5.
Mr Grey will be met at whatever place he leaves China by a senior member
of the Reuter Administration, This will almost certainly be Mr Donald
Ferguson, an Assistant General Manager of the Company.
B.
6.
I shall write to you later about the house and the servants, if any
remain.
Yours sincerely
Gerla bay.
(PEK/3)
+
Fécise!
bear Tamus,
SECRET
and see Tex
14
**922
Office of the Britieli
"grovera 1.0.1/11 двом
Chargé d'Affaires,
PEKING.
21 October, 1968.
I
Ja pastu
怎忧
If the reports which we have seen in recent telegrams from Hong Kong are
reliable, the chances are increasing that the Chinese will release
Anthony Grey following the expiry of Hsueh P'ing's sentence in Hong Kong
on 16 November. I have been giving some thought to the question of how
best to look after Grey if we suddenly find that his detention here has
ended.
2. It seeme to me that if the Chinese intend to use the occasion of
Hsueh's release as a pretext to let Grey out, they may well act fairly
quickly in order to reduce the period of their embarrassment over Grey.
But whether they release him sooner or later, the problems confronting
us are essentially the same and our contingency planning will be
unaffected.
In
3. It is possible of course that when the Chinese decide to let Grey go,
they may hustle him from China under escort without allowing anyone in
this Mission or any other foreigners here to have access to him. This
would avoid the possible embarrassment to the Chinese of adverse
publicity if Grey were to be allowed the company of foreign diplomats
and journalists in Peking. this case, the responsibility for looking
after Grey will rest with Hong Kong or with our Embassy in whichever
country Grey is flown to (we ought perhaps to warn Pnosh Penh,
Rawalpindi, Dacca, Moscow and Paris of this possibility). On the other
hand, the Chinese have always been careful when talking of Grey to refer
not to his "release" or "deportation" but to the "recovery of his
freedom of movement", which they "limited" on 21 July 1967. They have
never yet pretended that Grey is an undesirable resident or persona non
grata. It would be in keeping with this charade and with Chinese methods
if, shortly after 16 November, Grey were suddenly to find his front door
open and no police guards on duty. What would we do then?
4. As I see it, the two main considerations are Grey's health and the
need to protect him from overwhelming pursuit by journalists or
diplomats in Peking. One cannot forecast Grey's state of health, but at
the very least his sudden projection into the world again is going to be
a tremendous psychological shock. He will need the company and care of
friends, in any interval before he leaves China. I would therefore
propose to have Grey move immediately from his house to a flat in the
Wai Chiao Ta Lou, probably my own or John Weston's, where our nurse
would be able to make a preliminary assessment of his state of health
and fitness to travel, and he would be protected from undesirable or
undesired visitors.
James Murray, Esq., C.M.G.,
FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT.
SECRET
SECRET
5.
The question of how to handle the local press corps is more difficult.
If Grey were ill I should of course prevent any journalist from seeing
him, though I should probably have to call a brief press conference
myself to report on the details of Grey's release and to keep the
journalists at bay. If however Grey is basically in sound health, we
shall have to decide whether to allow him to appear for local
journaliste to question. I should be grateful to know from you in good
time whether there is any objection in principle to granting a short
news conference at which Grey would be present. Such a conference might
be regarded by the Chinese as something of a provocation: other hand we
owe our resident journalists a certain amount of cooperation. They will
certainly resent it very much if we fob them off in too cavalier a
manner, and the harassment of Grey might thus be greater than if he were
briefly shown at a press conference.
on the
6. One final point, and that is Grey's journey out of China. Clearly the
sooner he leaves the better,ünless he is so ill that he cannot be moved
he should be got out of the country within a few days. If he is not
taken out by the Chinese themselves, I would propose to have him
escorted by a member of my staff to the Hong Kong border, assuming it
was decided that he should leave by that route. If Grey is released on
or just after 16 November, the Westons would make convenient escorts
since they are planning to leave Peking about then anyway and they know
Grey well. If the Westons had already left, our nurse, who also knows
him, might be the best person for the job or possibly Roger Gareide, the
Consul. On all these questions I think we should have our ideas defined
well in advance of Grey's possible release. I would therefore be
grateful for your early comments by telegram.
