New China News Agency (N.C.N.A.) reporter called
Hsueh P'ing. Although the N.C.N.A. is an
/official
RESTRICTED
- 2 -
RESTRICTED
official organ of the Chinese Government, Hsueh
P'ing is not in fact a Chinese citizen (except in
the sense that the Chinese consider all those of
Chinese race to be Chinese citizens). His case
differs entirely from Mr. Grey's. He was sentenced
after trial in the courts and since he has been
in prison he has been receiving regular monthly
visits from his relatives and friends. Mr. Grey
on the other hand has not been tried (because
there is nothing to try him for) and has received
no visits.
4.
It has always seemed likely to us that in the
end the best hope for Mr. Grey's release will be .
to arrange an exchange between him and the N.C.N.A.
correspondent in Hong Kong (or the two correspondents
since a further one was arrested and imprisoned
after Mr. Grey's arrest). I can tell you in strict confidence that we
have already made this suggestion
to the Chinese on several occasions. The most
recent was on 7 February on the occasion of dis-
cussions about our Mission and British subjects
in general. We have indicated to the Chinese that
we expect a response and we are now awaiting it.
Quite clearly any hopes of such an exchange are
extremely likely to be prejudiced if it becomes
known publicly that such suggestions have been
/made.
RESTRICTED
- 3-
RESTRICTED
made. I must therefore ask you for Mr. Grey's
sake to keep this information to yourselves.
5. There remains the general question of publicity.
Up to now we have considered that it would be
easier to arrange for Mr. Grey's release if there
is no major public campaign about his detention.
Such a campaign could well stiffen the Chinese
attitude or even force them to stage an "espionage"
trial in order to justify their inhuman treatment
of Mr. Grey. I think these circumstances will
still apply at least until we have had some reply
from the Chinese to our latest approach. If,
however, that reply is unsatisfactory, then I agree with you that there
might well no longer be any value in remaining silent, and though I do
not
want to commit myself absolutely at this stage, I
would probably not wish to discourage you or others
from issuing statements about Mr. Grey. To gain
the maximum effect the timing of such statements
would however be very important and I suggest that we should arrange to
discuss the question further before you take action. I shall in any case
arrange
for you to be kept informed of the Chinese response
to our approach of 7 February. Meanwhile, I hope I can rely entirely, as
always, on your complete
discretion.
メ
RESTRICTED
20 February, 1968.
RESTRICTED
F213/13 w.
.
DEPUTATION FROM THE COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL
UNION OF JOURNALISTS
MR. ANTHONY GREY
Background
Mr. Grey was placed under house arrest in Peking on
23 July in retaliation for the arrest and imprisonment in
Hong Kong of a New China News Agency (N.C.N.A.) journalist
called Hsueh P'ing. Since 18 August telephone communication
with Mr. Grey's house has been cut off by the Chinese and no
member of our Mission in Peking has been allowed to see him.
Kr. Grey was however allowed to receive one parcel from our
Mission in early December and to send telegrame to his mother,
girl friend and Reuters just before Christmas. His girl friend
in England has informed Reuters that she received a further
telegram from Mr. Grey about ten days ago in which he said
that he was receiving her letters and telegrams .
2. Our Mission in Peking have made repeated attempta to secure
consular access to Mr. Grey but all, so far, without success.
We have also tried in various ways to secure Mr. Grey's release.
In the letter which the Secretary of State sent to the Chinese
Foreign Minister, Ch'en Yi, on 31 August, he suggested that it
might be possible to arrange for the release from Hong Kong of
the Chinese "newspaper men and news agency personnel recently
sentenced" (there are in fact now two N.C.N.A. reporters in
prison and also at least twelve journalists from left-wing
newspapers in Hong Kong. No reply has been received to the
/Secretary
RESTRICTER
.
RESTRICTED
- 2 -
Secretary of State's letter nor have the Chinese themselves
made any attempt to refer to the question of an exchange.
Sir Donald Hopson has, however, put the suggestion to the
Chinese in specific terms on two recent occasions; 31 December
and 7 February. We are still awaiting a reply to the last of
these approaches.
