CCNFIDENTIAL
embarrassment to all concerned, with consequent
Gamage to relations between China and the United
Kingdom. The subject is covered in detail in
Supplementary Brief No ...
10. There are two other bilateral problems (set
out in Supplementary Brief No ...) which we should
like to see resolved and which the Secretary of
State will wish to raise:
(a) the release of the remaining British
subjects detained in China.
5150
The Secretary of State may wish to say that we
do not question the right of the Chinese Govern-
ment to arrest and imprison foreign nationals
where offences have been committed.
Houver We
are concerned that in the cases in question the
process of investigation has lasted so long; that
the people concerned have generally been prevented
from sending and receiving letters; and that we
have never been permitted consular access to them.
There is considerable parliamentary and public
interest in the matter;
and the British press some are sure to ask what progress has been madey | The
Secretary of State will wish to refer to our
Note of 6 April 1972 in which we formally reserved
our rights. We now propose that these very large
claims should be examined by both sides with a
view to arriving at a mutually agreeable settle-
ment (the Chinese apparently agreed during
Mr Sharp's visit in August to honour certain
Canadian claims). The details should be left to
officials. [The Secretary of State might suggest,
/when referring
Progress in the
scalement
기
British firmal
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claims egerist churc.