RECEIVEDAN ARCHIVES NO 31
PRIORITY PEKING TO POREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE -20 1968
elno 1069
RESTRICTED
29 November, 1968
F
1F643/1.
Addressed to FCO telegram No.1069 of 29 November, Repeated for
information to Hong Kong.
Grey.
You may wish to consider asking various posts such as Washington,
Rawalpindi, Rangoon, Phnom Penh, Paris, Stockholm, Dar es Salaam, Ottawa
and Kathmandu to telegraph to us en clair by commercial channels
excerpts from news reports and editorial comment concerning Grey which
may have appeared in local Press in the past few days. This would ensure
degree of foreign interest in Grey case is brought to the attention of
the Chinese.
FCO pasa routine Hong Kong.
Mr. Cradock
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.East Dept.
H.K.D.
+
Cons Dept.
News Dept.
I.R.D. Res .Dept. I.P.D.
88888
:
RESTRICTED
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FEC134/1
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENT IAL
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER
1613
TOP COPY
TO HONG KONG
21
29 NOVEMBER 1968 (F)
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 1613 OF 29 NOVEMBER REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO PEKING.
ANTHONY GREY: PRESS COVERAGE.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF INACCURATE AND UNHELPFUL ARTICLES IN THE
BRITISH PRESS FROM HONG KONG-BASED CORRESPONDENTS. THESE HAVE STIM-
ULATED QUESTIONS TO NEWS DEPARTMENT ABOUT ASPECTS OF THE GREY CASE ON
WHICH WE HAVE BEEN REFUSING TO COMMENT (THE NATURE OF A POSSIBLE BARGAIN
WITH PEKING AND RETALIATION AGAINST NCNA CORRESPONDENTS IN LONDON).
2. FOLLOWING ARE SOME EXAMPLES:
BEGINS.
THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE WILL
ECONOMIST, 16 NOVEMBER: QUOTE CONTINUE TO WAIT AND PRAY AND WILL NOT
SANCTION ANY PROPOSAL FOR COUNTER-REPRISALS AGAINST THE FOUR ACCREDITED
NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY CORRESPONDENTS WHO REMAIN ACTIVE AND AT LARGE IN
LONDON. UNQUOTE. ECONOMIST, 39 NOVEMBER: QUOTE BUT THE FOREIGN OFFICE
PERSISTED
IN ITS OWN WRONG-HEADED BELIEF THAT GENTLE PERSUASION COULD SECURE MR.
GREY'S RELEASE MORE EFFECTIVELY THAT REPRISALS AGAINST THE FOUR- MAN
NCNA STAFF IN LONDON, UNQUOTE.
SUNDAY TIMES, 24 NOVEMBER: ... QUOTE IT IS NOW KNOWN THAT BOTH THE
ACTING BRITISH CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN PEKING AND THE FOREIGN OFFICE
REPRESENTATIVES HAD LONG SECRET TALKS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NEW
CHINA NEWS AGENCY IN HONG KONG DURING THEIR VISIT HERE. UNQUOTE. TIMES,
28 NOVEMBER: A) QUOTE ALTHOUGH NEITHER CHINA NOR THE HONG KONG
COMMUNISTS HAVE SUGGESTED AN EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS, IT APPEARS THAT
BRITAIN FOR ITS PART HAS NEVER PUT THIS IDEA FORWARD TO PEKING. UNQUOTE
B) QUOTE FOREIGN OFFICE EXPERTS ON CHINA HAVE CLAIMED THAT EXCHANGING
PRISIONERS WAS OF NO REAL INTEREST TO THE CHINESE, WHO WOULD REGARD ANY
SUCH SUGGESTION FROM LONDON AS A GESTURE OF TIMIDITY. UNQUOTE,
/TIMES
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-2-
TIMES, 29 NOVEMBER: QUOTE THERE WERE INDICATIONS TODAY THAT THE HONG
KONG AUTHORITIES MAY BE IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING WITH LOCAL
COMMUNIST REPRESENTATIVES FOR FURTHER VISITS TO MR. GREY IN THE NEAR
FUTURE IN RETURN FOR SIMILAR ACCESS TO COMMUNIST JOURNALISTS IN THE
COLONY'S PRISONS.