7. I am sending a copy of this letter to Arthur Maddocks in Hong Kong.
Yours
шел
Назвалом
(P. CRADOCK)
SECRET
FECS
8
FECITY! Dp/C
CÝPLERSŁ
TELEKAL
SECRET
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
T:1
1
SECRET.
Jupe 4/..
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAH NUMBER 922 OF 1 NOVEMBER REPEATED
+
PORTATION TO BING MO73.
L +
. (7)
YOUR TELEGRAM 10.996 OF 1 KOVEMBER: GREY.
REUTERS.
דיי
: 1.3 LETTER S 70 of 21 0CTQUER VITH
2. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE CHINESE WILL NOT DEPORT GREY IMMEDIATELY
RUT SIPPLY REMOVE THE RESTRICTIONS ON HIS MOVEMENTS, LONG, GENERAL
MANAGER OF REUTERS HAS NOW MADE THE FOLLOWING POINTS TO US IN WRITING
(A) 15 NO CERCONSTANCES SHOULD CHEY GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE OR BC
INTERVIEWED BY OTHER CORRESPONDENTS IN PEKPIS. LONG
PAINTAINS THAT NE KUST GET GREY SAFELY OUT OF CHINA REFORE
HE SAYS ANYTHING.
(6) REUTERS WOULD LIKE AN IMMEDIATE REPORT ON GREY'S PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL HEALTH ON RELEASE.
(C) IF HE IS FIT, HE SHOULD TRAVEL OUT OF CHIRA BY THE FASTEST
POSSIBLE ROUTE; MOSCOW MICHT BE THE BEST WAY,
(D) THE TIMING OF GREY'S LEPARTUNE TO THE MISSION IF THEY HAVE
ALY SAY IN THE MATTER, AS THIS WILL COVIOUSLY I VEND CA GREY'S STATE OF
HEALTH, GREY-MAY WANT TO GET OUT QUICKLY: ON THE OTHER HAND HE MAY
PREFER TO GET USED TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
AMONG FRIENDS FOR A FEW DAYS.
(E) GREY WILL BE MET AT WHATEVER PLACE HE LEAVES CHINA BY A
SENIOR MEMBER OF THE REUTER ADMINISTRATION, ALMOST CERTAINLY 15. DONALD
FERGUSON, AN ASSISTANT GEHERAL MANAGER OF THE COMPANY.
3. APART FORM THE REASON ADVANCE IN PARA 2(A) FOR NOT EXPOSING GREY TO A
PRESS CONFERENCE, REUTERS CLEARLY HAVE A PROFESSIONAL INTEREST IN NOT
LASTING OTHER COOPESPONDENTS TO FILE GREY'S STORY FIRST, THEY PRESUMABLY
CALCULATE THAT GREY MAY NOT BE IN A FIT CONDITION TO FILE HIMSELF OR MAY
NOT BE PERMITTED TO DO SO BY THE CHENGVE, IN ANY CASE THEIR VAJLCTIONS
TO A PRESS CONFERENCE ARE FIRM: AND WE HALL HAVE TO RES-LET TACIA
VISHËS, HOWEVER, WE SEE NC OBJECTION TO YOUR MAKING A STATEMENT.
/4. WITH
SECRET
SECRET
2.
4. VỊTH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CAVEAT ABOUT A PRESS CONFERENCE ARE CONTENT
THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE COMPLETE DISCRETION TO DECIDE THE TIMING OF GREY'S
DEPARTURE, IF GREY TRAVELS VIA POSCOW WE PRÉSUME HE WILL PLY FROM PEKING
AND THE QUESSTION OF ESCORTS WILL NOT ARISE (PAPA, 6 OF CRADOCK'S LETTER
REFERS).
5. IN CASE GHEY WAS TO 62 DEPORTED DIRECTLY, WE ARE INFORMING POSTS
LIKELY TO BE CONCERNED, HOWEVER REUTERS WISH TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ARRANGEMENTS FOR HIS RECEPTIGY IN THIRD COUNTRIES.
