CONFIDENTIAL
(82)
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE
RECEIVED IN
TO PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 874
ARCHIVES No.63
9 OCTOBER 1968 (F.E.D.)
10 OCT1960
CONFIDENTIAL.
HWD ?/
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 874 OF 9 OCTOBER REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG
SUL
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 886: PUBLICITY.
LAST
R
841 875
WE AGREE THAT RETICENCE OVER THE TREATMENT OF BRITISH SUBJECTS UNDER DETENTION DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE DONE ANY PARTICULAR GOOD. ON THE OTHER HAND THERE IS FIRM EVIDENCE THAT THE CHINESE AT ANY RATE NOTE CRITICAL COMMENT ABOUT THEIR TREATMENT OF FOREIGNERS AND IT IS THEREFORE REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT SOME SECTIONS OF THE LEADER-
SHIP ARE AWARE THAT THIS BEHAVIOUR IS DAMAGING INTERNATIONALLY, IT IS
FOR THIS REASON THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN HAPPY TO SEE GREATER
PUBLICITY GIVEN TO THE PLIGHT OF BRITISH SUBJECTS. IT IS HOWEVER NOT TRUE THAT PUBLIC PRESSURES FOR UNDESIRABLE RETALIATORY ACTION HAVE
CEASED. WE RECEIVE A STEADY TRICKLE OF LETTERS AND SOME PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS DEMANDING TOUGH ACTION. AS IS SHOWN BY THE RECENT ARTICLE
IN QUOTE THE ECONOMIST UNQUOTE CALLING FOR THE EXPULSION OF THE NCNA FROM LONDON IF GREY IS NOT RELEASED SOON AFTER HSUCH PING COMES OUT OF PRISON IN HONG KONG, THIS LINE IS NOT CONFINED TO EXTREMISTS Pe WE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO MUTE PUBLICITY ABOUT JOHNSTON AND THE
SHANGHAI COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE SIMON CARVES TEAM WERE IN CHINA. THE
TERMS OF THE STATEMENT ON JOHNSTON WERE AGREED WITH THE CHARTERED
BANK WHO ASKED THAT THEY BE KEPT RESTRAINED IN THE HOPE THAT IF THE
ARREST WAS CONNECTED WITH THE AFFAIR WITH THE BANK OF CHINA IN
SINGAPORE, MATTER MIGHT BE SETTLED QUIETLY. THE SITUATION IS STILL OBSCURE AND DEPENDING ON DEVELOPMENTS IT MIGHT BE ADVISABLE TO GIVE MORE PUBLICITY TO THE CASE LATER. FOR THE PRESENT HOWEVER WE ARE GOING ALONG WITH THE BANK'S REQUEST THAT PRESSURE BE KEPT UP MAINLY
THROUGH THE DIPLOMATIC CHANNEL.
3. THERE IS A STEADY INTEREST IN THE BRITISH PRESS IN DETAINED
BRITISH SUBJECTS BUT RECENTLY IT HAS INEVITABLY BEEN MUTED IN FACE OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA, BIAFRA AND OTHER EXAMPLES OF QUOTE MAN'S INHUMANITY TO MAN UNQUOTE. IT IS REGRETTABLE BUT INEVITABLE THAT
THE BRITISH PRESS HAVE BECOME TO SOME EXTENT INURED TO CHINESE
/BEHAVIOUR.
CONFIDENTIAL