ENDS.
3. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD DO WHAT YOU CAN TO STEER
JOURNALISTS AWAY FROM ATTRIBUTING SPECULATION OF THIS KIND TO OFFICAL
SOURCES.
STEWART.
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:
F.EASTERN DEPT.
H. KONG DEPT.
NEWS DEPT.
INFO. RESEARCH DEPT.
INFO.POL.DEPT.
+
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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
FEC1391.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should/
reach addressee(s)
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date)
--
זיו
CW
Top Secres
9/11 Seccat
Flestr
Des atched
Confidential
Ungásalfiad
Mong Royerine
----......
PRIVACY MARKING
In Conflence
[Security classification]
En Clair.
[
Privacy marking -if any
Obie
[Codeword-if any]
1.
CONFIDENTIAL
MNINI
Cypher
Draft Telegram to:-
Gol. HANK Work
1613
No.
(Date) __29/11
And to:-
Addressed to
MIILILI
telegram No.
And to
HONG KONG
1613
repeated for information to
ווי
Saving to....
Repeat to
Saving to:-
So
PU|
IINIMIIImmamuntetpompplNMA
--
(date) 29 Nalcabal.
PEKING (ROUTINE)
--- LLL
Anthony Grey: Press Coverage
There have been a number of inaccurate and
unhelpful articles in the British press from Hong
Kong-based cprrespondents. These have stimulated
abou questions to News Department on aspects of the
Grey case on which we have been refusing to
comment (the nature of a possible bargain with
Peking and retaliation against NCNA correspondents
in London).
Following are some examples:
2.
Distribution:-
Begins.
Departmental F.E.D.
HONG KONG
NEWS DEPT.
I.R.D. I.P.D.
Copies to:-
Economist, 16 November:
"... the British Foreign
Office will continue to wait and pray and will not
sanction any proposal for counter-reprisals against
the four accredited New China News Agency
correspondents who remain active and at large in
London,"
-બેગ
12007/19/12
Economist
ידי
Hr
Economist, 30 November:
but the Foreign
Office persisted in ita own wrong-headed belief
that gentle persuasion could secure Mr. Grey's
release more effectively than reprisals against.
the E four-man NCNA staff in London."
Sunday Times, 24 November: ..."It is now known
that both the acting British Chargé d'Affaires
in Peking and the Foreign Office representatives
had long secret talks with representatives of the
New China News Agency in Hong Kong during their
visit here."
Times, 28 November: a) "Although neither China
nor the Hong Kong communists have suggested an
exchange of prisoners, it appears that Britain
for its part has never put this idea forward to F
Peking." b) "Foreign Office experts on China have claimed that
exchanging prisoners was of no
real interest to the Chinese, who would regard any
auch suggestion from London as a gesture of temidity."
Times, 29 November: "There were indications today
that the Hong Kong authorities may be in the
process of negotiating with local communist
representatives for further visits to Mr. Grey in
the near future in return for similar access to
communist journalists in the colony's prisons.
Ende.
3.
We should be grateful if you would do what
steer you can to stir journalists away from attributing
Sources
speculation of this kind to official thinking.
b. 11.
Repell f.4.29
1154mm (77 sorta)
3.L.M. GKM3
+
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
(13/17)
Den Wilson
CONFIDENTIAL
26
BRITISH EMBASSY,
MOSCOW
26 November, 1968
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
28 NOV 1968
FECI32/1
2.
Mr. Anthony Grey of Reuters
Your letter of 15 November to Chancery.
I have discussed with Reuteré correspondent here, Adam Kellett-Long, who
was Grey's predecessor in Peking, how we should handle the situation if
Grey should arrive here. We agreed that the best thing would be for Grey
to be looked after in one of the Embassy flats until he could be sent on
to London. We suppose that he would need a night's rest after the flight
from Peking, but unless he were in very bad shape indeed we should not
wish to keep him here longer than that, both to prevent his fellow
journalists from pursuing him and to get him proper facilities for rest
and recuperation.
