Cypher/Cat A
PRIORITY PEKING
то
Telno 886
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN OFFICE
25 September 1968
841
n107
じん!
CONFIDENT IAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 886 of 25 September,
Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
My impression is that we may not be using publicity to assist British subjects detained in China as widely or as effectively as we could.
2.
822
3.
We earlier had doubts about publicity on two main grounds:
(a) It might create pressure from public opinion for
· undesirable action on our part e.g. retaliation. However it now seems accepted that reprisals e.g. against Chinese in the United Kingdom would only do great harm, so that this danger has presumably receded. Moreover, the most useful publicity would be abroad and would not therefore invite such dangers (please see paragraph 5 below).
This.
(b) It might drive the Chinese into greater intransigence
or into some kind of justificatory action. however, has not been borne out by our experience of publicity over visas for the Mission since July. Visas flowed despite considerable critical comment in the U.K. Press. Publicity almost certainly helped rather than hindered. There is in addition encouraging evidence of Chinese vulnerability from Reference News (my telegram No. 843). Conversely
our silence in such matters as the arrest of the Merchant Navy officers has brought no obvious dividends.
No
At present, apart from a brief announcement on Johnston we seem to have had little or no publicity on the Shanghai community despite the recommendation in my telegram No. 764. Sharland's letter of 12 September to Garside suggests we may be deliberately withholding publicity until Simon-Carves team are out of China. This seems misconceived. Publicity on Shanghai would not prejudice Simon-Carves' chances; it might add slightly to their protection (my telegram No. 809). For reasons given in paragraph 2(b) above such publicity should assist rather than retard any chances Croziers etc. have of obtaining visas.
4.
As regards Grey, public speculation about Hsueh Ping's release in November may not be desirable but publicity on Chinese barbarism in Grey's case would do good. There are indications the Chinese are embarrassed about Grey. Let us therefore pile on the embarrassment. As regards Crouch, Barrymaine, etc., I cannot see that they have anything to lose.
5. The most useful publicity would be articles not in the British but in foreign Press and in suitable cases in commercial circles, emphasising the uncivilised nature of Chinese conduct, secret police methods, hostage-taking, breach of contract, refusal of information and access and disregard of international standards.
87/
CONFIDENTIAL
/I hope CEIVED IN
* No. 63
25 SEP1968
HWDK