Dear Sir and Brother,
A question has been raised on our District Committee relative to the
whereabouts of Mr. Eric Gordon and his family, who are apparently
detained in China.
In view of the fact that Mr. Gordon was active in the Trade Union and
Labour movement in Manchester, the Chairman accepted a resolution to
request Executive Council to raise this matter with the A.E.U. Members
of Parliament.
In view of the fact that our M.P.8 no doubt havé some details of this
problem, it may not be necessary for me to supply you with a great deal
of detail, but we would appreciate this matter being raised with our
M.P...
Yours fraternally,
ester
District Secretary
AMALGAMATED UNION OF ENGINEPRING & FOUNDAY WORKERS
HOUSE
OF
From : Mrs.Margaret Thatcher, M.P.
Ackd
COMMONS
18/7
Hot. Tilley
17th July 1968.
Not som
Sen by M. Mullay
Consular Dept. for
a
draft reply from M.
Foley.
DOM 18/U11
I enclose a letter I have received from my constituent, Mr.Jeffrey
Gordon, regarding his brother, Eric Gordon who, with his wife and twelve
year old son, are still in China and appear to have been missing for
nine months.
I would be grateful if you could let me know whether there is any way in
which your Department can help to trace this family.
Чело
مسد
Эйсе
Taran. Thalita
Пачал
The Rt.Hon. Frd Mulley, M.P.
Foreign Office.
S.W.1.
سود
hole
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
22 JUL 1968
FC
12
HERTFORD RD,
RECEIVED IN
Tudor 869
ARCHIVES No.31 EAST FINCHLEY
- 1 AUG 1968
LONDON, N.2
FL1/42
16.7.68
9
writing to
Dear Ms. Thatelle,
you
in
the hope that in some way
Be
you may
where a tonis im
ERIC
theis
they
to
able to trace the
China of my
brother
GORDON, his wife MARIE, and
KIM (aged 12).
were about
At the end of October, 1967, wrote that they set off for England from
Peking. Since then
.
period of NINE months, nothing has been
from them.
heard of
when the British Chargé d'affaire in Peking make representations at the
Chinese Foreign Ministry he is repeatedly reluffed. Since January,
have been to the
beam to the Chinese
TIME
Legation in London," that the
+
+
2
response
negative.
has been completely
brother worked for the
My Languages Press in Peking
a diting publications, and my sister in four taught English at
C
college in
Peking quite naturally I have written
great member of people all sorts of organisations in
to
and
Britani
صه
well
There have been
: to
ง
י
every
abroad.
as
replies at all
in Peking, is
conceivable authority written to
Charman Mao, Chou en Lain, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Foreign
Languages Press, the
Friendshyi Hostel where they lived from Feb., 1965 to Cart.
before they
1967,
were due to set off
homes the following
The following people
had
have
repies to their letters:
+
:
I
1
3
LORD BERTRAND RUSSELL To CHOU ENLAI, DR. J. NEEDHAM (CHAIRMAN OF
S.A.C.U).
THE OPPOSITE NUMBER OF THAT ORGANISATION IN PEKING, PROFESSOR FITZGERALD
(AUSTRALIA) TO PEKING, LAWRENCE DALY (SCOTTISH MINERS)
To
THE
EX- DEAN
CHINESE
9
CHINESE LEGATION In London OF CANTERBURY'S WIFE то
LEGATION, J
J. BRADLEY (N. U.J) saw Mr. John
in the House of
and he
advised me
Mandelson
to write to
Commons yesterday,
and Mr. Ben Whittaker, my
yooother and
sister-in-law's M. P.
12
su
and
the
grested that
you,
M.P. Mr. Whittaker
could
discuss the whole
matter
and plan possible actions
to help trace the Gordons in China.
Your very sincerely, Jeffrey Gordon (JEFFREY GORDON)
1
4
I
+
Cornea dept for dust Reply by Sof S
F.E.
Amalgamated Engineering Union
PARLIAMENTARY GROUP
Chairman :
FRED LEE, M.P.
David Watkins,
Hon. Secretary:
CHABLES DANNELI, M.P.
Rt. Hon. Michael Stewart, M.P.,
July 9th, 1968.
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Office,
Downing Street,
S.W.1.
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
15 JUL 1968
Fel/42
Your Michael,
The Executive Council of the AMALGAMATED UNION OF ENGINEERING AND
FOUNDRY WORKERS (sorry, I haven't got the new letter headings yet) have
asked their parliamentary Group to make enquiries of the Foreign Office
on behalf of Mr. Eric Gordon.
Apparently he, his wife and his son have
been detained in China.
I understand that you are fully acquainted with the details of this
case, and I would be grateful for any information you could let me have
about it.