3. Reuters too have been unflagging in their efforts to
help Mr. Grey both by attempts at direct contact with the
Chinese authorities and by enlisting the help of intermediaries
e.g. the Pakistan authorities.
Although we are reasonably certain (as a result of
discreet investigation by well-disposed foreign journalists
in Peking) that Mr. Grey is still in his own house and being
looked after by at least one of his Chinese servants, we have
no information about the state of his physical or mental health.
The latter is a particularly worrying point since he has now
been in what is in effect solitary confinement for six months.
5. Our best hope of securing Mr. Grey's release is almost
certainly by arranging some form of exchange with journalists
imprisoned in Hong Kong. Up to now, however, it seems that the
Chinese have not made up their minds about how to deal with Mr. Grey and
are possibly still trying to decide what form of
quid pro quo they can demand for his release.
6. We have so far tried to avoid giving publicity to Mr.
Grey's case in the belief that this would only hinder the
chances of reaching a settlement, and might even force the
/Chinese
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
-3-
Chinese to arrange a staged trial by accusing Mr. Grey of
"espionage". We know from Red Guard newspapers that his
Chinese driver has already been forced to face some sort
of public accusation meeting during which he was accused of
working for a series of Reuters "spies". While we are still
awaiting a reply to our latest suggestion that Mr. Grey should
be exchanged, there can be little doubt that publicity would
only be harmful. If, however, the Chinese reply when it
comes is unsatisfactory, then there is little to be gained
by remaining silent. At that stage there would be no harm
in the National Union of Jouranlists or any other journalists'
organisation issuing statements drawing attention to the
shameful treatment of Mr. Grey. The timing of such statements would
however be important and it would be preferable for the Union to keep in
touch with the Foreign Office about this.
-
RESTRICTED
? A. a.
22/2
36
FOREIGN OFFICE, 8.W.1.
CONFIDE
22 February, 1968.
PERSONAT AID 00137
F413/13
Thank you for your letter of 19 February enclosing copies of letters
about Anthony Grey from your corres- pondents in Tokyo and Hong Kong.
I agree that the letter from Tokyo is disturbing but the information
contained in it, even if accurate, relates to a period which is now some
considerable time in the past. I see that Bargman says that Mr. Grey's
cook has not been spoken to sincë the arrest of his driver and we know
that the latter was "struggled against" at a meeting in Peking on 15
September last and was presumably arrested some days before that. Since
then a parcel and letters have reached Kr. Grey and he has sent out
telegrama. Possibly we can also take some small confort from the thought
that our Mission in Peking do not consider Bargaan to be a very accurate
source and have in the past found that he often colours his stories.
Despite this, the fact rezains that we do not know how Kr. Gray is being
treated or what his state of health is, and this is a highly
unsatisfactory situation to say the least.
You also naked about the last paragraph of Mr. Cassy's letter which
quoted the Political Adviser in Hong Kong, Anthony Elliott, as saying
that he thought the Chinese were on the verge of allowing visits to Mr.
Grey and that Chou cn-lai was personally disturbed about the case. The
Chinese have in fact taken a tiny step in the direction of allowing
visits to Mr. Gray during the past few weeks but they are still pitching
their quid pro quo so high in terms of concessions in Hong Kong that we
have not yet been able to reach agreement, nor is it of course certain
that the Chinese really wish to do 80.
As for Chou in-lai, I had not previously heard this report, although I
think it possible that Chou En-lai might be concerned at the effect this
inhumane act might have on China's image abroad. The trouble is that,
even if this in so, Chou En-lai is involved in so much other
decision-making about urgent internal events that he may not have the
time, or inclination to fix his Lind on problems of particular con- cern
to us.
I shall of course be keeping you informed of progress.
Gerald Long, Raq....
Reuters Ltď.
85 Fleet Street, E.C.4.
p.a
(James Kurray)
72
Personal & Confidential
REUTER
19 February 1968
гобл
Mr James Murray CMG Far Eastern Department The Foreign Office Downing
Street London SW1
For draft refly,ppl.
