pako 6/6
3.
I told the Prime Minister this afternoon of the Parliamentary Question
which the Foreign and
Commonwealth Secretary answered today on Gerald Brooke.
2440
The Prime Minister commented that the Press reports over the weekend on
the case of Grey in Peking had confirmed his belief that an early
initiative should be taken on Grey. Action to achieve the release of
Brooke is bound to raise pressure for similar action in the case of Grey
who, unlike Brooke, is entirely innocent. It would be better to get the
Grey case out of the way before the arrangements to obtain the release
of Brooke in return for a concession on the Krogers come to a head and
become known.
I am sending a copy of this letter to Gruffydd Jones (Cabinet Office).
J.A.N. Graham, Esq.,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
You
сим
Modely Goude
COVERING SECRET
Thank you. 18216
Private Secretary
ivat
(without exclosure), I aber apelo 2/62
8289
Mr. Anthony Grey of Reuters
I attach a selection of recent papers on the
case of Mr. Grey which I understand the Secretary of
State wishes to take with him to the CENTO meetings
in Teheran.
wifson
RI T.
R:
+
- 3 JUN 1969
isclı
(C. Wilson)
22 May, 1969.
COVERING SECRET
Mr. Moreton
Frlis tent
erface.
CONFIDENTIAL
r
BILAN, GROM
prizo 2/6
1238
Arrangements have been made to summon the Chinese Chargé
¿'Affaires ad int win on the morning of Monday 19 May to
discuss the cases of all British subjects detained in China
(including Mr. Grey). These representations will furnish the
answer to Kr. Lewis' question. We do not expect any new
developments from this nesting.
2.
Members who follow the Grey case closely can be expected
to be aware that following the announcement by the Governor of
Hong Kong on 9 Kay that he had accepted recommendations from a
Review Board to reduce the sentences of certain long-term
"confrontation" priso..ers in Hong Kong, there is some hope
that this autumn may see an end to Mr. Grey's ordeal.
As a
result of the announcement, Wong Chak, one of the newsworkers
to whose imprisonment the Chinese have linked their detention
of Mr. Grey, is now due for release, with normal remission of
sentence for good behaviour, in early October. The other ten
newsworkurs aro due for release during September. However,
it is important to avoid giving any impression that there is
any direct connexion between the Governor's decision to set
up the Review Board and Mr. Gray's case.
· 1
-
30 MIMATEL
CONDIDAS PIAL
3.
On Monday 12 May a delegation of Hr. Grey's relatives,
including his mother, net Mr. Foley and presented a petition
asking the Government to start negotiations with the Chinese Government
to procure Kr. Grey's release "even to the extent
Mr. Foley of releasing the thirteen imprisoned journalista". summarised
the action taken on Mr. Gray's behalf and carefully
explained the significance of the announcement of the
reduction of sentences in Hong Kong. Kr. Foley expressed the
"reasonable expectation" that Mr. Gray would be set free once
the last of the newsworkors was released from prison.
Although one newspaper, "The Daily Express", reported that
11
Hra. Grey went away from the meeting more depressed than before", this
was not the impression given at the meeting, nor
by reports in other newspapers.
1. I attach a draft reply to Mr. Lewis' question together
with a list of previous Parliamentary references and a
background note on the case.
Mumay
(James Kurray) 16 May, 1969
2
SOLTID. TIA
CONFIDENTIAL
BACKGROUND NOTE
British Subjects Detained in China
Mr. Anthony Grey
Following the arrest of a New China News Agency corres-
pondent in Hong Kong, Hsueh P'ing, Mr. Anthony Grey was put
under house arrest in Peking on 19 July 1967. On 22 July
1967 the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that "in view of
the Hong Kong British Authorities' unreasonable persecution
of the correspondents of the Hong Kong branch of the N.C.N.A.
and other patriotic newsmen, the Chinese Government had
decided to limit the freedom of movement of the British
Reuter's correspondent in Peking until further notice".
the release of Hsueh on 16 November 1968 all the newspapermen
covered by this announcement had completed their prison
sentences and been released.
2.
With
Subsequent to Mr. Grey's detention, another N.C.N.A.
correspondent, Lo, and several other communist newspaper
workers were convicted and are still serving their sentences.