Yours sincerely, David.
David Wetkins.
All communications should be sent to the Honorary Secretary at the House
of Commons, London, S.W.1
pa
lm
Methodist Church
Kingsway Hall London WC: Telephone 01-405 3246
Superintendent Minister
Then The Lord Soper MA PhD West London Mission
RECEIVED
ARCHIVES No.3
20 JUN 1968
Ful42
Circuit Stewarda
Mr Malcolm Spencer FPS
Prof Arthur Smalles
MA Dut
18 June 1968
Kingsway Creche
St Luke's House
St Mary's House
Grove House
Alfred Hartley House
Emerson Bainbridge House
Goodliffe House
Fellowship House
Katherine Price Hughes Hostel Hopedene
WLM Clothing Store
Nr. William Rodgers, M.P.,
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,
Foreign Office,
London, S.W.1.
Rect. 19/6
38
7.ED.
Dear Mr. Rodgers,
Thank you so much for your letter of the 14 June, regarding the Gordon
family, who may be under detention in China.
I am most grateful to you for taking the trouble to reply at such
length, and I trust that all your efforts to establish some information
about this family may prove successful.
With kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
Soper
M. Skolad M Murray
Au 21 Jun
enter
20%
FE/142.
Foreign Office London S.W.I
From The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
14 June, 1968.
39
Du Mex Mr Garden.
Пе
32
I am writing to thank you for your letter 27 May to the Prime Minister
about your son Eric.
I am afraid that there is very little that I can add to my letter of 5
June. We are still pressing for confirmation of the report I mentioned
and shall naturally contact you as soon as we hear any more news. We are
also of course still in close touch with you son Jeffrey.
Sicesh
Lion Rodger
کچھ
William Rodgers
Mr. and Mrs. S. Gordon,
22 Westbourne Gardens,
HOVE,
SUSSEX. BR 3.5PP
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry
No.
FC1/42
DRAFT
Letter
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
To
Top Secret.
Secret
Confidential
Restricted
Unclassifed.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
Mr. & Mrs. S. Gordon 22 Westbourne Gardens,
Hove,
Sussex. EN 3.5PP
Type 1+
From
Mr. Rodgers
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
Flag
I am replying
for letter of 27 May
to the Prime Minister about your son Eric.
I am afraid that there is very little that
can add to my letter of 5 June. We are still
pressing for confirmation of the report I
mentioned and shall naturally contact you as
soon as we hear any more news. We are also
of course still in close touch with your son
Jeffrey.
Mus" vi
F21/42:
From The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Foreign Office
London SW1
14 June, 1968.
38
!
1
י - י ד ני -
L
Thank you for your letter of 29 Hay about the Gortion family, who we
believe may be under detention in China. You enclosed a letter from Mr.
Gordon's sister,
Miss Antta Gordon, which I am returning withthis letter. We have kept a
copy for our files.
I am afraid that there is little that you can do to help the Gordons at
present. We are in constant touch with Mr. Gordon's brother, Mr. Jefirey
Gordon, and I have myself written to his mother and father án other
members of his family. The facts are more or less as Miss Gordon
describes them. Mr. Gordon: worked for the Chinese Government in the
Foreign Languages Press in Peking and lived in the Friendship Hostel.
This is a hotel for foreigners who are sympathetic to the Chinese
Government. Reither he nor nis family were in touch with our Mission in
Peking and it is consequently extremely difficult for us to find cut
anything about them. Moreover the Mission, as you will be aware, work
under considerable difficulties in any case.
L
We have been doing all we can to outain some positive information about
the Goutions. Wo made formal approaches to the Chinese authorities in
Peking on 3 February, 12 March, 25 March and on 4 May in an effort to
find out whether the Gordons are in fact under
detention. I have also hade requests for information to the Chinese
Chargé d'Affaires a interim most recently on 24 May. The Chinese have so
lur responded to none of these approaches.
The only evidence of any sort which we have is a- report from a foreign
resident of the Friendship Hostel, who recently told & member of our
Mission that Eric Gordon
The Reverend The Lord Soper, M.A., Pil.D.,
Superintendent Minister,
West London Lission
Methodist Church.
Kingsway Hall, V.j.2.
/and his
LT
2
and his family reappeared some weeks ago for about a day, apparently
under no form of restriction. This .. report is so far unconfirmed; but
we are doing our best to find corroborative evidence.
+
I am sorry that I can only give you such a tentative reply. But I know
you understand the problems involved.
William Rodgers
ו'
+
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
DRAFT FC 1/42
Letter
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
To:-
Top Secret.
Secrct.
Confidential
Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
"Is Confdance
The Rev. The Lord Soper,
West London Mission, Kingsway Hall, London, W.0.2.
