(1)
14
E
CONFIDENTIAL
2.
(1) IMMEDIATELY STOP THE BEATING AND MALTREATMENT OF PRISONERS.
(2) REPEAL. THE EMERGENCY LEGISLATION.
(3) RELEASE ALL PRISONERS AND DETAINEES.
4. THE COMMUNIST PRESS THIS MORNING GIVES FRONT PAGE PUBLICITY TO
THIS OCCASION AND THE TUO MAIN DAILIES PUGLISH EDITORIALS WHICH
REPEAT FEI'S ARGUMENT5.
5. THIS QUOTE PRESS CONFERENCE UNQUOTE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ESSENT--
TALLY A PROPAGANDA EXERCISE, PART OF THE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED A WEEK
OR SO AGO WHICH HAD BEEN RUNNING OUT OF STEAM, FEI'S REMARKS ADO
NOTHING TO GUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE VIEWS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNISTS
OR OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
FCO PLEASE PASS ROUTINE PEKING.
SIR D. TRENCH
REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F. EAST. DEPT.
H.K.D.
CONS. DEPT.
I.R.D.
P.U.S.D.
I.P.D.
NEWS DEPT.
+
CONFIDENTIAL
-E
Cutting dated
THE GUARDIAN
#1 2 DEC 1968
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RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES NË 31
23DEC 1968
FECISY/1.
Hongkong and China's hostages
The release of another Give Chinese detainees in Hongkong comes only a
week after the release of 25 more convicted prisoners. These moves by
the Hongkong Government would add still more weight, if any were needed,
to the demands for the release of Mr Anthony Grey and other Britons whom
the Chinese are holding as hostages. Yet the fate of the British
hostages and that of prisoners and detainees in Hongkong must be kept
separate. The principle of reciprocity does not apply. If it did, there
would be no end to the process. After Mr Grey's detention the Chinese
named eight Chinese journalists who were then imprisoned in Hongkong.
These were all released by last month. Now the Chinese are citing the
cases of other prisoners-who were imprisoned after Mr Grey and whose
claim to be journalists is extremely thin.
Nor can there be any comparison between the fate of Mr Grey and the
others, who are accused of nothing, and the prisoners and detainees in
Hongkong, who played a part in riots in which 51 people were killed and
832 injured. The prisoners had a proper trial; the detainees have the
right of appeal and their cases come up for automatic review every year.
Of the 18 still detained without trial, only one Was re-detained after
the first year. Those still la
prison are the worst offenders, who got the longest sentences.
The steady rate of releases is an encouraging sign that life is
returning to normal in Hongkong. Demonstrations by Communists have not
stopped -the latest were staged in October. But the Communists lost
popularity during last year's "confrontation," which caused financial
loss to some of the Chinese in Hongkong, and loss of employment to many
more. There are signs that the Communists' present tactics are to stage
non- violent demonstrations, directed at specific griev ances. This
might now encourage the Hongkong Government to lift some of the
emergency regulations imposed last year. More sympathetic treatment
might also be given to last year's strikers who were dismissed and have
still not been reinstated. So far the Government has not interceded on
their behalf nor has it reinstated civil servants among them. The
Government is always on a tightrope between oppression and weakness. But
more concessions now need not be taken as weakness-and the restrictions
could be reimposed If necessary. Such concessions would not amount to
reciprocity for the release of hostages, but they would show something
of the reasonableness we are asking for from the Chinese.
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
CYPHER/CAT A
FE
PRIORITY
PEKING TO
UNO 1120
19 DECEMBER 1968
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
RECFIVED IN ART. VNo 31
19 DEC 1568
FECBE
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELEHRAM NO. 1120 OF 19 DECEMBER, REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG.
paleozofi
PRESUMABLY THERE WAS DISCUSSION WITH GOVERNOR HONG KONG BEFORE HIS
RETURN ON THE SUBJECT OF COMMUNIST CONVICTED PRISONERS AND DETAINEES AND
RELATED QUESTIONS OF GREY AND OTHER BRITISH SUBJECTS IN CHINA. IT WOULD
BE HELPFUL IF I COULD KNOW WHAT DECISIONS WERE TAKEN AND WHAT OUR POLICY
NOW IS E.G. OVER GREY.
