall it was raining and it took me a long time to get a taxi. Once back where I was staying I jotted down what we had said.
After arriving at the Downing Street entrance to the Foreign Office I had been taken up to the office of Mr James Murray, head of the Far Eastern Department. There I was shown three piles of folders on a table-files containing every paper connected with my twenty-six months' confinement. About 1,000 sheets of paper a year had gone into them I was told. I noticed that, per- haps appropriately enough for a government department, the files were bound together with red tapes. The mood of the meet- ing was friendly and relaxed. The files were referred to light- heartedly as 'The Grey Papers' and it was pointed out that it would be thirty years before they were made public in the govern- ment's open archives. At this point I renewed acquaintance with
:
+
H
328 HOSTAGE IN PEKING
many of the diplomats I had last seen in Peking in the summer of 17. Then I was shown to Mr Stewart's office.
The British Sunday newspaper The People was a leading cam- paigner for my release, repeatedly urging the Government to release the Chinese prisoners in Hong Kong to secure my freedom. Their campaign caused a flood of letters to be sent to the Foreign Office from people in Britain and in reply a printed letter was sent out in May 1969 explaining the reasons why nothing like that was being done. One of those many people who tried to help sent me a copy of the Foreign Office letter which sets out succinctly the official attitude- and perhaps the dilemma of those faced with the attempted blackmail of hostage-taking. The letter said that there had been no clear guarantee that I would be released if the eleven then-imprisoned news workers were let out and went on to add: 'Even if such a guarantee had been given I am sure that you will appreciate that there are also serious objections to arranging an exchange of this kind. Her Majesty's Government also have responsibilities and a duty to the people of Hong Kong and other British subjects throughout the world and it is for this reason, and not for any fear of "losing face" or allowing the Chinese to claim a "victory" that we have resisted Chinese pressure for the release of these prisoners. The well- being of Hong Kong and the welfare of its people are dependent on continued confidence that the British Government will main- tain law and order there so that people can go about their legiti- mate business unmolested and without fear. If it appeared that by holding British subjects as hostages the Chinese could influence British actions and policy in Hong Kong, this confidence could well be undermined. Furthermore, the release of convicted prisoners to secure the release of an innocent British subject could imperil the position of British subjects visiting China. The Chinese authorities might be encouraged to believe that whenever they wanted to bring pressure to bear on the British Government all they need do would be to detain an innocent British subject. As you can see, the problem raises issues beyond our immediate concern for Mr Grey which involve the welfare of Hong Kong and safety of other Britons abroad. This does not mean, however, that we shall cease to do all we can for Mr Grey.'
GETTING AN EXPLANATION 329
The end of the strange affair came on Tuesday, November 11th
when Queen
investiture at Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty the
to me: 'I am very glad to see you here today. This is just a small token for what you have been through."
I replied: 'It is wonderful to be back home. I am very happy to be here.'
F
R.
RE
REACY
RECEIVED
TEC 13/5
Cutting dared
DAILY MAIL
4 SEP 1970........
I could
have been
freed i
sooner
says Grey
From Daily Mall Correspondent In Hongkong
A FORMER prisoner of Com- munist China now living in Hongkong says he is surprised fellow prisoner Anthony Gray's bitterness against the British Foreign Office over his two years' imprisonment.
Norman Barrymaine, the British journalist held la Shang- hai for two years, says: "Did be expect the British Goverment to send a gunboat or go zo war with China about him 7o
Criticism of The Foreign Office for dragging their feet OTCE moves 10 get Reuter correspondent Gry" freed causing embarrassment Whitehall,
In his book Forme in Peking, to be published on Monday by Micharl Joseph, Me Grep maintins that his release list October could have come much earlier.
But the Foreign Office argun that Mr Grey's position had to be assessed in the light of many factors, such as secunty in Hongkong where rioting led to the arrest of Chinese news- papermen.
19
Enter
ора
Mr. Wilford
ford
RESTRICTED
My Apply and 0.7
MAY
+
Anthony Grey's Book:
"Hostage in Peking"
pla
We spoke this morning about guidance for News Department
and for Peking. I submit a draft telegram.
2. Mr. Weston agrees to the formula in paragraph 6.
He
has tried to clear it with Mr. Grey but he is unobtainable.
Mr. Weston is, however, confident that this would be the
form of words Mr. Grey would prefer.
SALMorgan
(J. A. L. Morgan)
4 September, 1970.
Agreed
4
Mr./
Me Weston subsequeath, cleaned with the Gray.
SM
79
RESTRICTED
3 September, 1970
M
33
As Michael Wilford tuld you last night Anthony Gray has included in his book "A Hostage in Peking" which is to come out next week a chapter giving an account of his interview with you on 6 November last year. I enclose a photostat copy.
Our present plan is fʊr News Department, if asked, to consent unattributably on the following linens
"The Chinese made it clear that the price for Kr. Grey's freedom was the premature release of all the imprisoned newsworkers in Hong Kong. To have agreed to this would have had damaging consequences for our position in the Colon; which rests on the confidence of the lo, al population in our
loal intention and ability to maintain law and order. important element in their confidence is the belief that we will adhere by the laws ve have ourselves made and not band them for political convenience. We should have been stra great disadvantage in trying to resist pressures for the release of further convicted prisoners in connexioa with the other British subjects detained in China."
If you have any macadamente or mggestions to nɛke we shall be very glad to consider thes,
The Rt. Hon. Michael Stewart, C.ll.,M.P.
158 Walton Street,
S.V.3.
(J. A. X. Grahan)
i
RESTRICTED
CYPHER CAT/A AND BY BAG
***EDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 297
TO PEKING
4 SEPTEMBER 1970
(JE) FEC 13/1
(32)
RESTRICTED.
та
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 297 DATED 4 SEPTEMBER
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG AND SAVING TO WASHINGTON.
ANTHONY GREY'S BOOK ''HOSTAGE IN PEKING'' IS TO BE PUBLISHED ON
7 SEPTEMBER,
2. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN SOME PRESS ATTENTION TO HIS CRITICAL
ACCOUNT OF HIS INTERVIEW WITH THE THEN SECRETARY OF STATE ON 6
OVEMBER LAST YEAR. THE FOLLOWING COMMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN CLEARED
WITH MR. STEWART, IS BEING MADE UNATTRIBUTABLY BY NEWS
DEPARTMENT.
FREEDOM
"' THE CHINESE MADE ITCLEAR THAT THE PRICE FOR MR, GREY'S
WAS THE PREMATURE RELEASE OF ALL THE IMPRISONED NEWSWORKERS IN
HONG KONG. TO HAVE AGREED TO THIS WOULD HAVE HAD DAMAGING
CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR POSITION IN THE COLONY WHICH RESTS ON THE
CONFIDENCE OF THE LOCAL POPULATION IN OUR INTENTION AND ABILITY
TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER, AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THEIR
CONFIDENCE IS THE BELIEF THAT WE WILL ADHERE TO THE LAWS WE HAVE
OURSELVES MADE AND NOT BEND THEM FOR POLITICAL CONVENIENCE. IF WE
HAD DONE SO WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT A GREAT DISADVANTAGE IN TRYING TO
RESIST PRESSURES FOR THE RELEASE OF FURTHER CONVICTED PRISONERS
IN CONNEXION WITH THE OTHER BRITISH SUBJECTS DETAINED IN CHINA'
3. MR. STEWART HAS ALSO COMMENTED TO US THAT THE ACCOUNT GIVES THE
IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE FUTURE ACTIVITIES OF THE 13
CHINESE NEWSWORKERS IF THEY WERE RELEASED WHICH CONCERNED US. IT
WAS IN FACT OUR ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF THE PREMATURE RELEASE
OF THE 13 ON THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS. IF ASKED NEWS DEPARTMENT WILL
ALSO MAKE THIS POINT,
/4. THERE
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
-2-
4. THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE CHINESE WILL PROTEST
CERTAIN PASSAGES IN THE BOOK. SHOULD THEY DO SO IT IS OUR
INTENTION TO SAY THAT WE DEPLORE THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED BY GREY.