6. IT IS POSSIBLE PERHAPS THAT THE CHINESE MAY LIFT THE RESTRICTIONS ON
GREY'S MOVEMENTS BUT NOT GIVE HIM AN EXIT VISA IMMEDIATELY, THE
ARRAGEMENTS PROPOSED IN PARA. 4 OF CRADOCK'S LETTER WOULD SEEM TO COVER
THIS EVENTUALITY,
STEWART,
DEFARTZEITAL DISTRIBUTION FAR EASTERN DEPT.
EONG KONG DEPT.
NES DEPT.
+
+
SECRET
1
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
로
FEC1341
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressce(s)
(Date)
Despatched
LILL
SEILLE
مون
50
14
......
Пр
NOTHING TO BE WiTTEN IN THIS MAR
115
Secret
Immadata
Reserited Sixtamled
Routine
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Class
Cypher
Praft Telegram to:-
No.
Pexing 922 1/11
(Date)
AHHH (1
And to:-
Repeat to:-
Hong Kong Immedial
Saving to:-
Distribution:- Departmental
FED
Hong Kong Dept. News Dept.
Copies to:-
¦
CYPHER
[Security classification
if any
[ Privacy marking
--if any
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
telegram No....
And to
וי יחיו
].
SECRET
PEKING
422 (date)
repeated for information to
יזו1חחיי וחרי חיז
Saving to
וזורם. ההה
-
-ınıd
I hovenber
----
------LI ILLII LI ALTER |----
www. POLITA EPIPIJIJI. 1,
Ir
ITI MALL
HONG KONG IRKEDIATE
III.
[INKEDIATE]
מזוייי יד
Your tel. No. 996 of 1 November 7: [Grey]
have
Σ
We/discussed Cradock's letter PER/3 of
112.
21 October with Reuters, and on the assumption that
the Chinese will not deport Grey immediately but
simply remove the restrictions on his movements, Lady Long, Sancoat
Momenque of Keratin, bas hood they made the following points
so in writing
X: (a) "Dun_view is that In no circumstances should
Long
Grey give a press conference or be interviewed
by other correspondents in Peking. We say this
maintains that we what
bassu
think we should get Mr. Grey safely out
of China before he says anything.
Rentano
2. (1)we should like an immediate report on Mr.
Grey's physical and mental health,ow release.
3) If he is fit, he should travel out of China by
the fastest possible route: It would seem to un
that Moscow might be the best way.
Ko(a) re-loave The timing of Mr. Grey's departure to
adoc
.....
LI
THE
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Dd. 32455 PA (4200)
Kit
I'm overy case objections to a press conference
and
firm; and ast shall have to repeat this WISHES
the mission
Horny have
Mr. Gradeek, if he hae any say in the matter,
as this will obviously depend on Mr. Grey's
state of health.
Say
He may want to get out
quickly but on the other hand he may prefer to
get used to the outside world among friends for
a few days.
e
() M. Grey will be met at whatever place he
leaves China by a senior member of the Reuter
[be]
Administration, [This will almost certainly be
Mr. Donald Ferguson, an Assistant General
Manager of the Company.
shall write to you later about the house
and the servantà, if any remain.
3.
Apart from the humanitarian] reasong
}
para 2 (-)
advanced in Point 1 for not. exposing Grey to
a press conference, Reuters clearly have a
professional interest in not wanting other
correspondents to file Grey's story first.
They presumably calculate that Grey may not be
in a fit condition to file himself or may not
[This]
be permitted to do so by the Chinese (may seen an insensitive commercial
line to teke
but in the cireu etenees we must respect their
HOWEVER However wishes, and not hold a press conference, RWE
see no objection to your making a statement.
He
With the exception of the caveat Reuters are content that you should
have
give you complete discretion to decide the
timing of Grey's departure.
+
If Grey travels
via Moscow I presume he will fly from Peking
and the question of ease]escorts will not arise
(para. 6 of Cradock's letter refers).
wever to be
directly
5. In case Grey de deported immediately, we
/are
De 033009 Gp.363
likely libe
Rente wat
are informing posts concerned. /Reuters
wish to be responsulter for
have undertaken to make arrangements for his
reception in third countries.
