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M
we have in the past expressed some reservations about the
December atatement both to Mr. Long of Reuters and to
Mrs. Grey, I think that we might explain to them that Ma's
recent visit has reinforced our confidence that Grey should
be out by October at the latest. I attach a draft telegram
on these lines.
ARGUMENT
·Sove #RA
3. From the delay on which Ma insisted between the summons
and his visit, I think that we can conclude that he was in
urgent touch with his Government for instructions. He was
reading from a prepared text; and I think we must conclude
that his words had been carefully chosen for him by his
masters.
Interpreted literally, they mean merely that
Mr. Grey will be allowed to move about Peking; but I consider
that if the Chinese do remove the restraints on Mr. Grey they
are most unlikely to withhold an exit visa. All in all, I
think that, though Ma's statement is perhaps less authoritative
than would have been a government statement published in
New China News Agency we are justified in treating it as a
firm assurance by the Chinese Government that Mr. Grey will
be allowed to leave China when the newsworkers are released.
4. The N.C.N.A. statement of last December was: "Since the
Hong Kong authorities contrive to keep thirteen now eleven_7
patriotic journalists in jail, the Chinese Government is fully
justified in continuing to restrict Grey's freedom of
movement." We noted at the time that it was carefully short
SECRET