IF THE CHINESE MISSION WISH TO CORRECT WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE
INACCURACIES THEY ARE AT LIBERTY TO ISSUE A STATEMENT TO THE
PRESS OR TO MAKE THEIR POSITION CLEAR IN SOME OTHER WAY.
5. THE CHINESE MAY PROTEST AT THE EVIDENCE THE BOOK CONTAINS
OF INFORMATION WHICH COULD ONLY ORIGINATE FROM MEMBERS OF THE
BRITISH MISSION AT THE TIME. THIS RELATES IN PARTICULAR TO THE
CHAPTER ON THE SACKING OF THE MISSION AND TO THE TRIAL OF REUTERS'
CHAUFFEUR.
6. WE INTEND REPLYING THAT NATURALLY, AFTER HIS RELEASE, GREY SPOKE
WITH EYE WITNESSES OF THE SACKING AND HAD ACCESS TO ACCOUNTS
PUBLISHED AT THE TIME.
AS REGARDS THE CHAUFFEUR'S TRIAL GREY QUOTES A RED GUARD
NEWSPAPER MANY OF WHICH FOUND THEIR WAY OUTSIDE CHINA. THE
MANUSCRIPT WAS NOT, HOWEVER, SUBMITTED OFFICIALLY TO THE FCO.
NEWS DEPARTMENT WILL COMMENT SIMILARLY IF ASKED.
7. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, GREY DID IN FACT SHOW CERTAIN PASSAGES
LETTER FEC 13/3 OF 23 JANUARY TO
OF HIS BOOK TO MEMBERS OF THE FCO, BUT THIS WAS ON A STRICTLY
PRIVATE BASIS (SEE MURRAY'S YOU). AND THROUGHOUT ITS PREPARATION HE HAS MADE CLEAR THAT HE HAD
NO INTENTION OF PERMITTING WHAT HE CALLED ''OFFICIAL CENSORSHIP''.
THE SOURCE FOR THE ACCOUNT OF WANG'S TRIAL IS THE ENCLOSURE TO
WESTON'S LETTER OF 24 OCTOBER 1967. REUTERS APPEAR, HOWEVER,
TO HAVE RECEIVED THEIR COPY OF THIS THROUGH AFP.
DOUGLAS-HOME
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
NEWS DEPT.
H.K.D.
RESTRICTED
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
FED
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
PRIORITY MARKINGS (Date)
JAIM
Flash
Top Secret 4/9
Abertisi
Restricted
Unclamited
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
immads
Routing
Date and time (G.M T.) telegram should
reach address00(5)
HPAAIHmtotitolatok
Despatched
4/9/41821 =
Sk▬ıdub sang
CYPHER
[Security classification
-if any
ХХ
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
14/9 15402
49/0
"]
RESTRICTE
bo Clair.
[
Privacy marking -if any
]
Code
Cypher
Draft Telegram to:-
Teking
4.19
No.
(Date)
And to:-
297
[Codeword-if any)
DAMEN HERREN KA
PEKING
Addressed to
telegram No...
27.7 (date)
419
And to
Repeaty to:
Hàng trong
Saving to:-
Wask
Distribution:- Departmental
FED
NEWS DEPT.
Deft
Copies to:-
Mr. Wilford
repeated for information to
Saving to
HONG KONG
IT
LAFAYAH 4++++
WASHINGTON
+r.
IN -----¶--------‒‒‒‒‒
Anthony Grey's book "Hostage in Peking" is to be published on 7 September.
Sens
2. There has already been press attention to his
critical account of his interview with the then
Secretary of State on 6 November last year. The
following comment, which has been cleared with
Mr. Stewart, is being made unattributably by News
Department.
"The Chinese made it clear that the price for
Mr. Grey's freedom was the premature release of
all the imprisoned netsworkers in Hong Kong. To
have agreed to this would have had damaging conse-
quences for our position in the Colony which rests
on the confidence of the local population in our
intention and ability to maintain law and order.
An important element in their confidence is the
to belief that we will adhere
the laws we have
ourselves made and not bend them for political
RESTRICTED
/ convenience.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
MOUL $1-2406
·
RESTRICTED
(It
vas kæð örme to
}
convenience. We should have been at a
great disadvantage in trying to resist
pressures for the release of further
convicted prisoners in connexion with the
other British subjects detained in China.
to wel
3. Mr. Stewart has also commented that the
account gives the impression that it was
possible future activities of the 13 Chinese
(I) they were released }
newsworkers which concerned us. It was in
fact our assessment of the effect of the
premature release of the 13 on the actions of
others. If asked News Department will also
make this point.
4. There is also the possibility that the
Chinese will protest at certain passages in
the book.
Should they do so it is our inten-
tion to say that we deplore the conditions
described by Grey. If the Chinese Hission
wish to correct what they consider to be
inaccuracies they are at liberty to issue a
to make them poik.
statement to the press or cleos in Cana, dthay nưhug a
5.
The Chinese may protest at the evidence
the book contains of information which could
only originate from members of the British
Mission at the time. This relates in parti-
cular to the chapter on the sacking of the
Mission and to the trial of Reuters' chauffeur.
6. We intend replying that naturally, after Lựfth cacking) his release, Grey spoke with eye witnesses/and
had access to accounts published at the time.
RESTRICTED
As regards the chauffent's trial gray quotes or
newspaper many of
Chine.
Ra Guard
which found them's
outs.de
/ The
WOEL ST-3406
RESTRICTED
and throughout ite preparation he how
made clear that he had no intention 17
What he
permitting called "fficial censorship.
+
The manuscript was not, however, submitted
officially to the FCO. News Department will
comment similarly if asked.
7. For your own information, Grey did in
fact show certain passages of his book to
members of the FCO, but this was on a strictly
private basis(see Murray's letter FEC 13/3 of
23 January to you). The sources for the
account of Wang's trial is the enclosure to
Weston's letter of 24 October 1967. Reuters
appear, however, to have received their copy
of this through AFP. [questioned abombollais
chapter
we thrive it bear to say
Hat Joey quite a Bad Quar
of which four th
que ab it
منظر
Hom
that way out rota Chiza fuch a
tokely
the press. ]
4
MW%.
From
The Chinese
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
RESTRICTED
C 13
12|3
Destruldeal
2/9 Aw2.
2 September, 1970
I am most grateful to you for sending an advance copy of Anthony Grey's book "Hostage in Peking".
It was most good of you to send it so promptly.
Pla
(J. A. L. Morgan)
Head, Far Eastern Department
Richard Webb, Esq.,
Publicity Department,
Michael Joseph Ltd.,
52 Bedford Square,
LONDON, .c.1.
Mr. Walford
Private Office
RESTRICTED
3.
Mr. Anthony Grey's Book:
"Hostage in Peking"
I attach a copy of my earlier submission about press
interest in Mr. Grey's account of his interview with
Mr. Michael Stewart.
2.
I also attach a photocopy of the chapter concerned.
3. As I mentioned in my earlier submission, we can trace
no official record. You suggested that the Private Office
might be asked whether they would be prepared to ask
Mr. Michael Stewart if it represented a true account.