E.
. It is possible perhaps that the Chinese
may lift the restrictions on Grey's movements
but not give him an exit visa immediately.
bakinging plan for Amorgenal-s
proposal in Pargaret of
Расходами
CRADDOCK'S
Crossads later
eventualit
ility.
would
Лиши
Jeem A
forer
this
T
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
b
+
SUNDAY TIMES
2 0 OCT 1059
|
Chance for
Briton held in Peking
By Nicholas Carroll
MR ANTHONY GREY, the 30- year-old Reuter correspondent who has been
under house arrest in Peking for 15 months, ts thought to have at least
a 50-50 chance of freedom in a month. On November 17 Hsueh Ping.
■ New China News Agency corre spondent, is due to be released from
prison in Hongkong, where' he was sentenced in July 1967 following the
Communist riots. Grey was incarcerated as reprisal, and Hsueh's release.
could mean Grey's as well. Hopes are fostered somewhat by the fact that
the climate of London- Peking diplomacy has grown per- ceptibly milder.
Last Thursday's talk at the Foreign Office between Mir Maurice Foley,
Mini- ster of State, and Mr Hsiung Halang-hui, the Chinese Chargé
d'Affaires in London, was merch fully free of the ranting and ray- Ing
that have characterised similar encounters.
It is possible that had the Governor of Hongkong ordered Hsueh's release
during the past year, Grey's release might have followed automatically,
but it would have set a dangerous prece ;dent for dealings with China,
A second NCNA correspond ent. Lo Yu Ho, is also in prison in Hongkong,
but is not due for release until next September. So far the Chinese have
not appar. ently coupled him with the Grey- Hsuch case but, if they are
planning a piece of human barter, they may offer one prisoner in place
of two next month.
Encü
RECEIVED IN ARCHIV
No 31
25 OCT 1968
FECTBC/1
Juga 241,0
CS. 41A
2600077
10.000-2/66-899973
REF.
Деса Тамер
13.4
: RECEIVED #COLONIAL SECRETARIAT
¡ARCHIVES No.31! { 220CT 1968
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
9th October, 1968.
PEC130/1
Jack Cater, who needs no introduction,
is going to Europe on T.D.C. business in the next few weeks. He will be
in London for the day Friday, 18 October and then will return for about
a week beginning 1 November.
I think you will find it useful to have a chat with him. I have given
him your name and John Denson's. Jack Cater may take the
initiative and get in touch with you, but if you want to be sure you
might like to leave a message for him with the T.D.C. office in Pall
Mall.
Your
ever
Lithu.
(A.F. Maddocks)
J. Murray, Beq., CMG Far Eastern Department, Foreign Office, London,
S.W.1.
I saw Mr Cater today. To Danse was present. Me Cater will looh in agenin
the work beginering
/ No.
Moont
19 04
To Will the 1/1
Естей
To Bone on Even
J
+pa
2700
2
copy also
PE+13/13
+
CYPHER/ CAT A
"DIATE HONGKONG
¿LEGRAM NO. 2994
SECRET.
RECEIVED IN
CARCHEVIS Fło 31
21 OCT 1968
FEC136/11
Enti com
на запро
TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 16 OCTOBER 1968.
ADDRESSED TO C.O. TELEGRAM NO.2094 OF 16 OCTOBER REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO PA SINGAPORE, WASHINGTON AND PEKING.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO.1528 : GREY.
3
WE HAVE PASSED MESSAGES ABOUT THE CORRECT DATE (MY TELEGRAM NO. 2891 NOT
TO WASHINGTON) BUT CANNOT OF COURSE, BE SURE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
RECEIVED. SOME OF THE NON-COMMUNIST PRESS HAS ASSUMED THAT HSUEN IS DUE
OUT IN OCTOBER BUT AT LEAST ONE PAPER HAS BEEN GIVEN THE CORRECT DATE IN
ANSWER TO AN ENQUIRY. THE COMMUNIST PRESS HAS BEEN SILENT ON THIS POINT.
I AGREE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF MISUNDERSTANDING IN SOME QUARTERS BUT
EQUALLY IN OTHERS (INCLUDING HSUEH HIMSELF) THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE
TRUTH IS KNOWN.
2. ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS CANNOT, I AM AFRAID, BE MADE
INCONSPICUOUSLY. A FORMAL INSTRUMENT OF REMISSION WOULD BE NECESSARY AND
QUESTIONS MIGHT WELL GET ASKED. THE ADVANTAGES OF RELEASING HSUEH BEFORE
THE DUE DATE DO NOT SEEM TO ME TO OUTWEIGH THE DISADVANTAGES OF
EXERCISING THE PROROGATIVE FOR SUCH A SHORT PERIOD AND FOR NO GOOD
REASON RELATING TO HSUEH.
3. ACCORDINGLY, ACTION WILL BE TAKEN INSTEAD AS PROPOSED IN PARAGRAPH 3
OF YOUR TELEGRAM.
F.0. PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE TO PEKING AND WASHINGTON.
SIR D. TREICH
FILES
/REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
0.0. H.K.D.
P.A.D.
F.E. AND P.D.
GUIDANCE DEPT.
I.R.D.
SIR A. GALSWORTHY
MR. LASCH
P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD
F.O. P..D,
O.P.A.
O.L.A.
SZORST
ADVANCE COPIES SENT.
Copy also an FOX13/1@
FEH13/1(c) Camiirmy + recim
LAST
3
Net
SECRET
1
RECEIVED IN
¡ARCHIVES F16.31
21 OCT 1968
Buy FECIBC/1
2
IMMEDIATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUDLER 1529
TO. HONG KONG
15 OCTOBER 1969 (HWB)
SECRET
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRA
TUMBER 1528 OF 15 OCTOBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO POLAG SINGAPORE
WASHINGTON, CEEY.
Anneri Т.
WE ARE SOMEWHAT CONCERNED AT THE INDICATION IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 2035
THAT THE CHINESE MISTAKENLY BELIEVE THAT 19 OCTOBER IS HOVEN'S REL- EASE
DATE. IT WOULD BE MOST UNFORTUNATE IF THE CHINESE, HAVING TAKEN A
DECISION OF PRINCIPLE TO RELEASE GREY IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, WERE TO
CHANGE THEIR MINDS ON MISTAKE BELIEF THAT HSUEH WAS DELIBERATELY BEING
DETAINED BEYOND THE EARLIEST HORMAL DATE OF RELEASE.
2. YE HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED THAT THE PREMATURE RELEASE OF HSUEH SO SOON
BEFORE THE DUE DATE WOULD HAVE LITTLE SIGNIFICANCE AS A GESTURE, BUT IN
VIEW OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF MISUNDERSTANDING AND GF THE DESIRABILITY OF
HOT PROLONGING GREY'S DETITION EVER BY A FEW WEEKS, WOULD IT IN PRACTICE
BE POSSIBLE BY INCONSPICUOUS ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT TO RELEASE HSUEH
ON OR ABOUT 19 OCTOBER AND TO PRESENT- THIS AS THE NORMAL DATE? THE
COMMUNISTS APPEAR HOT TO BE AWARE OF THE CORRECT DATE AND, IF THIS IS
THE CASE, IT SUGGESTS THAT IT IS NOT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE.
3. IF YOU CONSIDER THAT THIS COURSE IS HOT FEASIBLE WE HOPE THAT MCNA
CAN BE INFORMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OF THE ACTUAL DATE OF RELEASE. IT
COULD BE MADE CLEAR AT THE SAME TIME THAT IT WAS PROOF OF OUR READINESS
TO SETTLE OUTSTANDING ISSUES THAT HSUEH WAS BEING RELEASED WITH FULL
REMISSION EVEN THOUGH HIS INITIAL REFUSAL TO WORK DID NOT MERIT THIS.
CROSEC
FILES
C.O.
H.K.DEPT.
F.0. F.E.D.
P.A.D.
O.P.A.
F.E. & P.D.
O.L.A.
GUIDANCE DEPT.
I.R.D.
MINDIN
SIR A. GALSWORTHY
MR. MASON
P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD
SECRET
Ed (5084)
Reference
FEC13C/10
See ANNEX.