I
lag A
Plag B
PA
C
Sall
Mr. de la Mare.
Problem
CONFIDENTIAL
REUTERS AND THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY
Mr. Graymiana
ብ..
R. 328.
1.57
Fa relations
with China file
ARG
25.8-5
H.M. Chargé d'Affaires in Peking reports in his telegram
no. 1116 that he was summoned to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on 20 August to be given a note demanding that all Chinese journalists arrested in Hong Kong should be declared
innocent and set free, that the ban recently put on the three
Communist newspapers should be lifted and that law suits against
Communist papers should be called off. If these demands were
not met within 48 hours, H.M. Government would be "held responsible
for all consequences". He learned on the same day (Peking telegram no. 1114) that a group of Chinese demonstrators had
broken into the house of Mr. Grey, the Reuters correspondent who
has been under house arrest since 21 July, and that telephonic
communication between Mr. Grey's house and our Office had ceased.
The official at the Chinese Foreign Ministry indicated that if
the ultimatum was not complied with, further measures against Mr. Grey were to be expected. Mr. Hopson rejected the Chinese
note. He has reported that in addition to action against
-
Mr. Grey we may expect action against his own Mission, probably including violence (Peking telegram no. 1118). Mr. Hopson has
asked for severe pressure to be exerted on the New China News
Agency in London and recommended that the Chinese be warned that
if anything further is done to Mr. Grey or to his Mission
N.C.N.A. operations in London will be suspended.
24.8.47
CONFIDENTIAL
/Recommendation
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 83 23 AUĢIYU/
MLA 1/2