SALMngan
(J. A. L. Morgan)
2 September, 1970
Co
Ј
certainly think
think that we must
find out whether
former Secretary of State accepts that Mr. Qrey's is
accurate account of their conversation. We must do
prooible and in
avent in advance
of publication (reat weak) Kunhilfe
RESTRICTED
My.
Wiford
News Department
Mr. Anthony Grey's Book:
"A Hostage in Peking"
You mentioned yesterday that we can expect press
interest in the chapter in Anthony Grey's book giving a
critical account of his interview with Mr. Michael Stewart
on 6 November last year. We can trace no official record.
2. As you suggested, I have sent a copy of the chapter to
Mr. Howells in Hong Kong by this morning's bag.
law and order is a better phrase
M.
I trick this
omitted
3.
I suggest that if asked, News Department might comment,
off the record, on the following lines.
"The Chinese made it clear that the price for
Mr. Grey's freedom was the premature release of all the
imprisoned newsworkers in Hong Kong. To have agreed
to this would had had damaging consequences for our
position in the Colony which rests on the confidence
of the local population in our intention and ability
to maintain (control. An important element in their
to confidence is the belief that we will adhere by the laws
we have ourselves made and not bend them for political
convenience. (It would have been impossible to present
the release of the newsworkers as a bargain favourable
to ourselves.] We should have been at a great disadvantage
in trying to resist pressures for the release of further
/ convicted
·
convicted prisoners in connexion with the other
British subjects detained in China".
Copy to: Hong Kong Department
This is all right
SALMagan
(J. A. L. Morgan)
2 September, 1970
for as it
But there
goes.
are other prints which we must be prepared to
ansurer which I discussed with
You
thing morning.
+
We must be prepared for questions not my from journalists, but also from the Chinese, In the latter
Category
ure withing
be armer the set of our
collaboration, eg, whose is the account of the sacking?
What about Las trang?
Demson of the prib тарать
te shouts be worming
M
in which there is likely be
Chinese objection too.
1
Mr. Wilford
Mh Appleyard
0.17
A..
B.
Anthony Grey's Chauffeur
You asked this morning about the source of
Mr. Grey's description in his book of the trial
of his chauffeur Wang Chung-mao. It is clearly
the enclosure to Mr. Weston's letter of
24 October, 1967.
2.
However, you will see from Hr. Horton's
letter of 20 November and Mr. D. Wilson's comment
of 22 November on it that Reuters affect to be
unaware of the material's origin.
If it was available
without ou
it
help,
SALMorgan
(J. A. L. Morgan)
2 September, 1970.
b175 M: Chipp of KAFP
will ad
good;
may have been the source
but it doco fee
for all in which
might get accusations from
The Chinese.
27.
(29
私
Fac 11/3
RESTRICTED
Despatched
219,
Ave
1 September, 1970
As I expect you know, Anthony Grey's book "Hostage in China" is to be published in the next few days.
2. I enclose a photocopy of the chapter recording his interview with the then Secretary of State, Kr. Michael Stewart. We can expect this to be the passage exciting most commcat.
(J. A. L. Morgan)
C. J. Howella, Esq., 0.0 IC t.
J.
Copy toi 2. H. Allan, Esq., PEKING
(with enclosure)
RESTRICTED
+
REF
r
0
RESTRICTED
OFFICE OF THE BRITISH
CHARGE D'AFFAIRES,
PEKING.
FEC isl
Dear Lens
Anthony Grey
21 July, 1970.
Thank you for the advanced notice about the extracts of Grey's forthcoming book which will1 appear in "The Observer". As we in Peking live in a colour-supplementless world we would be grateful if you would send us two copies of which- ever issue of the supplement carries the extracts.
eve
Yous ex God
(Gordon S. Berrass)
L. V. Appleyard, Esq.,
Far Eastern Department,
F.C.O.
wildo.
влас
bros aple
WAR
RESTRICTED
27
[
I
CONFIDENTIAL
Reference
FEC
г
26
Mr. Roberts 29
Mr. Stevenson
Mr. Morvát
Newsleft
M2916. she
zalo
296
Anthony Grey
Face isto
Mr. Walden has seen Anthony Grey recently and was told by him that "The Observer" colour supplement will feature extracts from Mr. Grey's forthcoming book some time in August, probably in the second week, The extracts will be given top billing and will include pictures from the book together with photographs of a mock-up of Mr. Grey's room in Peking which is now being constructed by an "Observer" team, Mr. Grey also told Mr. Walden that extracts from his book have already appeared in a German magazine although, as far as I know, there has not been any publicity in this country so far.
2.
I have written to Peking to let them know.
Me
Infoplayand'
(L. V. Appleyard) 29 June, 1970 F.E.D.
CONFIDENTIAL
RESTRICTED
BRITISH EMBASSY WASHINGTON, D.C.
3 July, 1970
My dear ten,
Anthony Grey's Kenoirs
oy's Kesoro EEC 13/3
Your letter of 26 June.
I don't see the Observer here and it would be very kind if, when the time comes, you could send me a copy of the colour supplement. sure A.C.A. will be interested.
Yn ever
I'm
L. V. Appleyard, Esq.,
(J6]
I. Boyd)
Far Eastern Department,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Сле
are Me
ind 104
RESTRICTED
125
C
I
FEC
--
CONFIDENTIAL
Far Eastern Department
26 June, 1970
Anthony Gran
In the sontext of Bino-British relations, you may like to know in advance that George Walden was told in confidense by Anthony Gray that "The Observer" colour supplement will feature extracts from Gray's fortheoming besk some time in August, probably in the second week. The extrasts will be given major billing and will include pictures free the bosk and, believe it or not, photographs of a mock-up of the room in Gray's house in Poking, which is being prepared by an "Observer" team. Apparently, extracts from Öray's book have already appeared in a German magazine though as far as we know they have not attrusted any publicity here so far,
0.8, Berrans, Esq.,
PREIN,
(L. V. Appleyard)
Pla
J. D. I. Boyd, Beq., WASHINGTON C. J. Howella, Esq., HONG KONG
24
From The Minister of State
FEC. 13/3
•
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1
15 April, 1970.
Michael Stewart has asked me to reply to your letter of 3 April about Anthony Grey. I shall look into the matter to see whether there is anything I can do, and shall write to you again.
(SHEPHERD)
Gerald Long, Esq.,
General Manager,
Reuters Limited,
85, Fleet Street,
London, E. 0. 4.
Filme BV
Zweed W 29/4
?
·
122
Kr. Goddeń
Anthony Grey
Mr. Long, the General Manager of Reuters, has
written to the Secretary of State asking whether it would be possible for Mr. Stewart to do anything to help Mr. Grey over arrangements for the tax which he is due to pay for income derived from articles in the press, television appearances, and his forthcoming book about his experiences in Peking. I submit a draft interim reply to Mr. Long from Lord Shepherd.
| Appleyard.
(L. V. Appleyard)
14 April. 1970
(21)
MINISTER OF STATE
Recd.
15/5
To
Ack
CHANG
ELLORO
Treasury Chambers, Great George Street, S. W. 1
01-030 1234
plus
23
i
PF
14
May 1970
Dear Godden,
FEC 13/3
Thank you for your letter of 1st May.
The Inland Revenue have spoken with Grey's accountant on the telephone on several occasions, but they have so far been provided with too little information to have come to any conclusions about his tax liability. The Revenue are, of course, prepared to look at the circumstances sympathetically, but Mr. Long's statement that they "have proposed
to make an individual arrangement with
Mr. Grey" is incorrect, and their information is not sufficient to establish that "a substantial amount of tax" is due. Mr. Grey's accountant has been asked to provide more information on several occasions, but has not yet done so.
