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Manager, Johnston, had violated Chinese law and his case was being examined. Mr. Shen P'ing said he did not know the details. In addition he commented that while Mr. Foley had expressed the dissatisfaction of H.M.G. the real cause for dissatisfaction lay on the Chinese side. British nationals, under the cover of various activities, had carried out espionage in violation of Chinese law. This had eroused the indignation of the Chinese people. Mr. Foley pressed Mr. Shen P'ing to seek information and let him know the details of charges against Mr. Johnston, if any, and why no consular access had been permitted. Our objective was to maintain correct relations with China, and it was essential that consular access be hermitted in accordance with normal international practice. Mr. Shen P'ing said he had already answered Mr. Foley's questions. Mr. Foley said this was not the case. It was normal international practice to grant consular access to detained nationals of another country. Mr. Shen Pling repeated his assertion that the questions put by Mr. Foley had already been answered. Because the case of Mr. Johnston was being examined there could be no access.
3. Mr. Foley then referred to the cases of two employees of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in Shanghai, Mr. Self and Mr. Crozier who, together with their families had for a long time been seeking to leave China to take up positions elsewhere. The Chinese had failed to grant the necessary exit permits. Mr. Foley referred to the ill health of Mrs. Self and the attacks of bronchitis suffered by Mr. Crozier's daughter. Mr Self's replacement had been in Shanghai for a considerable time and there was no justification for the continuing detention of the two families. Mr. Shen Fling replied that the local authorities in Shanghai were dealing with these specific cases.
40 Mr. Foley said his predecessor had asked for details at previous meetings regarding the cases of a number of other British subjects detained in China. These were Mr. Grey, Mr. Barrymaine, Mr. Crouch, Mr. Eric Gordon and family, Mrs. Epstein, Mr. Shapiro and Mr. Crook. More recently the British Chargé d'Affaires in Peking had sought information about three further cases, those of Captain Will of the "Kota Jaya", Mr. Saunders of the "Rushpool" and Mrs. Gladys Yang. Apart from one visit to Mr. Grey consular access had been allowed in none of these cases nor in that of Mr. Watt in Lanchow. Mr. Foley asked again that Mr. Shen P'ing transmit to his Government a request for details of the charges, if any, against these persons and for consular access in accordance with international practice. Mr. Shen Pling said that as he
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