FCO PASS HONG KONG,
MR. CRADOCK
/REPEATED AS. REQUESTED/
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
FAR EASTERN DEPT.
HONG KONG DEPT.
1.8.0.
NEWS DEPT.
CONSULAR DEPT.
NNNNN
CONFIDENTIAL
·
L
人
12)
Din D
Bits
18/12
RESTRICTED
Dios
paleo
11/12
18 December, 1968
I encless Christmas cards for Anthony Grey from his mother, sister,
girlfriend and colleagues at Reuters. I hope that the News Department of
the M.F.A. will be prepared to accept these for Gray.
2. In socmpting them from Beuters I varned them that since the Chinese
do allow Grey to receive mail through the normal postal channels, they
might refuse te acospt these cards. However, in view of Grey's own
statement that mail is being delayed, Reuters felt that they could not
chance sending them through the ordinary post. There is alse the added
problem that these cards could have got mixed up and delayed with the
massive mail for Gray which is reaching Peking from all parts of the
world. I understand the General Post Office is handling about 250
letters a day for Gray, We presume the Chinese are not allowing these
through,
R. 2. Garside, Esq.,
Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires,
PRIRO,
BEST FICTED
(C. Wilson) (Far Eastern Department)
100k
23
CONFIDENTIAL
Cypher/Cat A
TOP COPY
PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Peking telno 3 to Ottawa
CONFIDENTIAL
18 December, 1968
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
1 9 DEC 1968
Focise/
Addressed to Ottawa telegram No. 3 of 18 December Repeated for
information to: FCO, Washington, Hong Kong.
Your telegram No. 9:
of the two telegrams
(a)
Grey.
pako 14/12
Text of statement in Canadian House of Commons was safely received by
commercial channels. Kany thanks.
2.
(b)
The telegram giving examples of Canadian Press commenta has not (repeat
not) been received,
It may be assured that the Chinese have taken the copies. It would,
however, be helpful for us to have telegram (b) en clair via D.W, S.
H
FCO pass Priority to Ottawa, routine Hong King and Washington.
Kr. Cradock
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
Far Eastern Dept
Hong Kong Dept
Consular Dept
News Dept
Information Research Dept
Guidance Dept
Communications Dept
bbbbb
CONFIDENTIAL
70
FECI32/1
69,
Extora ya 600 10/12
1008
68
16 December, 1968
Thank you for your letter of 10 December about Anthony Grey. It was
while I was in Pakistan with the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary that
I received Pery Cradock's report on his recent visit to Grey and on the
conditions in which he is being detained.
We too came to the conclusion that it was right for the public to be
given the full account of the visit. We were aware that this would lead
to a lob of publicity unfavourable to the Chinese, And this carried the
risk that, if they had taken the decision to release Mr. Grey following
the release of Hseuh P'ing on 16 November, this publicity might have the
effect of making them put off carrying out this decision in order not to
appea to be acting under pressure. But we had no indica- tion that the
Chhese were
ere, in fact, on the point of releasing Mr. Grey. We therefore came to
the conclusion that the balance of advantage lay in letting the facts
speak for themselves.
Mr. Stewart, to whom I have passed the contents of your letter, fully
understands that you had to launch your publicity campaign. He admires
the restraint which you exercised over such a long period.
There are signs that the Chinese have been put out by the adverse
publicity. But it would be over-optimistic to expect them to release
Grey as long as this might look like the direct result
/of pressure.