Dear Mr Murray
Mo Wilson
AR
35
REC WED IN
NG 31
23 FEB 68
*13/13
Kraft reply fallached
Ja. See 6
I enclose herewith for your private information copies of letters
received from Reuter correspondents in Tokyo and Hongkong about Mr
Anthony Grey.
I do not attach too much weight to Mr Casey's letter but I would be
interested to know whether you have any information which would tend to
confirm what is said in the last paragraph.
Mr Garry's letter from Tokyo is profoundly disturbing in that it seems
to confirm the worst fears we have had about the conditions of Mr Grey's
imprisonment. They appear to be worse than those obtaining in the
condemned cell.
Mr Chipp is, as you know, in New York for several months and if anything
further has happened since our last conversation I would be most
grateful to know it.
Yours sincerely
Вече
A
یسا
201
L
Gerald Long General Manager Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4
Telephone Fleet Street 6060
I cables: REUTER TOKYO
Teler: TK 2349
February 13, 1968
1
REUTERS
KYODO TSUSHIN KAIKAN
NO. 2, AKASAKA AOLCHO
MINATO-KU
TOKYO
19 FEBR
!
けい
BUS
DAL
General Manager
Reuters Limited
Dear Sir,
Mr. Hans Bargman, the DPA Correspondent in Peking, was recently here and
gave some information about Mr. Grey which was new at least to me. The
principal sources were Mr. Grey's cook and, before his downfall, his
driver. It seems that some members of the foreign press occasionally ran
into one or other of this pair when out shopping. The cook is however
now accompanied by a policeman when he goes shopping and goes to some
lengths to avoid catching any foreigner's eye. On the last occasion that
Mrs. Bargman saw him, he fled from the shop when she entered.
It is said that Mr. Grey now has the use of two rooms which during the
day he shares with three policemen, though not all are necessarily with
him at all times. At night the light is kept shining while he sleeps and
a policeman sits in the doorway of his bedroom. It was suggested by the
cook, when asked for an explanation, that these precautions were taken
against any wish by Mr. Grey to commit suicide. It seems to me that, if
this is the official reason, we need not necessarily conclude that Mr.
Grey is in a desperate state. This is the sort of thing that gaolers,
especially in totalitarian states, do by force of habit. Furthermore one
should not lightly take the cook's word for it. Indeed the cook reported
that Mr. Grey seemed calm and in command of himself.
It was also said that the Chinese had either destroyed or removed Mr.
Grey's books, radio and gramophone and that he is not allowed writing
materials. This would seem to me to be the most serious threat to his
mind. He is fed the standard rations of a Chinese worker, policeman or
soldier. I learned nothing else new to me about Mr. Grey's conditions
and I should emphasise that this information is some months old. Since
the driver was disgraced, there has been no contact with the cook,
therefore possible that Mr. Grey's lot has since improved. The
It is acceptance of a Christmas parcel by the Chinese and its presumed
delivery to him give some small reason for hoping so.
J
2
Mr. Bargman also reported that the Western correspondents in Peking
approached Mr. Hopson with the suggestion that they should take it in
turns to file stories pointing out that there was no news of Mr. Grey
and that there was no evidence that he was still alive. Their hope was
that this would stimulate the Chinese into producing him in order to
give the lie to this latter implications.
Mr. Hopson refused to approve the scheme.
Yours sincerely,
Kein Gary
Kevin Garry
[
REUTERS
1154
(
Doe
Confidential
The General Manager London
HONGKONG February 16, 1968
z
19FEB 48
H
Reuters Limited, 7th Floor, Gloucester Building P. O. Box 430 Hongkong.
Tel: 225928, 236693. Telex 310
Dear Sir:
A member of the group of Australian students who have just returned from
China, Mr. Rodney Hinderson of Sydney, has given the following report on
Tony Grey.
Mr. Hinderson said he was told by the British diplomats in Peking that
Tony is still in his house but no one has seen him. There are three
sentries outside the house.
However, it was observed that milk was being delivered to the house and
was being collected.
Mr. Hinderson said he was told unofficially that the Chinese would not
be satisfied with a one for one exchange. The Chinese wanted "more than
one reporter" in exchange for Tony. They say there are "larger issues
involved".