Until they have more facts, the Inland Revenue can take no action. ?
As requested, I attach a draft for use in reply.
Yours sincerely
C. H. Godden, Esq.
David Hamoch.
(D. J. S. Hancock)
+
DRAFT FOR THE MINISTER OF STATE FCO
I wrote on 15 April to tell you that
I would be looking into the question
of Anthony Grey's tax liability.
I understand that Mr Grey's
accountant has been in touch with
the Inland Revenue on several
occasions, but that so far he has
provided very little information
about Mr Grey's residence status,
or the amount and sources of his
income, and as a result the Revenue
have been unable to come to any
conclusions about his tax liability. They are well aware of Hr Grey's
background, and are prepared to look
at the circumstances sympathetically
to see if anything can be done, but
in the absence of more facts they
do not know precisely what is
involved, and, understandably, they
are not prepared to commit
themselves in these circumstances.
1
The next step is up to Mr Grey's
S
accountant, therefore, and I hope
he will soon be able to provide
the Revenue with the further
information needed so that they
can consider this matter further.
I have sent the Revenue a copy of
your letter of 3 April and you may
be sure that they will bear in mind
your representations on Mr Grey's
behalf.
2
REUTERS
The Rt Hon Michael Stewart CH MP
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW 1
April 3 1970
FEC
Fec 13/3
Dear Mr Stewart
I write to you once again in happier circumstances to ask you to take a benevolent interest in the affairs of Anthony Grey.
Mr Grey has been on convalescent leave since his return to this country, and during that time his only work has been the telling in various forms of the story of his imprisonment. His story was, as you will have seen, published in The People newspaper in this country, and in many newspapers abroad. He has also given television interviews, and has recently completed a book.
From all this activity, Mr Grey has derived revenue which, of course, is his alone. Reuters has no interest in it.
Income inevitably raises the question of income tax. A tax adviser, acting on Mr Grey's behalf, has discussed his tax situation with the Inland Revenue, who have proposed in these rather exceptional circum- stances to make an individual arrangement with Mr Grey. That arrange- ment nevertheless calls for the payment of a substantial amount of tax. I would like to ask you to have the kindness to inform yourself about the proposed settlement, and to consider whether in all the circumstances what is proposed is fair and just. I ask you to do this against the back- ground of our exchanges during the period of Mr Grey's detention, and particularly your letter to me of August 4 1969 in which you wrote: "He has been called upon to put up with a great deal on our behalf and I assure you that this is well recognised both here and in Hong Kong." I realise that my request to you is an unusual one, but everything about Mr Grey's case is unusual, and I hope may remain so.
Gerald Long General Manager Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4 Telephone Fleet Street 6060
E
-2-
writing to you in this way, I am not acting on Mr Grey's behalf, but ly to discharge the duty I feel I owe him. I have told him that I wished to write to you. He is reluctant to urge his own cause, but has told me that he will not object to my writing.
The money that Mr Grey can earn from telling the story of his detention is the only effective compensation that he can receive for the loss of over two years of his life. I do not doubt that under the definitions of the Inland Revenue, some part of what he earns might be regarded as deriving from activity in this country. But to my mind, he earned every penny of it in a small room in Peking.
Yours sincerely
Best Log
1
Fre 15/3
Far eastern 1 epertsent,
22 April, 1970
Tasy Grovla Bork
I understand from George Talden, who saw Tony Dray a weak
ago, that his book is now due out in autuan (and net Juno) to
be ready for the long winter evenings.
(L. V. Appleyard)
11
Barrass, Kaq...,
Rəqə
1. Bayi, Bəq., WARNINGTON Ga da Kowalla, xoe.. Hod Kore
Miss Traycott, IND
By, Brewer,
ONG KONG
102574
of intereer in convert
B Sino-Brush relations
(a formale coincidence)
pluvintulu
perhaps.
(118281) DA 191999 1,5004 2009 Hu
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
Find
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret,
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted. Unclassifed
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
DRAFT
To:-
4. Barnss
Penning
(c)
Tiny Grey's Book
Type 1 +
From
Спотица
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
Ce
I maerrand from
JDI Boyd WHEE
who saw Tory axey
CJ Howells
be ready
10
prepare
George Walden,
that
(and not June)
his book is now are art in antumind
the lay winter evenings.
A wens afo,
Hic
Mis Dray wat
IRD
F. Brewer/
با هم
MA2/4
Foreign and Commonwealth Office London S.W.1
Lintén
Len Appleyard rang at 11.45 a.m. to
say that Tony Grey had telephoned him to
say that he had altered his book as you
suggested, i.e. disguising the source in
one of the chapters. The book has now
gone to the printers and will appear in
June. ken also said that he will come
in to the Department towards the end of
the week.
13/3
RESTRICTED
enter
12 February, 1970.
12
Mr. Grey's Book
Please refer to James Murray's letter FEC 13/3
of 23 January about Tony Grey's forthcoming book. We do not know the date of publication yet but it is going to the printere this week.
2. As a result of John Teston's intervention Grey sent his three chapters of the book which we have now returned to him suitably amended. The chapter on the origins and development of the Cultural Revolution leans fairly heavily on 1.R.D. material.
3. I think that he will probably acospt most of our proposed amendments but, as you can see from the enclosed note of my telephone conversation with him, he was somewhat reluctant to accept guidance on the presentation of the section dealing with the burning of the Mission. However, he subsequently rang John Weston and said that on reflexion he would re-draft this section on the lines which I suggested.
4. fe must keep our fingers crossed that the Chinese do not react too fiercely when the book is published.
Sue Folio 16 Una 137/2
IMA
hilla
Na / w 18/2
(0. Wilson)
J. B. Denson, Esq., 0.B.E.,
VELING.
RESTRICTED
Despaldue
12/2
AR.
8
DO
EC 13/3
RESTRICTED
(17
Outer
12 February, 1970.
Mr. Gray's House
Many thanks for your letter 13/1 of 27 January about the Chinese demand for compensation for damage and redecoration of Tony Grey's house.
2. I spoke to Doon Campbell of Reuters about this and agreed that when the Chinese raise this again you should say that this is a matter for Reuters and that the D.S.B. should get in direct touch with them. From the point of view of our relations with the Chinese it would be preferable if you did not get involved further in this dispute. If the Chinese wish to make an issue of it the line proposed above would ensure that the quarrel was between them and Reuters and not with you. It is possible that the Chinese will not press their demand for the time being but raise it when Reuters denide to re-appoint a correspondent.
J. N. Allan, Esq.,
PEKING.
RESTRICTED
(C. Wilson)
}
as batched
AR12/2
PERANAL AND CONFID ATLAR
PP. please
سعا
Dear Len
WA2
OFFICE OF THE BRITISH
CHARGE D'AFFAIRES,
PEKING.
3 February, 1970.
FEC 1/2
I enclose a copy of the text of a letter I have just written to Tony Grey, in response to his enquiries about details of the Hong Kong negotiations which secured him his first visit. As you will see, I have kept within the narrow limits set by Vaddox's letter to you of 2 January,
L. V. Appleyard, Esq.,
Far Eastern Department,
F.C.O.
Yn ever
(G. G. H. Walden)
PERSONAL AND CONFIDATISL
16
Personal
Office of the British
Charge d'Affaires,
Peking.
2 February, 1970,
Sorry to have boun se dilatory in replying to your last lettere. I have been in the process of vinding vo my official and personal affairs here and exly new have found a sesent të put down on paper a few points which may be ef van to you in your surrent literary laboura,
On the question of the soufidential contacts between Chinese communist representatives and the Political Näviser's office in Beng Kong during Murah and April 1968 which led to an exchange of prison visits, I am afraid there is not much I own add to that I have already told you. The Hong Kong Gevertent appeared to be reluctant te ge inte much detail am this obviously delicate chanel. Who knows, it may one day again be needed to negotiate visits to your successer sa Reuters outrospendent in Peking!