3. There would be no point in sending anyone from Reuters. Apart from
the delay in obtaining a visa for a visitor, Kellett- Long could do
everything necessary.
4. I am sending a copy of this letter to Chancery at Peking.
C. Wilson, Esq.,
Far Eastern Department,
F.C.0.
K
Jure Given
(E. F.Given)
to of lift. fwz/9.
X
ofetiera to of agrees. I hate sfolian
ве
14. Wilson to
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Cu
25
Cypher/Cat A
IORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Tel No.1042 CONFIDENTIAL
22 November 1968
Addressed to FCO telegram No.1042 of 22 November, repeated for
information to Rong Kong and Seoul
Grey.
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
25 NOV 1968
FEC134/1
Your despatches for Kore ton: Seoul telegram No.305:
•Patio 25/11
I do not dissent from assessment in paragraph 1 of telegram under
reference. I would add anyway that immediate object of Chinese request
for another round of special visits coming just at this time was almost
certainly to blur the effect of Hsueh's release and to try to involve us
in implied admission that Hsueh is not enough as a price for Grey since
Grey is linked with Chinese news workers still in prison. Ther re
probably differences of emphasis between Peking and Hong Kong Communists
over Grey, but request for special visits was a concerted operation,
probably planned sometime ago, with aim of getting visits as near as
possible to Hsuch's release.
2. This does not entirely exclude possibility of a quiet release of Grey
over next few weeks. But it now looks more and more as if Chinese are
not going to set Grey free without having a try for some concession
affecting Communists still under detention or in prison. The statement
reported in my
1024? telegram No.1038 makes this seem more likely.
17
19
3. We shall have to give more thought to tactics in next few weeks on
the assumption that Grey is not released. The first event is likely to
be that I shall be summoned to News Depart...t and told of forthcoming
access to Grey. If the April timing is followed this will happen about
29 November. I do not think this interview with News Department would be
best time to make the representations about Grey's release referred to
in paragraph 3 of telegram under reference, but I shall have to say that
though I accept offer of access I consider Grey should have already been
released, particularly in view of release of such and all others
referred to in Chinese statement of June/July 1967.
4. A few days after access I suggest I should seek an interview with
News Department, reminding them of release of all referred to in Chinese
statement June/July 1967 and ask their intentions in respect of "rey.
Assuming I receive an unsatisfactory any". I "culd go on to make
representations for improved conditions of detention based on evidence
from my meeting with Grey.
+
/5. We should
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5. We should also consider publicity. Access will naturally attract
publicity. But I suggest you consider publicity
We now also for fact of interview in paragraph 4 above. have strong
publicity point that whereas all Chinese referred to in statement of
June/July 1967 have been freed Chinese still hold Grey and (we could
argue) have therefore shifted their ground. It would seem in our
interest to get this about as widely as possible.
6. I should be grateful for your early comments.
FCO pass routine to Hong Kong and Seoul.
Mr. Cradock
[Repeated as requested].
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:
Far Eastern Dept Hong Kong "ept
Consular Dept
News Dept
Information Research Dept Research Dept
Information Policy Dept
dabodala
CONFIDENTIAL
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FRO 130/1
CONFIDENTIAL
21 November, 1968.
Mr. Anthony froy
Grey
9
Jould you please refer to your telegram No. 1010
of 6 November about the contingency plans for Grey's release. I
explained your difficulties to David Chipp in Reuters, who readily
agreed to produce a letter of instructions for Grey which is enclosed. I
I am also sending you a copy for your own files.
2. I can see that Reuters' instructions on the handling of publicity
would have placed you in an invidious position with the local press
corps who will no doubt be under strong pressure from their offices to
file a story on Grey's release. În the oiroumstances their concern for
Grey might well be subordinated to professional considerations. However
I would have thought that they would realise that it is not in Grey's
interests to say anything about his detention which might prejudice his
chances of obtaining an exit vien, In any case it would be unhelpful to
say the least if they filed stories about Grey which the Chinese might
consider provocative before he left the country. Ko doubt you can make
these points informally to local correspondente.
