FCO 21 44 Arrest of Foreign Friends

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CONFIDENTIAL

FOREIGN OFFICE

DEPT. r:

TITLE:

THE ARREST OF

CASTERN

CHINA! POLITICAL AFFAIRS INTERNAL

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CONFIDENTIAL

LILI

Downing Street.

PART

FNxW

RECEIVED IN {ARCHIVES No.31) 11 OCT 1968

65 Mount Street, HEIDELBERG. VIC. 3084 30th September, 1968

LAST PAPER

مه

Sir Donald Hopson,

ex-Ambassador to China,

Foreign Office,

LONDON 3.7.1.

Dear Sir Donald,

proper 11/10

I am most grateful to you for your full reply of September 13 concerning
the Epsteins. I am glad to know that the Foreign Office will continue to
pursue the matter but one can hardly be optimistic about the result,

I should be very glad if you would instruct the appropriate official to
send me any further information that may be obtained in the future.

Incidentally, Kra. Epstein comes of an old Yorkshire family and it
occurs to me that information could possibly be obtained from that
source. I do not know the address of any member. The correct spelling is
not Cholmondley. However, the pronounciation of 'Chumlee' is retained,

LAST PAPER

Yourg sincerely,

Листьяства

Oscar Mendelsohn

x Mr. Boys.

Her in spells

LAST PAPER

it Each Cholmeley

CAST PAPER

AEROGRAMMI

BY AIR MAIL · PAR UNI

AIST FOLD HERE

航

MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA

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SIR DONALD HOFSON

FORLIQN OFFICE.

LONDON

Teat 3

8.W.1. 16 Belosa

Embank

S.W.I

(COUNTRY OF DESTINATION)

SECOND POLO HERE

SENDER'S NAME AND ADDRESS.

Üsoar Kendelsohn,

65 bunt Street,

Hoidelberg, Victoris. 3084

IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED OR ANY TAPE OR STICKER ATTACHED, THIS FORM MUST
BEAR POSTAGE AT THE RATE FOR APMAIL LETTERS.

SUIT HERE

[

Note No. 138

VED IN

27/5

AK-

VES No.31

27SEP 1968

Fa1/39

The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires present their compliments to
the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
People's Republic of China, and have the honour to refer to their Fotes
mimbered 76, 84 and 120 of the 24th of June, 4th of July and 17th af
August, 1968, which requested confirmation of the reported arrest of
Hrs. Elsie Epstein, details of ary charges brought against her and
immediate consular access to her.

They

The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires have so far received no
reply to the above mentioned Notes. again urgently request the Consular
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to furnish the information
requested on the above British subject and to permit immediate consular
access to

her.

The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires avail themselves of this
opportunity to renew to the Consular Department of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China the assurance of their
highest consideration.

office of the British Chargé d'Affaires, PEKIKO

14 September, 1968

Tote To. 136

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No 31

27 SEP 1968

1281/39

The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires present their compliments to
the Consular Department of the Hinistry of Foreign Affairs of the
People's Republic of China, and have the honour to refer to their Notes
mumbered 76, 86 and 118 of the 24th of June, 4th of July and 17th of
August, 1968, which requested confirmation of the reported arrest of Kr.
Kichael Shapiro, details of any charges brought against

him and inmediate consular socess to him,

The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires have so år received no reply
to the above mentioned Notes. They again urgently request the Consular
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to furnish the information
requested on the above British subject and to permit immediate consular

access to hin,

office of the British Chargé d'Affaires, PETT

14 September, 1968

F4139

Duid

£816/9

PESS AÐ IN

ARCHIVES -16. POREIGN OFFICE, 8.#.1.

17 SEP 1968

13 September, 1968.

F21/39

Thank you for your letter of 15 August about Mrs. Israel Epstein née
Elsie Fairfax-Cholmondley. She and her husband were employed by the
Chinese in Peking and their political sympathies lay with the present
Chinese Government and they avoided all contact with the British
Mission. It was not until March of this year that members of the Mission
heard rumours t at both she and her husband had been detained by the
Chinese. The rumours suggested that the detention had taken place
towards to end of last year or at the beginning of this. Since than the
Mission has made repasted representations to the Chinese authorities
requesting information about the whereabouts of Mrs. Epstein and
consular access to her if she is in fɛet in detention. Approaches have
also been made by Foreign Office Ministers in London to the Chinese
Chargé d'Affaires here. None of our efforts have however produced any
response from the Chinese so that we are forced to assume that Mrs.
Epstein and her husband are indeed detained. We shall of course continue
our attempts to obtain information about Mrs. Epstein but the pattern of
this case is all too familiar to us cince there are at present a dozen
or more other British subjects who are probably detained by the Chinese
to none of whom consular access has been allowed; in no case have the
Chinese answered our requests for information.