Mr. Brian Shaw, another member of the group, backed up Mr. Hinderson's
remarks, but did not have anything on the exchange situation. Mr. Shaw,
a senior member of the group, is studying for his doctorate at the
Australian Fational University in Canberra.
Mr. Round and I saw Mr. Anthony Elliott, Political Advisor to the
Hongkong Government, on an introductory visit yesterday and Mr. Elliott
mentioned that his impression of diplomatic reports from Peking was that
the Chinese were on the verge of allowing visits to Mr. Grey. He added
that he had one "strictly unconfirmed" report that Chou En Lai was
personally considerably disturbed over the Grey situation.
Yours sincepply,
baten
C. L. Casey
r
[
324)
Mr. Wilkinson,
Parliamentary Office
CONFIDENTIAL
*CEIVED IN
#VES N..31
FEB 1968
| F213/13
P.2. by Kr. Ben Whitaker
Mr. Grey was arrested by the Chinese on 23 July, 1967. No one has been
permitted to visit him, and since 18 August all telephone communication
with his house has been cut off
by the Chinese.
own house and we think that he has at least one Chinese
servant to look after him, but we have no means of knowing
how he has stood up to six months of what amounts almost to
solitary confinement.
So far as we know, Mr. Grey is still in his
2. We have made a series of attempts to secure access to Mr. Grey or his
release. None has so far proved successful. The Chinese did suggest in
late January that they would be prepared to "consider" a visit to Mr.
Grey if the New China News Agency (N.C.N.A.) in Hong Kong were allowed
to make
official visits to the two imprisoned N.C.N.A. journalists
there and to other "patriotic" journalists at the time of the
Chinese New Year (30 January).
The Governor was prepared to
agree to the former but not the latter, since it was by no means clear
how many of those arrested in Hong Kong would be considered by the
Chinese as "patriotic journalists".
Allowing official visits to large numbers of communist
prisoners would have been seen to be discrimination in favour of
political prisoners. It would be interpreted locally as
succumbing to pressure and would weaken the Hong Kong
/Government'a
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
- 2
-
Government's position. We are, however, still discussing
Dan muroim mi
with the Governor and/Peking whether there is any form of
acceptable bargain we can strike about visite to prisoners
in Hong Kong in exchange for visits to Mr. Grey if attempte
to secure his release fail.
3.
The latest move to secure Kr. Grey's release was made
on 7 February when our Mission in Peking, on instructions,
put to the Chinese a formal offer to exchange Mr. Grey for
Hough P'ing, the N.C.N.A. journalist, in retaliation for
whose imprisonment Mr. Grey was arrested. (There is one
other N.C.N.A. journalist imprisoned in Hong Kong whom we
would also be prepared to exchange if necessary but his name
has not yet been mentioned by the Chinese or ourselves.)
We still await a reply to this proposal, which is coupled
with the whole question of exit and entry visas for our
Mission. Until that reply is received we cannot consider
the next steps to take about Mr. Grey.
4.
So far Parliamentary and press interest in Mr. Grey has
been remarkably restrained, partly because Reuters have been
deliberately trying to prevent publicity for his case.
If no
progress is made over Mr. Grey in the next two or three weeks,
I would expect pressure for some action to increase. This
would place us in some difficulty, since almost all lines of
action open to us, e.g. publicity or retaliation against the
New China News Agency in London would probably only serve to
worsen Mr. Grey's plight.
5.
I attach a draft reply.
Jan Wang.
(James Murray)
CONFIDENTIAL 15 February, 1968
Pe.
15/2
I
Written Answers
16 FEBRUARY 1968
include Heads of Mission or Consuls- General much of whose work is
largely commercial; nor the large number of staff who are engaged
part-time in com- mercial work.
Mr. Whitaker asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he
wili in the OFFICIAL REPORT the place here additional British com-
mercial consular or attaché posts have been created since 1964.
Mr. Malley: These places (showing additional full-time posts) are:
Consular
Attaché
Written Answers
+36
has been given for his detention and what further action he will be
taking.