P. Cradock, Esq., 0.1.0.,
PALING.
CONFIDENTIAL
( C. Wilson )
244
FEC 130/1
CONFIDENTIAL
21 November, 1968.
نون
Mr. Anthony Grey
Yould you please refer to your telegram No. 1010
of 6 November about the contingenoy plans for Grey's release. I
explained your difficulties to David Chipp in Reuters, who readily
agreed to produce a letter of instructions for Grey which le enclosed. I
am also sending you a copy for your own files,
2. I can see that Restere' instructions on the handling of publicity
would have placed you in an invidious position with the local press
corps who will no doubt be under strong pressure from their offices to
file a story on Gray's release. In the circumstances their concern for
Grey might well be subordinated to professional considerations. However
I would have thought that they would realise that it is not in Grey's
interest to say anything about his detention which might prejudice his
chances of obtaining an exit visa, In any case it would be unhelpful to
say the least if they filed stories about Grey which the Chinese might
consider provocative before he left the country. No doubt you can make
these pointa informally to local correspondents.
P. Cradock, Req., C.X.6.,
PELO.
CONFIDENTIAL
(C. Wilson)
1-7-%
24)
.~C 130/1
Colin
My dear
REUTERS
Etä
November 7, 1968.
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
21 NOV 1968
FEC134/1
Here is a letter signed by the General Manager for Tony Grey. I attach a
copy for your records and there is also one for Peking.
2
23
You will see that Mr. Long has made the point about there not being any
interview with Grey in Peking. Please reinforce this to the Mission. I
realise it may be difficult for them but if the Tanjug and DPA men are
the friends of Grey they claim to be they will surely realise that it
would be extremely risky for anything to be published about his
experiences until he is out of the country.
We must meet soon and I will give you a ring next week,
You
enter
كيدا
Colin Wilson, Esq.,
Far Eastern Department, Foreign Office,
Downing Street,
London, S.W. 1.
198
David Chipp The Editor Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4
Telephone 01-353 6060
Anthony Grey, Esq.a Reuters, Peking.
Kovember 7, 1968.
This is a welcomặng letter to greet you when you emerge after your long
ordeal. The relief you must feel now this unjust imprisonment is anded
is shared by all of us.
Naturally we leave it to you to decide, in consultation with your
friends in Peking, how long you stay there before travelling home, We
want to make everything as easy as
possible for you.
It all depends on how you feel.
The last thing I want to do is to bother you with details at this time
but there are a couple of things which may help you in taking decisions.
Don Ferguson vill fly to your point of exit from China and will be there
to help you when you some out. I have suggested to the British Mission
that they route you out if possible by a way other than Hong Kong. This
would mean that you would avoid the likely strain of being immediately
overwhelmed by the large press corps of the Colony.
Naturally enough you are going to be of considerable neva value when you
come out and we have thought about this in some detail as you yourself
must have done. Here are one or two pointer
1.
Vo do suggest that for obvious reasons you file nothing and say nothing
about your experiences until you are safely out of China. This may be
difficult with your friends and colleagues in Peking but I am sure that,
if it is explained to them, they will realise that it is solely in your
interests that this should be so.
2. When you do get out and you feel up to it ve should obviously like a
good story for Reuters, Don Ferguson will discuss this with you.
3. Again when you feel up to it we shall have to
a press conference,
4.
Visnews will want to do something with you.
5. Undoubtedly you will have many enquiries about
I features, television appearances and possibly books. your case I have
decided that we shall waive the condition in every Reuter contract about
outside work. I feel you should go ahead and exploit your experiences as
much as you
(2)
vish. Reuters does not want to benefit by them. To will help you as much
as we can and in this connection have been in touch with a London agent
on your behalf, Don Ferguson will have all the details so you can make
any arrangements or plans you like straight away,
Don't think from the above that I am trying to press you into doing
anything but I know that as a reporter all these things will have been
uppermost in your mind during the past months, You need and deserve a
good rest and we shall see that you got it.