They number eleven at the present time. On 28 December 1968
the New China News Agency said that the continued imprisonment
of these men made the Chinese fully justified in continuing
to detain Kr. Grey However, the N.C.N.A. carefully refrained
from committing the Chinese Government to release Mr. Grey
should the newspaper workers be freed.
3. Subject to maximum remission of sentence for good
behaviour in all cases, the last of the eleven news workers
will be released by early October 1969. He is Wong Chak
whose sentence has been reduced by the Review Board which
/is currently
1
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
is currently reviewing all cases of "confrontation" prisoners
originally sentenced to four years or more imprisonment.
The review ostensibly has no connection with Mr. Grey's case.
A public announcement in Hong Kong on 9 May stated that the
review had been begun on the instructions of the Governor
following the lifting of many of the Emergency Regulations
introduced during 1967.
4. Mr. Grey has been visited twice by officials from our
Mission in Peking (in April 1968 by Sir D. Hopson and in
November 1968 by Mr. Cradock). Both of these visits have
been in exchange for special visits to a number of Chinese
journalists and news workers in prison in Hong Kong.
5.
Repeated representations have been made to the Chinese
in London and Peking demanding Mr. Grey's release and normal
consular access to him. Mr. Cradock made strong representa-
tions to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 9 December
requesting improvements in Mr. Grey's conditions and, at the
same time, demanding his speedy release. Kr. Cradock also
took up the question of Mr. Grey's health. Subsequently
Mr. Grey reported by letter to his mother that he had received
a thorough medical examination; and on 8 March Mr. Denson was
told by the Chinese that Mr. Grey now had direct access to his
books. On 9 January Lord Shepherd summoned the Chinese Chargé
d'Affaires and made further representations on behalf of
Mr. Grey and other British subjects detained in China.
6. On 14 January Mrs. Grey called on Lord Shepherd to
discuss her son's detention.
After the meeting she told the
- 2
CONFIDENTIAL
/press
CONFIDENTIAL
press that she was satisfied that the Government were
doing everything possible in the present circumstances to
secure Mr. Grey's release. However, on 12 May a petition
for the release of the news workers, signed by 53 of
Mr. Grey's relations, was delivered to the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office. Mr. Foley met the delegation.
- 3 -
CONFIDENTIAL
From: Terence Boston, M.P.
231
HOUSE
OF
COMMONS
21 May, 1969.
Maurice Foley, Esq., M.P. Under-Secretary of State,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
S.W. 1.
Dear Maurice,
Far Eastern Dept No reply required
Premer p.co
Goo
Thank you very much for your letter of 16th
May, 1969, about the problem of Mr. Anthony Grey, raised by my
constituent Mr. C. Davis of Sheppey.
し
RECE V DR REGISTRY
зани 1969
Fee
276
palep
Enter spa coo
*715
B
お子
Private office
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY ! :0
28 MAY 1969
FEC 13011
Mr. Murray has asked me to pass on to you the attached record of a
meeting with Mr. Gerald Long, General Manager of Reuters, on the Grey
case.
2.
Subsequent to his meeting Mr. Murray had passed on to Kr. Long the gist
of the Chinese Charge d'Affaires remarks on the Grey case at his
interview with Mr. Moreton on 19 December, which was the subject of Mr.
Kurray'a submission of 20 May.
3. I note that in paragraph 7 of his note Mr. Murray refers to an
outstanding reply to an earlier letter of Mr. Long which
would now seem to have been overtaken by these recent
conversations. Perhaps you would advise me whether you consider a reply
is still required.
wifson
(C. Wilson)
Far Eastern Department
22 Kay. 1969
CONFIDENTIAL
Eater sploo 27/5
235
KOWES OF A
MONY CHLY OF REUTERS
KOTING METH WR. GIRALD LUTA,
GAMPAL KAVIGER OF ROUTERS ON 16 NẠY
Mr. Long called on me on 16 May for one of his periodic reviews of the
Grey case. He showed his usual sympathetic understanding of our
difficulties.