Mr. William Rodgers: No reply has yet been re.eived from the Chinese to
the numerous representations made about Mr. Grey. Nor have we been given
any good reasons for his detention, although the Chinese said last year
that he had been arrested in retaliation for the arrest and imprisonment
in Hong Kong of a New China News Agency journalist, Hsueh P'ing. We
consider it totally in- defensible to hold an innocent man in this way
and we shall continue to do everything we can to secure his release.
+
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
19 FEB 1968
F213/13
33
Commercial
Brussels
Tel Aviv
Bona
San Salvador
Rabat
Paris
Lyons
Beira
Washington
Paris
Atlanta
Athens
Berlin
Hanoi
Budapest
Djakarta
Harfa
Milan
Kuwait
Beirut
Tripali
Benghazi
Manila
Jedda
Johannesburg
Las Palmas
Boston
Chicago Houston
New York St. Louis Washington
Tehran
U.K. Delegation
To E.E.C..
Brussels Stockholm
Mr. Whitaker asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many
experienced former salesmen or business men are at present employed by
the British Diplomatic Service.
Mr. Mulley: At present I estimate that approximately 200 career officers
in the representational grades have a commer- cial or industrial
background.
People with practical commercial or Industrial experience are encouraged
to compete for posts in the Diplomatic Ser vice, through a scheme for
supplementary recruitment open to candidates from 27 to 40 (or in some
cases, 45) years old.
MR. ANTHONY GREY
Mr. Whitaker asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply
he has received from the Chinese Govern- ment to his efforts to secure
the release of Mr. Anthony Grey: what reasons he
14 3 20
RHODESIA
Mr. Judd asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs following the
recent Report of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development, what fur- ther representations he has made to the
Portuguese Government about its
increased trade with Rhodesia.
Mr. Goronwy Roberts: The statistics given in the report to which my hon.
Friend refers confirm that there has been a substantial increase in
Portuguese trade with Rhodesia. We were aware of this increase when my
right hon. Friend the Minister of State replied to a Question by
Bruce-Cardyne) on 22nd January: I have the hon. Member for South Angus
(Mr. nothing to add to his reply.-[Vol. 757, c. 15-17.]
VIETNAM
Mr. Whitaker asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he
will make a statement on the preconditions necessary for a successful
reconvention of the Geneva Conference on Vietnam.
Mr. William Rodgers: There are no preconditions except a willingness on
the part of those concerned to attend.
MINISTRY OF LABOUR Unemployment
Mr. Eadie asked the Minister of Labour what were the unemployment
figures in Scotland in the years 1952 to
DATE
16/2/68
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PREVIOUS REFERENCES
Fe13/13. W-32,
8
13
Flag A P.Q. by Mr. A. Royle on 20 December, 1967
Flag B P.Q. by Mr. A. Royle on 21 December, 1967 Flag C P.Q. by Mr. A.
Royle on 22 January, 1968 (24
DAI 54729 Gr.361
13
F213/13
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION
for WRITTEN answer on
FED
W
32
The draft reply should reach the Parliamentary Office through your
Under-Secretary by
Nor loves than 5pm
To dany
La Mr. Ben Whitaker (Hampstead): To ask the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, what reply he has received from the Chinese Government
to his efforts to secure the release of Mr. Anthony Grey: what reasons
he has been given for his detention; and what further action he will be
taking.
16 February, 1968
Роби
1. Lillian Roone
بار
No reply has yet been received from the Chinese to the
we numerous representations made about Kr. Grey. Nor have I-
ALTHOKAŲ been given any good reasons for his detention, though the
T
Chinese said last year that he had been arrested in retaliation for the
arrest and imprisonment in Hong Kong of a New China News Agency
journalist, Hsueh P'ing. consider it totally indefensible to hold an
innocent man in this way ae-a political hostage and I can assure the
House that shall continue to do
J
انيا
everything A can to secure Mr. Grey's release.
く
CONFIDENTIAL
Fe13/13.
TOP CO
гар
31
CYF /CAT A
PRIORITY
FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
TELNO 162
15 FEBRUARY 1968 (F)