EN CLAIR
FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
TELEGRAM NO. 853
27 SEPTEMBER, 1968
1968 (F)
(840
UNCLASSIFIED
ADDRESSED TO. PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 853 OF 27 SEPTEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG, WASHINGTON AND
POLAD SINGAPORE.
BRITISH SUBJECTS.
856
ECONOMIST OF, 28 SEPTEMBER CARRIES A LEADING ARTICLE ON BRITISH
វ
SUBJECTS DETAINED IN CHINA, THEME IS THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
IS NOT AS HELPLESS TO GET ANTHONY GREY AND THE OTHERS OUT OF CHINA'S HANDS AS IT SEEMS TO THINK IT IS''.
2. ARTICLE REFERS TO CONTINUED CHINESE REFUSAL OF CONSULAR ACCESS TO GREY AND TO DOUBTS ABOUT HIS HEALTH. ARTICLE STATES THAT HE IS DETAINED IN REPRISAL FOR GAOLING IN HONG KONG OF TWO JOURNALISTS FROM THE NCNA''. ARTICLE SUMMARI SES CASES OF DETAINED SHIPS' OFFICERS AND WATT. REGARDING SHAPIRO, MRS. EPSTEIN AND THE CROOKS, ARTICLE SAYS 'THESE PEOPLE ARE BRITISH IN NAME ONLY. IF THAT. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT NEED FEEL NO PARTICULAR OBLIGATION TO OBTAIN THEIR RELEASE''.
>
3. ARTICLE GOES ON TO SAY THAT HMG CANNOT, HOWEVER, REMAIN PASSIVE ABOUT THE OTHERS, PARTICULARLY GREY. THE CHINESE HAVE REFUSED TO SAY WHAT WOULD INDUCE THEM TO RELEASE GREY. THEY MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT RELEASE HIM IF THE CHINESE JOURNALISTS IN HONG KONG WERE RELEASED. IN ANY CASE SUCH A BARGAIN WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT WOULD SET A PRECEDENT FOR HOSTAGE TAKING, ARTICLE COMPARES CASES OF GREY AND GERALD BROOKE.
4. ARTICLE REFERS TO INDONESIAN AND SOVIET EXPERIENCE BUT REJECTS 'STRAIGHT INTIMIDATION' AS MEANS OF INFLUENCING CHINESE POLICY TOWARDS THE U.K, THREAT OF ACTION AGAINST CHINESE MISSION IN LONDON WOULD NOT BE CREDIBLE IN BRITAIN. ARTICLE DOES HOWEVER RECOMMEND ACTION AGAINST NCNA CORRESPONDENTS IN LONDON. IF GREY IS NOT FREED WHEN ONE OF THE TWO JOURNALISTS IN HONG KONG IS RELEASED IN NOVEMBER CHINESE SHOULD BE INFORMED THAT VISAS OF NCNA CORRESPONDENTS WILL NOT BE RENEWED AND THAT NO REPLACEMENTS WILL BE ALLOWED IN. ARTICLE CLAIMS THAT CHINESE WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO RETALIATE AGAINST MEMBERS OF BRITISH MISSION IN PEKING AND THEIR FAMILIES. IF CHINESE AGAIN LOWERED THE BOOM ON STAFF MOVEMENTS H.M. G WOULD ''PRESUMABLY RETALIATE IN KIND** AGAINST CHINESE MISSION HERE. BUT ACTION AGAINST CHINESE JOURNALISTS SHOULD NOT INVOLVE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN EITHER COUNTRY. GREY IS 'FORGOTTEN MAN?? AND HIS CONTINUED DETENTION INTOLERABLE. ''THREAT TO CHINA'S CAPACITY TO GATHER NEWS IN LONDON MIGHT WELL HELP TOWARDS HIS RELEASE''.
SO SFA
FILES
F.O. F.E.D.
C.O.
NEWS DEPARTMENT.
I.R.D.
836
CONSULAR DEPARTMENT
H.K. DEPARTMENT
NEWS DEPARTMENT
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.53 SC SEPI68
HWA
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