The fact that Mr. and Mrs. Epstein were employed by the Chinese probably
means that the chance of any intervention on our part being helpful is
even less than would normally be the 0280. I am sorry that there is
nothing more specific or encouraging I can aɛy.

Ir. Oscar Mendelsohn,

65 Mount Street,

Heidelberg, N.22,

Victoria, N.S.M.,

Australis.

(D. C. Hopson)

L30

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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

Registry Fa

No.

Fa/39

Top Secret. Secret.

Confidential. Restricted. Open.

Draft. Letter to:

Oscar Kendelsohn, 65 Mount Street, Heidelberg, N. 22, Victoria, N.S.7.
Australia

тейротрави lam with the

стайна present emnina Gory, and they avoided me trom contact with

the Burtum Mishu.

ir Donald Hopson

Mr.

For hi D. Hopson

కు

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your letter of 15 August

about Mrs. Israel Epstein née Elsie Fairfax-

Cholmondley.

Unfortunately we know very little about

Mrs. Epstein, but I can of course confirm

that as you suspect her political views are

well to the left. She and her husband were-

both employed by the Chinese in Peking and

It was not until March of this year that men-

The

bers of py Mission heard rumours that both she

and her husband had been detained by the

Chinese authorities, The rumours suggested

that the detention had taken placed towards

the end of last year or the beginning of

this. Since then the British Mission r

representation Beking has made repeated ápproaches to the

Chinese authorities with request for

information about the whereabouts of Mrs.

Epstein apá requesting consular access to

her if she is in fact in detention.

Approaches have also been made by Foreign

orrice Ministers in London to the Chinese

Chargé d'Affaires here. None of our efforts

amy response

have however produced a reply from the

Chinese so that we are forced to assume that

Mrs. Epstein and her husband are indeed

detained, We shall of course continue our

attem, ts to obtain information about Mra,

Epstein but the ether-British-subjecte

pattern of this case is all too familiar to

a Dozen al sol us since there are at present other

British subjects who are probably detained

by the Chinese to none of whom he consular

Las

access/been allowed and in no case have the

/been

/Chinese

Chinese answered our requests for information.

I regret that I cannot give you any pore

spécifie information.

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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

hota

120

F4321

The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires present

their

ir compliments to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the People's Republie of Chine, and have the honour to refer
to their Notes numbered 76 and 84 of the 24th of June, 1968 and 4th of
July, 1968, which requested confirmation of the reported arrest of Era.
Eisia Iystein, details of any charges brought against her and

immediate consular access to her.

The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires have so far received no
reply to the above mentioned Notes. They again urgently request the
Consular Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs to furnish the
information requested on the above British sah ́oot and to permit

immediate congular access to her.

The Office of the British ChargỂ d'affaires avail themselves of this
opportunity to renew to the Consular Department of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Chine

highest consideration.

SEERPESS of their

British Chargé d'Affaires,

17 August, 1968

Lote No. 118

TRES {AR

Fa/39

The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires present their compliments to
the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
People's Republic of China, and have the honour to refer to their Botas
mabered 76 and 86 of the 24th of Jane and 4th of July, 1968, which
requested. confirmation of the reported arrest of Ir. Kichael Shapiro,
details of any charges brought against hia and innodiate congelar socess
to him.

The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires have so far received no
reply to the above mentioned Hotes. They again urgently request the
Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to furnish the
information requested on the above British subject and to permit
immediate consular sceens to kin.

Office of PRIINO

British Chargé d'Affaires,

17 August, 1968

15th August, 1968

RECEIVED IN 'ARCHIVES No.31

- 6 SEP 1968

Fa1/39

Sir Donald Hopson,

ex-Ambassador to China,

Foreign Office,

LONDON.

Dear Sir:

During my stay in New York shortly before World War II I employed as
secretary an English girl, Miss Elsie Fairfax-Cholmeley, a very
accomplished and poised young woman. Later she joined the Institute of
Pacific Affairs. After I returned to Australia (where I was C.0. of the
Scientific Section of the R.A.A.F. for the war years) she wrote to me
from China. This correspondence continued on a strictly personal level
until one or two years ago. Ι gathered that she had become an ardent
supporter of Red Ching, that she had married an American journalist
called Israel Epstein and that they had adopted two Chinese orphans. I
formed the impression that she was persona grata with the Chinese
Government and that both she and her husband were employed in some
literary capacity.

About six or nine months ago I was astonished to read in the Australian
Press that the Epsteins had been arrested aa spies. I have never met
Israel Epstein but I am sure Elsie would have remained a person of
integrity.

It occurs to me that you may know the facts of the case and I would be
most grateful if you would let me know briefly what has happened.

My wife and I have a high regard for Elsie as a person though, of
course, we do not share her presumed political beliefs.

раз

anto

4/9.

Australia

.2.