G. Long, Esq.,
General Manager
Reuters Limited,
85 Fleet Street, EC 4.
of pressure. We hope however that, if there were now to be a period of
comparative restraint in what we and the press here say about Grey, the
we Chinese, having reviewed the results of the
was not wigat come to the conclusion that it
him.
best
James Murray, the Head of Far Eastern Department, would very much like
another opportunity to look at all aspects of the matter with you, and
he will be in touch with you to arrange a meeting.
(D. J. D. Maitland)
Private Secretary
BELDIS TRIMA
Registry FEC130/1
No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret. Secret
JM 16/12
Confidential,
Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
DRAFT
LETTER
To:-
Gerald Long, Esq., General Manager, REUTERS LIMITED, 85 Fleet 3treet,
LONDON, E.C.4.
Type 1 +
198
From
Private Secretary
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
Thank you for your letter of 10 December
about Anthony Grey. It was while I was in
Pakistan with the Foreign and Commonwealth
Secretary that I received Percy Cradock's
report on his recent visit to Grey and on the
conditions in which he is being detained.
Cik was right for
We too came to the conclusion that the
to
public same be given the full account of the
were aware that this would lead
visit.
in t
to zuen publicity unfavourable to the Chinese,
This comic And th th the risk that, if they had
taken the decision to release Kr. Grey following
the release of Hsueh P'ing, on 16 November
this publicity might have the effect of
making then postpondís
past 3
of
the carrying out eề thếr
decision in order not to appear to be acting decision/
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
> DES
under pressure.
But we had no indication
that the Chinese were, in fact, on the point
of releasing Mr. Grey.
We therefore
came
to the conclusion that the balance of
advantage lay in letting the facts speak for
themselves.
Mr. Stewart, to whom I have passed the
contents of your letter, fully understands
that you had to launch your publicity campaign. admins tus vestraint
which you shumendo Susitised, He pouliza SNG HOW diffi
you to axanning such
been for
satuins over such a
long period kroostenires
There are signs that the Chinese have
put not)
been by the adverse publicity.
But it
+
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would be over-optimistic to expect them to
this might release Grey as long ay mon motion would look
like the direct result of him pressure.
WE
hope however that, if there were now to be a
period of comparative restraint in what we and
have say
the press/ about Grey, the Chinese,having
reviewed the results of the publicity, might
come to the conclusion that it was not in
their best interests to continue to hold him.
James Murray, the Head of Far Eastern
Department, would very much like another
opportunity to look at all aspects of the
matter with you, and he will be in touch with
you to arrange a meeting.
16
12
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
You Eastry Dept. REUTER?(r)
for draft reply, please.
c.c.
1. Sir J. Johnston
Sm 10
12
Entrapelos ||
Personal & Confidential
2. Mr. Houston 3.8.75.
Mr DJ D Maitland CMG OBE
Principal Private Secretary to the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
The Foreign Office
Downing Street
London SW1
Dear Donald
10 December 1968
I attach a
P.S.
anoftrefly.
James Runy
16 Que
RECFWED IN ARCHIVES No. 31
19 DEC 1958
FEC134/1
Welcome back. I caught a glimpse of you on television one evening,
shaking hands with Ayub Khan, I hope the trip was not too exhausting.
In your absence you will see that I launched the publicity campaign, the
advisability of which I discussed with the Foreign Secretary when I last
met him. At that time I undertook to let Mr Stewart know if we proposed
to start such a campaign, and I greatly regret that this did not prove
possible,
I would be most grateful if you would convey my apologies for this to
the Foreign Secretary and perhaps tell him how this came about. When
Percy Cradock saw Anthony Grey on November 26 and reported publicly on
Grey's condition I was faced with the obvious need to make some sort of
statement immediately. I was horrified by the report and by the
conditions in which Grey was held. I felt that an outcry was inevitable
and that it was no longer possible to try to damp down press and public
opinion in the hope of improving the general atmosphere in a way that
would secure Grey's release. I therefore expressed my horror in a
statement published by Reuters and at the same time appealed for the
maximum publicity. I don't really think that my appeal was necessary
since publicity would inevitably have followed the first disclosure of
the abominable conditions in which Grey is held,
Gerald Long General Manager Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4
Telephone Fleet Street 6060
- 2 -
I made myself available for any interviews or background stories that
were being prepared, and you may have gathered that there were quite a
few.
