CONFIDENTIAL
5.
for dealing with such prisoners.
Sir D. Hopson believes
that despite progress in other fields relations cannot
get back to anything like normal until the issue of
prisoners is settled. He underlines the relevance of
this to the treatment of all British subjects in detention
in Chine. (Other than Mr. Grey there are thought to be
some 10 of these.) This is a very large issue to introduce
at this stage and I think that it might be unwise to inject
it into discussion of Mr. Gray's possible release. If
Mr. Grey is to be released before 1969, the Governor will
have to be asked at some point to make some unpalatable
concessions and we do not wish to make his difficulties any
greater.
Copy to Mr. Carter
CONFIDENTIAL
(James Murray)
2 May, 1968