You will, of course, need to know that I am a reliable person. I am a
well-known writer, current President of the Fellowship of Australian
Writers and a member of the U.N.E.S.C.0. Committee on Letters. My
publishers are Macmillan of London. My status can be established from
Who's Who in Australia, the International Who's Who in Writing (London)
and similar publications.

I hope you will understand our anxiety and let me have any information
you possess.

Yours faithfully,

Deshandelsh

Oscar Mendelsohn

Enter

老

UNCLASSIFIED

(PEK/5)

Dear John

Office of the British

Mrs. Elsie Epstein

Chargé d'Affaires,

PEKING.

27 July, 1968.

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No. 31

AUG 1968

Fell39

I am replying to your letter FC 1/39 of 18 July instead of Alastair
Hunter since I have taken over responsibility for Consular matters.

2. In answer to your enquiry I have to confirm that we have had no
reaction to our Note No. 44 of 6 May.

Yours

ever,

Roger

(R. R. Garside)

E. J. Sharland, Esq.,

FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT,

FOREIGN OFFICE.

(FC 1/39)

UNCLASS IF IED

FOREIGN OFFICE, $.W.1.

18 July, 1968.

Nrs. Elsie Epstein

Please refer to John Boyd's letter of 23 April with which he enclosed a
letter for Mrs. Epstein from her sister. You passed the letter on to the
M.F.A. under cover of your Note No. 44 of 6 May.

I am sure that you would have let us know if your Note had elicited any
reply from the Chinese. It would clear the position up for us, though,
if you could confirm that you have had no reaction from our Chinese
friends.

A. J. Hunter, Eaq.,

PEXING.

(E. J. Sharland) Far Eastern Department

22.

(PC 1/39)

Dir.:).

235/6

FOREIGN OFFICE, 8.W.1.

5 June, 1968.

Thank you very much for your letter of 25 Way about the probable
detention in China of your wife's brother, David Crook, It was kind of
you to take the trouble to confira our earlier telephone conversation in
writing.

As a result of the same report in the press, Kro. Baker has been in
touch with me and has let me see letters aba has received this year from
her sister and her thres nephews. From these letters it seems clear that
Mrs. Crook and her sons are not in detention although we must continue
to assume that Mr. Grook himself is not at liberty until we have some
clear evidence to the contrary. We shall therefore continue to press the
Chinese for information about Mr. Crook's whereabouts and for cons ular
access to his if he is in fact detained.

I will certainly let you know if we receive any further information.

(E. J. Bharland) Per Eastern Department

Alick Altman, Esq.,

222 Musters Road,

heat Bridgford,

Nottinghamsidre, 102 7DE.

24%

(PO 1/39)

DiD

285/6

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

5 June, 1968.

It was most kind of you to come and see ne yesterday and to let me keep
the letters from you sister and nephews to you. I have taken copies of
them and eralose them herewith. I regret that the note attached to the
letter of 29 March was destroyed during the process of reproduction, but
I include instead the copy, not very good I am afraid, which was
obtained.

In view of the letters we must I think accept that your sister and
nephews are not in detention. Equally, however, until we have somewhat
firmer evidence to the contrary we will continue to work on the
assumption that your brother in law in detained. We shall accordingly
continue to press the Chinese authorities for information about his
whereabouts and for consular access to him if he is not at liberty.

I shall of course keep you informed of any information which we receive.

Yrs. *

Baker, 6 Village Road,

Finchley,

London, N.3.

Tel. Fo. Pinchley 5343

(5, J. Sharland) Far Eastern Department

بلال

UNCLASSIFIED

I. Boyd, Esq.,

Wa Eastern Department.

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

1 6 MAY 1968

Els 19 Edý

With the compliments of

the

British Chargé d'Affaires

PEKING. 6 May, 1968

(A. J. HUNTER)

Reference your letter to Alistair Hunter of 23 April.

Jam. 275

The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires present

their complimente to the Consular Department of the Finistry

of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and

have the honour to refer to their Note Fo. 30 of the 2nd of

April naking for information about Kra. Elsie Epstein and

Kr. Michael Shayiro. They have not yet received a reply

to this Neto,

The Offios would be grateful if the Consular Department

would let them know as soon as possible whether Ers. Spetsin

and ir, Shapire are in fact in detention as has been

reported, and if so what charges if any have been brought

against thom. They also request early oeneular socess te

them.

In the mountine a sister of Era, Epstein, Mrs. R.

1. I

Coffrey, has asked the office je try and arrange for the

delivery to Era. Apatein of the enclosed letter which

informs Krs. Epstein of a serious accident to a young

member of her family. The Office would be grateful for

the assistance of the Consular Departacat in arranging for

this letter to be delivered to Ers, Epstein; and if she is

in detention they request that she be given the opportunity

of sending a letter of acknowledgment to her sister.

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