I am still not sure whether this was the best thing to do but having
tried silence for so long to no effect I felt that one had to give noise
a chance,
I see that the Foreign Secretary said yesterday that the whole Grey
situation would now be reconsidered. If I or anyone in Reuters can
contribute to this review we would, of course, always be delighted to do
so and we are at your disposal,
Warmest greetings.
Yours
ет
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
PRIORITY
PEKING
TO
OFF
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
"IELNO 1106
13 DECEMBER 1968
MONFIDENTIAL
FECI341
3:
67
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELEGRAM NO. 1106 OF 13 DECEMBER, REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 978 AND HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 2262:
peź2018/12
GREY.
WHATEVER THE OUTCOME OF REUTER'S EFFORTS IN HONG KONG,
I THINK THAT OUR BEST CONTRIBUTION HERE WOULD BE TO SEND A SMALL PARCEL
FROM THE MEMEBRS OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE UNDER COVER OF A NOTE TO NEWS
DEPARTMENT REQUESTING THAT IT BE FORWARDED TO GREY. WE SHALL SO ACT.
154
2.
OUR CHRISTMAS PARCEL LAST YEAR WAS RETURNED TO US BY THE MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS. WE HAVE NO INFORMATION ON REUTERS' LAST YEAR.
FCO PASS HONG KONG.
MR. CRADOCK
/REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
+
NOTE BY COMUNICATIONS DEPT.
THIS WAS A MISSING TELEGRAM REPEATED AT OUR REQUEST/
FILES
FAR EASTERN DEPT.
HONG KONG DEPT.
NEWS DEPT.
CONFIDENTIAL
·
A
Mabogdor é Liter
OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR CANADA
mw
December 12, 1968
Dear Colin,
You may be interested to
see the attached telegram which reports
an exchange in the Canadian House of
Commons on the subject of Anthony Grey.
Yours sincerely,
W. Graham.
Mr. C. Wilson,
Far Eastern Department,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
Downing Street,
LONDON S.W. 1
:
Viva
FM EXTER OTT DECII/68
TO LDN YSS I
INFO HKONG WSHDC
IAMENTARY QUESTION-ANTHONY GREY
.
Ri...
ARCHIVES No.3:
1 8 DEC 1968
FEC134/11
FOLLOWING EXCHANGE TOOK PLACE IN HOUSE DECIO.TEXT BEGINS QUOTE
MR BREWIN(GREENWOOD) #WILL THE GOVT GIVE CONSIDERATION TO MAKING
REPRESENTATIONS TO THE GOVT OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN
RESPECT TO THE CASE OF THE JOURNALIST,MR ANTHONY GREY OF REUTERS,
WHO HAS BEEN IN CLOSE CONFINEMENT FOR A YEAR AND FIVE MONTHS IN
PEKING,NOT/NOT APPARENTLY ON ACCOUNT OF ANY ACTIONS BUT AS A REPRISAL
AGAINST COMPLAINTS IN REGARD TO CHINESE JOURNALISTS IN HKONG,A'D
WILL THE SECRETARY OF STATEINDICATE THAT THIS BREACH OF
FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS CANNOT BUT DAMAGE THE FUTURE GOOD RELATIONS
BETWEEN THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND CDA.
2.HON MITCHELL SHARP (SSEA) MR SPEAKER, AS THE HON GENTLEMAN KNOWS,
WE DO NOT/NOT HAVE DIPLO REPRESENTATION WITH THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC
OF CHINA. IT IS OUR OBJECTIVE TO TRY TO ATTAIN A MUTUAL RECOGNITION.
WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTERNMENT OF THIS GENTLEMAN.
