5. We must however recognise that if the
Chinese do not respond by releasing Grey
shortly thereafter, we shall be in a most
åifficult situation. If the Chinese have
not relcased Grey within say 4 weeks from
17 November there would be a strong case,
for considering the unconditional release
at that point of Lo. We shall then be in
the position envisaged in para. 2 of your
telegram No. 1028. Hatteh will have done
his time. We shall have attempted to
negotiate the release of Grey and shall
have failed. The release of Lo can be
implied to be the outcome of our exchanges
with the Chinese and will therefore, as you
pointed out, be much more acceptable in
rong Kon
6. Action on these lines will bring us
close to Christmas. We must in any case
anticipate renewed publicity about Grey
around the time of Halleh's release, and the
strongest possible pressure on Ministers
to show that a serious effort has been
made on his behalf. You may also feel
that the approach of Christmas would make
it easier to present the release of Lo
appropriately for public consumption.