EN CLAIR
IMMEDIATE
TELNO.460
UNCLASSIFIED
COPY FOR REGISTRATION
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No. 63 12 JUN 70/
226A
FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
7 JUNE, 1967
(FED)
WINDOWS
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO 460 OF 7/6 REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION PRIORITY TO HONG KONG AND ROUTINE TO WASHINGTON.
MR. RODGERS SUMMONED THE CHINESE ACTING CHARGE D'AFFAIRES
ON 7 JUNE AND DELIVERED THE STRONGEST PROTEST ABOUT THE WAY
IN WHICH A DISORDERLY MOB HAD BROKEN INTO THE PREMISES
OF OUR MISSION IN PEKING IN A MOST SHAMEFUL WAY, SMASHED DESTROYED A PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN AND TORN UP THE UNION
FLAG. TWO MEMBERS OF THE MISSION WERE MANHANDLED.
THE CHINESE POLICE ON DUTY HAD MADE NO ATTEMPT WHATSOEVER TO INTERVENE. WHEN THE PROTOCOL DEPARTMENT OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY WAS INFORMED OF WHAT HAD OCCURRED, THEY FAILED TO GIVE GUARANTEES OF PROTECTION AND TRIED INSTEAD TO CLAIM THAT THESE ACTIVITIES WERE QUOTE COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED UNQUOTE. SUCH
A FAILURE TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR A DIPLOMATIC MISSION WAS QUITE OUT OF KEEPING WITH THE NORMAL CONDUCT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES. WE RESERVED THE RIGHT TO DEMAND FULL COMPENSATION.
WE HERE WERE PREPARED TO GIVE DUE PROTECTION TO THE CHINESE OFFICE AND ITS PERSONNEL. WE EXPECTED THAT THE
SAME SHOULD BE DONE IN PEKING.
2. SHEN P'ING (WHO WAS CLEARLY WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS) SAID THAT HE HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT THESE INCIDENTS. THE I
QUOTE THE
U.S. IMPERIALISTS AND THEIR STOOGES ISRAEL UNQUOTE HAD. LAUNCHED AN AGGRESSIVE WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST WITH BRITISH SUPPORT. THE CHINESE GOVT. HAD MADE ITS SUPPORT OF THE
ARABS QUITE CLEAR IN A STATEMENT. THE ACTIONS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY PEOPLE IN OPPOSING AN AGGRESSIVE WAR WERE
QUITE JUSTIFIED. HE REJECTED THE PROTEST.
3. MR. RODGERS SAID THAT IT WAS QUITE IRRELEVANT TO TALK ABOUT CHINESE GOVT. POLICY TOWARDS THE MIDDLE EAST WAR. THE POINT AT
ISSUE WAS THAT THE CHINESE GOVT. HAD COMPLETELY FAILED TO GIVE PROPER PROTECTION TO A DIPLOMATIC MISSION. THIS HAD NO CONNEXION
WHATSOEVER WITH ANY QUESTION OF CHINESE GOVT.POLICY. WE EXPECTED THAT PROTECTION WOULD BE GIVEN REGARDLESS OF THE POLICY OF THE CHINESE GOVT.
40
THE PRESS ARE BEING GIVEN THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ABOVE.
SENT 2037Z 7 JUNE
SOSFA
да
FAST
FO/CO/WH DISTRIBUSENT TO HONG KONG AS COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.) F.E.D.
TELEGRAM NO. 49