CONFIDENTIAL
for a further round of visits is the implied hint that they
equate all fourteen imprisoned news workers with Mr. Grey.
We shall simply have to see how matters develop in the next few
days. If Mr. Grey is not released fairly soon, say within
four weeks, after Hsueh's release we shall be faced with a
very serious problem indeed. Te shall have to review with
care what our next step should be. We shall of course keep
in close touch with you.
Looking at the brighter side of things and in the
anticipation of the early release of Grey, I know that my
officials are in touch with Reuters about how we can help you
to make his home-coming as little a strain for him as possible.
Defensive Notes
If Mr. Long refers to an Amnesty 7
As you yourself acknowledged in your letter of last July,
the idea of freeing convicted prisoners in Hong Kong in the
hope of securing Grey's freedom raises far-reaching and delicate
questions involving the maintenance of our authority in the
Colony. It would be very difficult to ask the Governor of
Hong Kong to take any step which he firmly believed would
undermine public confidence in the Colony.
If Mr. Long refers to the possible release of Lo7
I know it has been argued that the release of Lo, the only
other N.C.N.A. journalist at present in prison in Hong Kong,
is relevant to the release of Mr. Grey. In the event that the
release of Hsueh P'ing does not lead to the release of Mr. Grey,
/ the matter
CONFIDENTIAL