I DO NOT/NOT KNOW WHETHER IT WOULD HELP VERY MUCH IF WE WERE
TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS THROUGH OTHER CHANNELS,BUT I CAN ASSURE
THE HOUSE THAT WE SHARE THE HON MEMBERS CONCERN ABOUT THIS GENTLE-
MAN AND WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP,
3.MR BREWIN:A SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION,MR SPEAKER.WOULD THE SSEA
CONSIDER BY SOME MEANS OR OTHER GETTING A MSG TO THE GOVT OF THE
PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA SAYING THAT THIS BREACH OF FUNDAMENTAL
HUMAN RIGHTS MIGHT DAMAGE THE FUTURE GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN CDA
AND THAT GOVT?
4.MR SPEAKER : ORDER "PLEASE. I TAKE IT THAT THE MINISTER HAS NOTED THE
HON MEMBERS SUGGESTION, UNQUOTE,TEXT ENDS,
My Dear Keith
RESTRICE-D
LivED **AES No.3!
.968
FEC130/
For Fastern Des
(Mr. Boyd)
Is there a dotement which Set-lat the Andes for have by 21. Xü by?
pares 20/12
L
BRITISH EMBADOT,
RAN GOO
7. xü
11 December, 1968.
Copy of Rawalguide
tel. 1342 sent by by to Rangon
When tearfully saying farewell to Madan Poc at the airport last Sunday,
I ran into the Chinese Chargé and his interpreter. For want of something
better to say, I remarked "I hope there will be sume good news about
Anthony Grey soon". There
$17.
followed a few exchanges about our releasing people Ms Suiker detained
in Hong Kong, and then the Chinese went on
to say "Your Secretary or State's speech in Rawalpindi does not help in
these situations".
2.
4/2.
But what did
ekes
19/12
I did not pursue the argument. the Secretary of State say in Rawalpindi?
E. Hamylton Jones, 209.,
أحمد
South East Asia Department,
200
быт
|
caffinal
(Trafford Smith)
A DARICADO
* Cambition Ambid and reas
-v.glamorous].
WITH THE COMPLIMENTS
OF
R EASTERN DEPARTMENT
I.D. I Boyd
S.E.A. Division
6/1342
-pl. send hoop te 1342
Rup"
by bay Arised
H.M. Ambassador
Bgn. (^; Jhatpark Juke) under
い
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
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S.W.1
12., 1968
c.d. from
ref. his letter g
11 December.
$1.xi
تنا
EN CLAIR
IMMEDIATE
RAWALPINDI
TO
200 1342
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
.28 NÓVEMBER 1968
UNCLASSIFIED.
+
+
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELEGRAM NO. 1342 OF 28 NOVEMBER, REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO KARACHI, LAHORE, DACCA, NEW DELHI, PEKING AND HONG KONG,
FOLLOWING FOR NEWS DEPARTMENT, FROM" HAYDON:
SECRETARY OF STATE'S PRESS CONFERENCE: ANTHONY GREY.
MY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING TELEGRAM.
AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, MR. STEWART SAID:
"I WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN WHAT YOUR FOREIGN MINISTER HAD TO TELL
ME ABOUT HIS VISIT TO CHINA AND YOUR RELATIONS WITH THAT COUNTRY. IT IS
OBVIOUSLY OF ENORMOUS IMPORTANCE TO THE WORLD THAT THIS HUGE COUNTRY
SHOULD BE BROUGHT MORE AND MORE INTO THE WHOLE FAMILY OF NATIONS.
2.
"ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN A PARTICULAR DIFFICULTY FOR US OVER RELATIONS
WITH CHINA AND WHICH DOES NOT AFFECT YOU IS THE WAY THEY ARE TREATING
SOME OF OUR CITIZENS. THE CASE OF 'MR. ANTHONY GREY' WILL BE WELL KNOWN
TO YOU. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHERS OF OUR CITIZENS DETAINED