Superintendent Minister,
38
Type I +
From
Mr. Rodgers
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
Thank you for your letter of 29 May about
the Gordon family, who we believe may be under
detention in China You enclose a letter from
Mr. Gordon's sister, Miss Anita Gordon which I
am returning with this letter. We have kept
a copy for our filea.
I am afraid that there is little that you
can do to help the Gordons at present. We are
in constant touch with Mr. Gordon's brother,
Mr. Jeffrey Gordon, and I have myself written
to his mother and father and other members of
his family. The facts are more or less as
Miss Gordon describes them. Mr. Gordon
worked for the Chinese Government in the
Foreing Languages Press in Peking and lived in
the Friendship Hostel. This is a hotel for
foreigners who are sympathetic to the Chinese
Government. Neither he nor his family were
in touch with our Mission in Peking and it is
consequently extremely difficult for us to
find out anything about them, Moreover the
Mission, as you will be aware, work under
considerable difficulties in any case,
We have been doing all we can to obtain
some positive information about the Gordons.
We made formal approaches to the Chinese
authorities in Peking on 3 February, 12 March,
25 March and on 4 Hay in an effort to find
out whether the Gordons are in fact under
/detention
detention. I have also made requests for
information to the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires
ad interim most recently on 24 May. The
Chinese have so far responded to none of
these approaches.
The only evidence of any sort which we
have is a report from a foreign resident of
the Friendship Hostel, who recently told a
member of our Mission that Eric Gordon and
his family had reappeared some weeks ago for
about a day, apparently under no form of
restriction.
unconfirmed;
This report is so far
but we are doing our best to
find corroborative evidence.
I am sorry that I can only give you such
a tentative reply.
But I kun ym
You will however
understand the problems involved.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
14.6
Mr. Samuel
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No 3i
20 JUN 1968
Filari
W.31
Flage A, B,
and C.
Flags D and
32
35
Mr. Eric Gordon and Family
I attach draft replies to letters (a) from
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon to the Prime Minister and
(b) from The Rev. The Lord Soper, who enclosed a
letter from Miss Anita Gordon, Mr. Gordon's sister.
2. There is nothing to add to the background
information in my submissions of 1 May and 28 May.
Jann Unnay
(James Murray)
13 June 1968
28.5
Mr. Samuel
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN [ARCHIVES No.31;
20 JUN 1968
F2/42
Plags A & B
Flag C
Flag D
Flaga E & F
Letters from Mr. Merlyn Rees, K.P. to
Kr. Roberts about the Gordon Family
I attach a draft reply from Mr. Rodgers to letters of
20 and 23 May from Mr. Merlyn Rees, M.P. to Mr. Roberts.
Mr. Rees wrote to Mr. Roberts on 2 April, but the letter did
not reach Far Eastern Department. Mr. Rees has since sent a
copy. The background to the case of the Gordons is in my
submission of ↑ May.
2. We have since received an unconfirmed report that a
French resident of the Friendship Hostel saw Mr. Gordon and
his family at the Hostel where they had reappeared for only
about one day. We have asked for confirmation of this and the
Chargé d'Affaires hopes it will be possible to question the
informant further in early June when he applies for a visa
to go to Hong Kong (Peking telegrams 448 and 482).
Janes Wnnaga.
(James Kurray) 28 May, 1968
CONFIDENTIAL
Fi(42.
Foreign Office London S.W.1
*
From The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
5 June, 1968.
81
35
The Foreign Secretary as asked me to thank you for your letter of 28 ly
coout your sou Eric and his wife and son.
Since the letter Mr. Corowy itcberts wrote to Mirs. Gordon on 7 ky there
has been a development, of which we have already informed your son
Jeffrey, with whom we have been keeping in close touch. A foreign
resident of the Friendship jostel in. Peking recently told & member of
our Mission that Eric and his family had reappeared some weeks ago for
about a day, apparently under no form of restriction.
I must, I am afraid, emphasise that this report is 'so far unconfirmed.
We are doing our best to obtain information, but as you know our Mission
works under great difficulties in Peking. In the meantime we are
continuing to do all we can in the interests of your son and his family.
I raised his case again with the Chargé d'Affaires only ton lays ago;
and we shall continue to press for information both here and in Peking.
Mr. and Mrs. S. Gordon,
22 Westbourne Gardens,
HOVE,
Sussex BN 3.
+
William Rodgers
Registry F4/42 DRAFT
LETTER
No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secrol
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
Ja
Confianc
To:
Mr. and Mrs. S. Gordon,
22, Westbourne Gardene, Rove, Sussex BN 3.
35
Type 1+
From
MR. RODGERS
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
Flag A