Cypher/Cat A
PRIORITY PEKING
TO
Telno 851
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN OFFICE
14 September 1968
825A
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 851 of
14 September,
Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
My telegram No. 848.
The Chinese have now granted all visas on the list given to them on 27 July. This is a very encouraging development, particularly in view of the relatively speedy issue of visas over the last month.
2.
We shall apply next week for an exit visa for Ebbels (T/803) and see how that fares.
3.
Hong Kong telegram No. 1005 agreed that it would be appropriate to match trickle of visas by a trickle of releases of detainees. I am glad to see that it was possible to release two more detainees this week. But so far we have released only five detainees as against 14 exit visas since 12 August. While I appreciate the intention was not to aim at arithmetical equality there is a case for matching visa figure more closely. I hope in view of latest visa news it will be possible to releave more detainees very quickly so as to make it quite clear to the Chinese that better conduct on their part will bring dividends.
4. There is a further reason for acceleration in release of detainees: the Selfs leave Shanghai today (my telegram No. 515 to Hong Kong). This should in itself justify a gesture on our part in return for their visas and in order to encourage further releases in Shanghai.
Foreign Office pass Priority Hong Kong.
Mr. Cradock
[Repeated as requested]
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