Xosuver, there are some details cancersing the atsosphere under which the negotiations teok place which may be of use to you, These were released in a rather scrubby little pre-Comunist newspaper in Hong Kong shortly after the negotiations had finished. The xestinga vore held in the afternoon in a largo Chinese restaurant in the eastern part of the tema. 1 Political Adviser, aided by the Assistant Palition) Adviser (nywolf at that time) with two vice-directers of SCIA, Both sported large badges. Tea (Chinese) ma sipped. As you know, it at these seetings that the arrangements for spesial prison visita to the incarcera tad
Mists arrested during the disturbances were verked out. It took several meetings complete this work, On ne anención ma any direct neitie made of you. Arrangements for the subsequent visit by Sir Donald Kaysen to you in Peking vere of servar izposod by the chin,
If it is met slready in your possession, you say be Interested in a few quotations from the write-up given in the Hong Kong resumadat preus (Tu Dung Pao and Don Bai Pew) of 11 April 1968 on their priom visits the previene day, But first you any wish to
eun personil iapressima of the officials in wrestler sixture of HGWA and commosist newspaper managers). They turned ny in a series of carefully graduated onrei Teronden for the IRA big brass and more modsat vehicles for the wallep denecad et newspapers. A11 however were amrily tressed (mistoasts, despite the already very vers 108ther) and looked lias a series oť prosperéne Chimass steckbrokára.
Now on to the Tu Kang Pus reperti this emphasised the special mature of the arrangements which had been made for the meetings. In particular, they pointed out that the Assistam Political Adviser (kyself) had emited their arrival (As you are probably avure, the purpose at the prison gates,
of this emphasis me to boost what the emmumiste like to During sen as the special status of NCIA in Hong Kong.) the interviews with prisesers, NOIA officials are said by Ta Kung Pao (and intood"dië) to have experaded the excellent aitition in the Cultural Revolution" "and to have pointed out that the aggressive war of 18 imperialion in Vietnam, the crisis of the American dollar, and the stuggle of the Hos spend the neck of the Azerioen negross were thre Johnson government which were bessing tighter mi tighter". (I sem to remember that Bir Donald Bopoon geve you a almiler ron deen on the international situation during your first visit!) The visitors went on to ezginés that the position of the Wilson government in Britain is also pretty shaky and
On the Hong Kong patristi that his deen me expected any day,
The ranks na brighter. strucole frent however the situati
day and the onɑne mas of the patriets vere growing day
support of the netherland moving formed at greit speed. van as generous se en
The repert sada sana reference to the health of the prisoners. I ought to profaen its noceunt by pointing out that they were all in excellent condition as far as I could see though asmo vinced a little when they were alasped in
According to the heavily thentrionl kago by the ICRA 203.
Ten Hui Paa, some of the prismars described the temments
Their health shich they had bom subjected to in prison. had obviously su'fered as a result bit this did not impair their revolutionary determinati
Clearly
but
Now for a few details on the Beuters building. Reuters themselves would be able to give you plenty of information on this scere and would also be able to say how much of it they themselves would like to see yʊblished. there are sme or two little seadetal sepasta which may
Shortly after the building attract your literary attention, ms returned to the Chinese en 31 December, it was neces00 FY mt to inspect the property for yusposes of assessing the amem t to be paid for Ömange to it during the time it had bem rented by Reuters. During a team of the building the Chinese representative aboveć romarkably little imalination to seek out damage. However he one to have felt it necessary te
Unfortunately underline his powers to se, should he wish, he happened to pick upg missing butà plug chain. representative (Runs Thomson), quiet sa à flash, rewinded him that the chain in question had been used to hang Kr. Oray's cat. The interpreter, ameshat disonsforted, put on a bold front and claimed that this ma Ruse's imagination.
The reopen
e
3-
fume, in a second brilliant piess of repartes, pointed out the daubings on the valla and sabed in all innocence whether these toe are fignents of his imagination,
If by any thanes you retain any aart of amtimental attachment to your "bana", you my be interested to know that we made a point of requesting the Chinese te ret comm te na the brass heuters plaque on the outside of the building. This they did the next day and it reposes in our mission st the nment. You may also be interested to knew that the Chinese policeman staunchly maintained his vigil outside the empty house for almost three months after your departure, Even after the house reverted to Chinese hands at the end of December the paliceman, sa deskt out of deep afrostion for the house and ita former socupant, could not tear himself amy from his little red bax. Kevever, in the middle of January he ma ne længer
14
preemit state of
some use to you. correspondent he
for his ability The present APP Find the going to The last Europeans
be
Paking
In Hondo is about to 2000
and sager carreependents.
permanent
Alain Bene, m-řekyo, well in the Chinees like to hour).
has never been a ball of fire, will tougher then the new SAN APPĪTOS. blossoming forth with new fresh A new Hungarim and Bulgarian have arrived. The ever-affable Er. Ch'i can be seen attending his growing little garden of press unction at various social functions. to add that the general level of prose oummt from Paking remains a diagmos to the profession, but great demfAR to the Chinese.
lyn
on with great However I do not have
Absurdly
Finally a fer verda cheat the general situation bære which has undergune vensiderable changes since you left. fest of these are physion). Peking in eurently piled high with the speil extracted frm beles in the ground which havO been dug in every courtyard and shop in the city. theatrical as it may soon, these are to shelters against beibing or anolour blast. ecossiers I have visited your færmer hall of residence I was pleased to find that the roof offered a uplodid wata of strategic sarth-vosks,
lenger
as sir-Paid On one of the
itives before but
One of the results of this feverish md high secretiva
re allowed to travel evert activity is that ve na
N te the former recreation
outside Peking (the king Tumba, Western Hills and frost WC),
vo viais Timtain or Shanghai which sure difficult are new ompletely out of and mailler and, fer thi dissolve into tears when I to carry me bank de Landen
age grown ameller
en wlikely to
araflet plane on 7 February
12 February.
I shall be posted in Londen
two and look forward te sorting you there when you decide to abandon your island kiŠOKWY. forgotten your request fur
have purchased one or two which
I have not Chinese seralls and
hope will be te yar
taste. Please get in touch with no d/o the Private
Vail Bertien, 7.0,0., Lománu 8.
first
RESISTED MAHAM
Referenc
NOTE FOR THE RECORD
RECEIVED IN REGISTRO".
Mr. Grey's Book
pec ips
Mr. Grey has sent us three chapters from his
book which deal with the origins of the Cultural Revolution, the burning down of our Mission in August 1967, and his house detention. These have been examined by the Department and others who were in Peking at the time for errors of fact and presentation. For example, the passages dealing with developments in Hong Kong has been written in N.C.N.A. jargon.
The amended drafts have now
Grey and from a telephone
been returned to Mr. conversation which I had with him on 6 February it seems likely that he will consider sympathetically
our suggestions.
2.
However, my principle objection to the manuscript concerne Mr. Grey's handling of the burning of our Mission, and on this point he was less willing to accept my guidance. The substance of the story has already been published in Mr. Grey's articles in "The People" and we are therefore not in a position to object to the publication of this material in
book form. However, while the articles in "The
People" reported the incident in a way which suggested that it was pieced together from a variety
of sources Mr. Grey attributes the material in his
book to "a friend in the Mission" and prints it in direct speech as if it was a personal account. I pointed out to Mr. Grey that this would enable the Chinese to argue with some justification that we had
connived at the release of this material and I argued
that it should not be too difficult for him to
disguise the source and present the story as pieced together from journalist contacts, foreign diplomats
in Peking and members of our own Mission. I also
pointed out that it was a little embarrassing for a member of the FCO to be quoted in direct speech in this way.