I greatly look forward to seeing you as do all your friends here. As
soon as we know your return plans we shall make all arrangements for you
this end,
With very best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
+
(SGD.) GERALD LONG
CONFIDENTIAL
Enterage 22 wongil
ما
Fr. Foretor.
Parliamentary Orfice
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
21 NOV 1968
FEC139/1
I
Flag A
Our Note of 22 October on Kr. Grey, which formed
the basis for the Secretary of State's discussions with
the Governor of Hong Kong on 22 and 23 October, is
attached. It was agreed during the course of those
discussions that our immediate policy regarding
Mr. Grey should be to await the release of Hsueh P'ing
and then see what happened. Heuch P'ing will be
released on 16 November.
2. At the time of Kr. Grey's detention the Chinese
announced that they were acting against him "in view
of the Hong Kong British authorities' unreasonable
persecution of the correspondents of the Hong Kong
branch of the New China News Agency and other patriotic
newsmen". In their accompanying publicity the Chinese
listed a number of communist correspondents in Hong Kong,
totalling some eight, over whose conviction they felt
concern. With the release of Hsuch all these perso..s
will now have left prison. This situation gives us
the opportunity to lay an increased moral obligation to
release Grey at the door of the Chinese, and the draft
reply seeks to exploit this opening.
3. Other comunist journalists were of course arrested
and convicted of various offences after the detention
CO:FIDENTIAL
Flag B
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of Kr. Grey.
Thirteen of these, some of whom have
been sentenced to substantial terms, are still in
prison. The Chinese probably regard the release of
all these people, ideally, as the price they would
like to have for the release of Kr. Grey and there
has recently been some speculation on these lines in
the Britist. press. For example, the Chinese insisted
on visiting all the correspondents in exchange for
the one visit to Fr. Grey in April 1968. The second
round of special visits which takes place on 18 and 19
Bovember will also be to all the remaining journalists
and ne..aworkers. Since we cannot seriously contemplate
the premature release of this group of convicted
prisoners, at least as a body, it is in our interest
to emphasise the connection between Fr. Grey and the Chinese
journalists(already released) in relatiation
for whose imprisonment he was detained.
Detainees in Hong Kong
4.
Supplementary questions may result from a letter
of 11 October in The Times in which an Assistant
Lecturer at fong Kong University suggested that, since
Bome thirty detainees were still being held in Hong Kong
under the emergency regulations, the Chinese had the
moral right to hold Kr. Grey, A letter from the
Director of the ong Kong Government Office in London,
published in The Times of 15 October, has already
↓
2 -
CO: FIDA TIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
challenged this suggestion.
Public discussion on
the Hong Kong Government's policy towards detainees
will need to be nandled with care and should be avoided
in this context. But if it is raised in connection
with "r. Grey it is worth emphasising that the Chinese
have not claimed that Mr. Grey's case is linked with
the detainees.
Further visit to Mr. Grev
5. The last visit to Mr. Grey was on 23 April 1968.
This took place in exchange for a round of "special
visits" 1.e. in audition to those normally allowed
under prison regulations) to the communist journalists imprisoned in
Hong Kong. On 6 July our Chargé d'Affaires
in Peking offered a further exchange of visits on the
Bane terms. No response was received until 1 November
when the Chinese reverted to the matter through the
X.C.N.A. in Hong Kong. It has now been agreed that
officials of the N.C.N.A. may visit the imprisoned
journalists on 18 ovember. In exchange for this the
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Peking has
virtually guaranteed another visit to Kr. Grey. Why
the Chinese have chosen this moment for a further
exchange of visits is open to speculation;
but it is
the view of the Department that they intend to depict
a new visit by British officials to Fr. Grey as their
concession in exchange for the release of Hauen P'ing
3-
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in Hong Kong. It is hard to see this move as
immutinia
consistent with the early release of Kr. Grey.