SECRET
GOVERNOR,
HONG KONG
PEKING
Your telegram No. 1007: Grey.
We are grateful for your analysis of the
possible courses of action and for the comments in
Peking telegram No. 765. The problem is indeed a
very difficult one. While fully understanding you
reasons for preferring to postpone action until
November, we have to consider the pressures
building up here for some action now. We might be
able to limit these, if we can give a confidential
assurance in certain quarters that we are taking
an initiative to secure Grey's release.
2. We see the force of the arguments in Peking
telegram No. 765 in favour of unconditional releas
as an act of faith. But we recognise that the
practical difficulties in paragraph 1 of your
telegram No. 1028 are over-riding. Moreover wo
judge this course to be a gambler's throw carrying
/risks