I emphasised that my main concern at the moment was to obtain the release of the remaining
nine British subjects detained in China and that this was unlikely to be assisted if we gave the Chinese
an excuse to claim that we were not sincere in
wanting good relations.
3. Mr. Grey said that when he agreed to allow Mr. Denson and others "to help" in checking his book
/ he had
he had no intention of allowing his book to be subject to official censorship. I assured him that I was not asking him to remove any material from hia account but simply to present it in a way less damaging to H.M.G.'s relations with the Chinese, and
since this had been done in the case of the articles
in "The People".it should not be too difficult in his
book. He agreed therefore that he would re-draft this section in such a way as to obscure his sources and take it out of direct speech.
4.
Kr. Grey did not know when the book would be published but he wants to get it to the printers by
the end of this week.
e.c. A. Rosting pero Dept.
Mr. Denson, Peking
(C. Wilson)
9 February, 1970.
RESTRICTED
Mr Colin Wilson (Far Eastern Dept.).
Foreign and Commonwealth Office London
SW1
REUTERS
5 February 1970
Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4 Telephone 01-353 6060 Telex 24145
Dear Cohn
Just to acknowledge with thanks the papers accompanying your note of February 2. These have been passed to Tony. I spoke to him is in good form,
today and he
Ertén
efo
ひ
Yours
Fron
FEC 13/3
Да.
2 February, 1970.
14
I should be grateful if you would pass to Tony Grey the enclosed papers which George Walden retrieved from his house in Peking. I understand that he requires them for his book.
(Colin Wilson)
A. D. Campbell, Esq.,
Reuters Ltd.,
85 Fleet Street,
LONDON, E.C.4.
Sensa-ched
AR2/2
(116281) Dd. 391599 1.5004 249 Hw.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
CW
To:-
Top Secret.
Secret. 9/2
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
י- ווי ווי
In Confidence
DRAFT
Letter
Type 1 +
From
Telephone No. & Ext.
J. N. Allan, Esq.,
Department
PEKING.
the inte
the thing wish
Aware an ess of it the live
Пророже
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Many thanks for your letter 13/1 of 27 January
about the Chinese demand for compensation for damage
and Nr redecoration of rey's house.
2.
I spoke to Doon Campbell of Reuters about this
and agreed that when the Chinese raise this again
tiet you should say that this is a matter for Reuters
them
Furita
and suggest that the D.S.B. should get in direct
touch with Reuters. From the point of view of our
be relations with the Chinese it would seem to me
you
dich not got preferable that if this difference is likely to generate this diss The latter pofasce alex would extul a-sharp exchange it would be best if it cams became
ذبها
The Aved
and not quarrel between the chinese and Reuters rather bhan
with you.
It is possible, however, that the Chinese mob press
from the (ime being will eventually drop their demandi
drop their demand but raise it when
Reuters w
decide to re-appoint a correspondent.
frap
7
13/1
ربتها سلا
REST ICTED
Enter
office of the British
Charge d'Affaires,
Peking.
B
effs les p
27 January, 1970, RECEIVED IN
REGISTARA 150
Fec 13/3
As foreshadowed in para 3 of our telegram 24 of jrec 13 13 January, the Diplomatic Service Bureau have now given ca a polite verbal reminder that payment is still outstanding. As outlined in our telegram under reference, we said that the matter has been referred to Reuters and that Reuters might well find that these demands were unacceptable in view of the circumstances of Fr. Grey's detention.
2.
I should be grateful to know in due course what decision Reuters reach on this matter.
Z
J. N. Allan
Colin Wilson, Esq., Far Eastern Departzent, P.C.O.
slaken
la 9/2.
I live spike & Oh Complete вари Fee days- 6 Selawy
duyt
p.
luok
RESTRICTED
FEC 13
CONFIDENTIAL
23 January, 1970.
Your letter 31/3 of 29 December about Tony Grey's book came at a good time. This is a problem which is very much on our minds too. Our best way of seeking to give discrest guidance to Grey (who is at present in Jersey) would seem to be through John Weston, who is already in close touch with him about the book. For example, Weston recently passed on some I.R.D. material and also had dinner with him just before Christmas when they discussed the book in some detail. We have shown Weston a copy of your letter and he is fully seized of the need for discretion;
I think wo
can leave it up to him to make the right points.
2. Len Appleyard is writing separately to George Walden about how much Grey should write about the contacts with N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong.
J. B. Denson, Esq., 0.B.E.,
PEKING.
pla
тагал
(James Murray}
CONFIDENTIAL
(12.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
THE GRI PODSTI KATIKE PO UHD 1)
SE
CONFIDENTIAL
Registry No.
ITY CLASSIFICATION
FEC 13011
DRAFT Letter
Type 1 +
From
To:-
Top Secret.
LVA
Confidential. 7/1
-Restricted.
J. B. Denson Esq., 0.B.E.. PEKING.
Mr. Murray
Telephone No. & Ext.
Unclassifed
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
Department
Long of posestny
Saturday
way of seaking to give strunt
Zinstance to Svey wan Seewn to be
through
Cules in at prishet Jersey Y
Your letter 31/3 of 29 December about
Emma Tony Grey's book came at a very good mement.
This is a problemwhich is very much on our minds
too. The best solution seeny to be to contact
Grey through John Weston, who is already in close
Ka touch with him about his book. For example,
Weston recentl. passed on some I.R.D. material
Luvin
We
And also had dinner with Grey just before Christmas
when they discussed the book in some detail.
have shown #eston a copy of your letter and he
is fully seized of the need for discretion;and-I
think we can leave it up to him to make the
right points.
2. Len Appleyard is writing separately to
George Walden about the problem of how much Grey
should write about the contacts with N.O.N.A. in
Hong Kong.
JJ.
23
Jam
CONFIDENTIAL
ре
31/3
Pl speake
6 June
OFFICE OF THE
BRITISH CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES
PEKING
29th December, 1969.
W
Dear Jannes,
Mo Affle v.
ہے
·
Fe 12/3
It
We read with great interest Anthony Grey's articles in The People, in particular the description of the burning of this Mission in 1967. As I recall, it is a fuller and more alarming account than the official reports we received at the time in the Department. is, I understand, drawn from conversations with people here at that time. George Walden understands that Grey is likely to include a fuller description in his forth- coming book. (Grey has apparently held back a number of details). As such, it will become the definitive published account of what happened. I think you will agree that we should try to ensure that the account is correct in every detail and and you may therefore wish to ask someone to get in touch with Grey and discuss the matter. I am not in any sense suggesting that we should try to restrain him in what he writes. I am sure, in any case, that he would not take kindly to being warned off. On the other hand, he would, I think, accept tactful guidance.
2. George Walden has already been in touch with IRD about supplying Grey with current and earlier background material about China, (see his letter of 16 October to Len Appleyard and Miss Draycott). Here again we might be able to intervene usefully to make sure that the political background to the 1967 events is correct so far as we know it, or, at any rate, not damaging to our own interests.
James Murray, Esq., C.M.G.,
Far Eastern Department,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Pla
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
OFFICE OF THE
BRITISH CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES
PEKING
own interests.
3. I am sure you, Robin Haydon and Ian Stevenson in IRD, to whom I am copying this letter will appreciate the need for careful and confidential handling of this matter.
Yours eve
John
J.B. Denson
CONFIDENTIAL
底
TEC 10/3
Far Eastern Department
20 January, 1970
I attach three press cards belonging to you which James
The Chinese have not demanded Allan has forwarded from Peking. them back and you may like them as a memento.
(L. V. Applmyard)
Anthony Grey, Esq.,
c/o Reuters Ltd.,
85 Fleet Street,
London, E.0.4.
тит
m
(HIGH) DAL 301999 - 1,500 2268 Hu.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
SE
Registry No.
ITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret
Confidential.
Restricted, Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
DRAFT
To:-
BB Anthony Suey Eig
40 Reuters
85, Fleet SV,
London EC4.
Type 1 +
From
and
L. V. Appleyar
Telephone No. & Exti
Department
W
cards belonging to you
1
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which James Allan Las forwardens
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내서 독
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13/1
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RESTRICTED
Office of the British
Charge d'Affaires,
Peking.
13 January, 1970.
I attach three press cards belonging to Anthony Grey. The Chinese have not demanded these back and he may like them as a memento (and possibly as illustrations for his book).
L. V. Appleyard, Esq., Far Eastern Department, P.C.O.
I
1.
J. N. Allan
RESTRICTED
так
.
Fee 10/3
RESTRICTED
(r)
Far Eastern Department
Two
copies only
15 January, 1970
Reuters
Thank you for your letter 31/3 of 7 January to Colin Wilson, who is stili helping out North African Department (sic).
2. Last month we asked Reuters for documentation on their office and its effects, etc. They have produced only inventories up to 31 December, 1966. These do not look to me to be of much use, but I enclose copies just in case. Gray says that otherwise all the papers about the car and other items were left in files in Peking. Reuters say the car cost £638 in Hong Kong in 1964 and that in addition duty and other charges amounting to £525 were paid. I have again asked Reuters for disposal instructions and told them of the Registrar's interest in buying the car if this can be arranged. They are happy for the Registrar to buy the car if this can be arranged but would like him to make an offer for it giving reasons why he is offering the particular sum of money he quotes, The same goes for the tape recorder mentioned in your paragraph 5. Otherwide they would be grateful if you would arrange for the other valuable items to be sent to their office in Hong Kong.
3. As for the charges for "redecoration" and "damage compensa- tion", Reuters agres with the line recommended in paragra:h 3 of your telegram No. 24 of 13 January. If the Chinese further press the point we think they should be asked to get in touch with Reuters direct.
J. X. Allan, Esq.,
PEKING.
Cory to:
(R. N. Dales)
C. J. Howells, Esq., HONG KONG,
RESTRICTED
CYPHER CAT/A
ROUTINE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 24-
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
13 JANUARY 1970
CONFIDENTIAL
REG.
EC 13/3
р
TOP COPY
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 24 OF 13 JANUARY REPEATED FOR INF-
ORMATION TO HONG KONG.
MY TELNO 8
DESPITE APPARENT UNINTEREST SHOWN BY DSB WHEN SURVEYING
REUTERS' HOUSE (ALLEN'S LETTER TO WILSON OF 7 JANUARY)
THEY HAVE NOW SUBMITTED A BILL FOR YUAN 3823.32 (£658.8.11)
FOR QUOTE REDECORATION OF OFFICE ON CANCELLATION OF LEASE UN-
QUOTE AND YUAN 158.57 (£26.19.6) FOR DAMAGE COMPENSATION
UNQUOTE.
2. DEMANDS ARE CLEARLY OUTRAGEOUS. GREY WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT
IN POSITION TO ARRANGE PERIODIC REDECORATION AND PRESENT NEED
IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE DAUBING OF SLOGANS WHICH HAVE
ONLY BEEN PARTIALLY OBSCURED. . (DSB MAY HOWEVER SEEK TO
ARGUE THAT LEASE, WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN, CONTAINS CLAUSE
CONCERNING OBLIGATION OF TENANT TO REDECORATE.) DAMAGE
MUST HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE TWELVE PSB GUARDS.
13. SUBJECT
CONFIDENTIAL
7
+
CONFIDENTIAL
-2-
3. SUBJECT TO REUTERS' VIEWS | RECOMMEND THAT NO ACTION
BE TAKEN TO PAY THIS BILL AT PRESENT. IF DSB RETURN TO THE CHARGE, AS IS LIKELY, WE WILL SAY WE HAVE REFERRED IT TO
REUTERS WHO MAY WELL REGARD THE DEMAND AS UNACCEPTABLE IN VIEW OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF GREY'S DETENTION.
MR. DENSON
FILES:
F.EASTERN D.
FINANCE D.
H.E.D.
NIS D.
MR. WILFORD
DDDDD
CONFIDENTI AL
1
+
& I did the
title
31/3 file
Are
1
we
Hii
Ani
RESTRICTED
Letter to Peke
Office of the British
Charge d'Affaires,
ye a a lit centructure-au
a separate file
Laving
امنها
Peking.
7 January, 1969.
Dear
Coin
the offer.
Reuters
Виста
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7/31
As foreshadowed in our telegram no. 8 of 5 January, at the request of the Housing Department of the Diplomatic Service Bureau the Administration Officer went on 5 January to inspect the Reuters' premises prior to the DSB taking possession of it.
of chain t "Ah, yes,' Grey's cat."
2. Getting rather bored with the seemingly endless listing of damaged light bulbs and mising keys, he rose to the fly when the DSB inspector pointed out that a piece connecting a plug to the bath tub was missing; he said. "They probably used that to hang Mr. 8tecly glare from our translator, Chang: imagination." A few seconds later the inspector pointedly ignored a wall on which anti-Grey alogans had been painted over. "And I suppose, Chang, that too is a product of my imagination." Sullen silence from the translator.
3.
P.S.B. much damage.
Could not theek
"That is your
Later when the inspector and the Administration Officer were discussing the list of breakages and missing keys, the AO put the point that it was most strange that a man who was confined to a room for over two years could have done so
Could not the wikitic who were guarding Grey have been responsible? Looks of incredulity, but no reply. The AO then pointed to the Reuters name-plate on the outside door. It was wrong, he said, that an unoccupied building should carry this. As he did not have a screwdriver the AO suggested that he could return the following morning to remove it;
this was agreed but when he returned it had been been removed. The office translator has been asked to tell the DSB that we trust it will be sent to us so that we can forward it to its rightful owners.
4. As already reported, the Reuters' car and records have been removed to the 0:Fice compound. The vat of night soil was luckily not obstructing the entrance t: the garage this time. The car, surprisingly, is in reasonable condition and we await Reuters' instructions on disposal. It seems likely that if sold locally an ad hoc tax would be raised on the sale even if 100% duty was paid on its importation (this is the position reached by Norman Webster in his negotiations over the Toronto Blobe Xail Volkswagon). Our Registrar has expressed interest in buying the car if Reuters decide to sell it and the Chinese permit this.
Colin Wilson, Esq., FarEastern Department,
FCO.
RES RICTED
י
RESTRICTED
5. Grey's Zenith radio will be taken to Hong Kong later this month by the Administration Officer and deposited at Reuters office there. Meanwhile we also have here a Uher tape-recorder (which has a faulty motor), an AKG microphone and a Bell Howell 16 mm. movie camera. These were the only items of value left in the house and they could, if required, be taken down to Hong Kong and delivered to Reuters there. Incidentally at least one member of our staff is interested in buying the Uher recorder.
6.
For your own information we also removed an Adler typewriter. This we have pressed into service since our
A full own typewriter replacements are still awaited. inventory of all that we hold for Reuters will be sent shortly.
7. I am copying this letter to Howells in Hong Kong.
Ут
f. N. Allan
اسد
L
RESTRICTED
(FEC 13C/1)
CONFIDEN LAL
Far Eastern Department
12 January, 1970
Anthony GrEY.
We were on the point of writing to you about the question of supplying Tony Grey with material for his book, when we reosived Arthur Maddocks' letter of 2 January. We agree entirely with Maddocks' suggestions and would be extremely reluctant to supply more information about the exchanges than is already known. We want to keep the lines open and there is a risk (although, I agree, a slight ons), that the Chinese would assume that we had put Gray up to divulging the details of the previous rounds in order to make further contacts more difficult. suggest therefore that you write to Tony Grey on the lines of paragraph 4 of Maddocks' lettar.
) (although,
We
2. As far as more general background information is concerned, ID are already in touch with Grey.
pl
IAL/
0.0. H. Walden, Esq.,
PEKING.
Copy to:
(L. V. Appleyard)
A. F. Maddocks, Raq., Politionl Adviser, HONG KONG.
CONFIDENTIAL
(1121) DebugM 1,300M 210 Hv.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry
No. PER134/1
JURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret
Secret.
Confidential
testricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
cc.
In Confidence
IA.F.
Maddons.
Untitical
Aduser
Conce
DRAFT
To:-
to you
4.GIH. Walden Offices the & c'd'A
Perming
China
Ansary Eney
Type 1 +
From
InAppleyard
Telephone No. díxt,
Department
the were on the point of writing
about the question of supplying
Ana Tony Grey with material for his
book, when we received Arbuir
Haddocks' letter of 2 Jauniary
We
appee entirely with Maddours' suggestions and would be extremely
во
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Rupply neare information about the
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is a move that the thinkse
with
we had put Grey up to divulging
the details of the previous rounds in order
to mance further cartacts more difficult.
We suggest therefore
that
Tanyarey on the lines of po
Maddock's letter.
pour
write to
of pangage 4 of
рапунце
2. As far
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bakground infongla
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IMA %%
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Colin Wilson Esq The Foreign Office London SW1
REUTERS
5 January 1970
Enter.
บ
Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4 Telephone 01-353 6060 Telex 24145
Kean Colen
Apologies for the delay in replying to your letter of
10780
134/1
9 December but documentation about the car and other items is so meagre that we wanted first to have a word with Tony Grey to see if he could supply any more information.
He says all the papers he had about the car and other items were in files left behind in the house in Peking.
The car, a Volkswagen 1200, was bought in 1964, apparently in Hong Kong, for £638 and duty etc. amounted to £525. Registration No. 0100109; chassis and engine nos. 823509 and 8278053. Attached schedules covering inventory up to 31 December 1966 were supplied by Vergil Berger, Tony's predecessor in Peking.
-
Meantime we have been advised by the Hong Kong office that one or two other items which Mr Richard Dales informed us were being taken there have been received and forwarded to London.
-
I am sorry we have no more documentation.
All best wishes for 1970.
Yours sincerely,
Дот ватрын
Doo
Doon Campbell
Gelsens set to Bekij.
ド
Dist
L
P
CONFIDENTIAL
@
I
(1013)
FEL 134%,
屁
CYPHER/CAT A
HORITY PEKING
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 8
5 JANUARY 1970.
CC
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 8 OF 5 JANUARY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.
YOUR TEL 466.
11088
FEC 13C/:
QUOTE IN VIEW OF CONCRETE CIRCUMSTANCES UNQUOTE DSB HAVE EXCEPTIONALLY (THEY SAY THEY NORMALLY DEMAND TWO MONTHS NOTICE) ACCEPTED TERMINATION OF LEASE OF REUTERS HOUSE AND GARAGE. ADMINISTRATION OFFICER HAS BEEN ASKED BY DSB TO ACC- OMPANY THEM ON AN INSPECTION OF THE PROPERTY TODAY (5 JANUARY). HE WILL STICK TO GUIDANCE IN PARA 3 OF YOUR TEL
462 BUT WILL NATURALLY POINT OUT THAT CONDITION OF PROPERTY CAN MAINLY BE ATTRIBUTED TO PRESENCE OF DSB GUARDS.
2. CAR AND REUTERS RECORDS NOW IN COMPOUND.
MR DENSON
FILES
F.E.D.
FINANCE DEPT.
H.K. DEPT. KEMS DEPT. KR. WILFORD
FFFFF
CONFIDENTITAL
GR. 41A
2600077
10,000-5/65-870149
REF.
T.S. 1/68 II.
Dear den,
CONFIDENT
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT LOWER ALBERT ROAD HONG HONG
2nd January, 1970.
(1007
FEL 134/1
Anthony Grey
George Walden sent us a copy of his letter of
16th December about the possibility of giving Grey some details for publication about the talks in Hong Kong with the N.C.N.A.
2.
There can of course be no objection to giving Grey anything which is already published or common knowledge. It is certainly known to most of the foreign correspondents in Hong Kong that the Peking Restaurant here was the venue for several of the meetings between the N.C.N.A. and the Political Adviser in 1968, but they know rather little about other details. They would dearly like to know more but I think they are now reconciled to the fact that these exchanges are held in secret.
3.
I see no advantage to us in giving Grey any material which is not already public knowledge. We know that the Chinese are inclined to take offence when they think we have revealed information to the press about discussions with them, for example during the border talks in November 1967.
To let Grey publish something which up to nov has been secret might also strengthen their suspicion that there is a particularly close link between Reuters and official circles, There is also the point that if ve are going to release such information we should make it generally available to the press and not only to Grey.
4.
I suggest therefore that the best course is to make available to Grey only the few details that are already known.
Ч
ever
Athen
(A.F. Maddocks) Political Adviser.
L.V. Appleyard, Esq.,
Far Eastern Dept.,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
LONDON, S.W.1.
c.c. G.G.H. Walden, Esq.,
PEKING.
CONFIDENTIAL
1
CONFIDENTIAL
+
OFFICE OF THE
BRITISH CHARGÉ D'APTAIRES
PEKING
0
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29th December, 1969
W
By Time My FED.
Dear James,
Mo Affle you.
Plw
Shave
MASh
withs to frey
Today.
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We read with great interest Anthony Grey's articles in The People, in particular the description of the burning of this Mission in 1967. As I recall, it is a fuller and more alarming account than the official reports we received at the time in the Department. is, I understand, drawn from conversations with people here at that time. George Walden understands that Grey is likely to include a fuller description in his forth- coming book. (Grey has apparently held back a number of details). As such, it will become the definitive published account of what happened, I think you will agree that we should try to ensure that the account is correct in every detail and and you may therefore wish to ask someone to get in touch with Grey and discuss the matter. I am not in any sense suggesting that we should try to restrain him in what he writes. I am sure in any case, that he would not take kindly to being warned off. On the other hand, he would, I think, accept tactful guidance.
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2. George Walden has already been in touch with IND about supplying Grey with current and earlier background material about China, (see his letter of 16 October to Len Appleyard and Miss Draycott). Here again we might be able to intervene usefully to make sure that the political background to the 1967 events is correct so far as we know it, or, at any rate, not damaging to our own interests.
James Murray, Esq., C.M.G.,
For Eastera Departmerik,
Foreign and Commonwwoulth office.
GOTIDEPTIAL:
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F
14
CONFIDENTIAL
OFFICE OF THE BAITISH CHARGÉ D'APPAIRES
PEIING
own interests.
3. I am sure you, Robin Haydon and Ian Stevenson in IRD, to whom I am copying this letter will appreciate the need for careful and confidential handling of this matter.
Yours ever,
Jim
J.B. Dengon
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