-
2. He again expressed the view that the eleven newsworkers imprisoned in
Hong Kong should be released immediately. But he admitted that he was
speaking very much for the record as General Manager of Reuters, and
acknowledged that, had he responsibilities for the wellbeing of Hong
Kong, he would not necessarily look at the situation in exactly the same
way" =
3. he had some discussion about the reactions of the public
here to the Grey affair. He took the initiative in saying that
many people would unlike himself be opposed to concessions to the
Chinese. I read him out paragraph 5 (b) of my cubmission of 6 Kay
(attached) which included a comment that "we should fine public opinion
here, if they had the issue squarely put before them, would by no means
unanimously favour concessions to the Chinese". He said that he must
acknowledge
the paragraph
Selled to him a very fair summing up of the situation, though it did not
suit the case that he himself was
pleading.
that
-
4. Kr. Long said that his principal concern now was about the situation
with which we would be confronted if we released the
eloven and the Chinese did not respond by releasing Kr. Grey.
There would be then absolutely nothing we could do to influence the
Chinese to let him out. This was one of the reasons why he
would wish us to give favourable consideration to releasing the elevan
now. For the present we could still offer the Chinese the concession of
premature release, which concession might be a necessary part of their
price for Mr. Grey. When the prisoners had reached their due dates for
release, we would thereafter have nothing to offer the Chinese. I
replied that I remained reasonably confident that when all eleven had
been
CONFIDENTIAL
1
CONFIDENTIAL
Copy to:
released, even if this were not until the beginning of October, the
Chinese would still release Wr. Grey. They had never
attempted to relate Nr. Grey to developments in Hong Kong other than
those affecting the local communist preas. They had made considerable
use of their December statement throughout the world in justifying their
position. We had had various Indications that Mr. Grey's continuing
detention had been an embarrassment to them, particularly in those
countries whose cateam they wanted. They would not find it veus/in
October to change their ground and advance a new justification for
cetaining him. Even if the prisoners were not released prematurely the
Chinese could still represent the Grey affair as a "victory", in that
they had proved their point by holding on to Mr. Grey until we had
"stopped the persecution of patriotic Chinese journalists",
5. Mr. Long expressed the hope that the Hong Kong authorities were aware
that if in the meantime circumstances arose in
Hong Kong resulting in the imprisonment of another communist journalist
there, this would represent a grave setback for
Grey's prospects of release. I replied that the Hong Kong authorities
were well aware of this.
6. By the end of our discussion Hr. Long seemed to incline to
the view that in the broadest context, the best course might be the
release of the eleven shortly before their due dates, then release could
hardly be interpreted as an act of weakness, but would still represent
something of a gesture on the part of the Hong Kong authorities. (This,
however, should not be quoted against him in Tuture.)
7.
In conclusion I said that I knew that a reply was still
outstanding to his
Recent letter to the Secretary of
State. He said that he was not in the least concerned about
this since he knew what the reply would be! His interest had
been to keep the matter on the record.
Private Secretary
Kr. Koreton
Kr. Havdon
Jauns Telemary.
(James Murray) 19 Kay, 1959.
ONFIDENTIAL
1
CYPHER/CAT A
SECRET
ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NO 341
SECRET.
TUP COPY
TO HONG KONG
22 MAY 1969 769 (FE)
pakowals
1/548/1
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 341 OF 22 MAY REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO PEKING, BANGKOK (FOR LORD SHEPHERD)
MY TELEGRAM NO. 180 OF 23 MAY: GREY.
(53
FEC
284
MA WAS READING FROM A PREPARED TEXT AND WE MUST CONCLUDE THAT HIS WORDS
HAD BEEN CAREFULLY CHOSEN FOR HIM BY HIS MASTERS. WE THINK THEREFORE
THAT WE WOULD BE JUSTIFIED IN REGARDING HIS STATEMENT AS A FORMAL
ASSURANCE THAT GREY WILL BE RELEASED WHEN THE ELEVEN NEWSWORKERS ARE
RELEASED.
2. UNLESS WE WERE BEING OVER-CAUTIOUS IN ASSUMING THAT THE CHINESE HAD
CAREFULLY DRAFTED THEIR DECEMBER STATEMENT IN SUCH A WAY AS TO AVOID A
FIRM COMMITMENT, IT IS A MATTER FOR SPECULATION WHY THEY SHOULD NOW HAVE
CHANGED THEIR MINDS. THE PRESUMPTION MUST BE THAT THEY WANTED TO EDGE US
TOWARDS THE EARLY RELEASE OF THE ELEVEN NEWSWORKERS. THE MOST FAVOURABLE
INTERPRETATION OF THEIR MOTIVES IS THAT, KEEN TO GET THE GREY AFFAIR OUT
OF THE WAY, THEY ARE RESPONDING TO THE INDICATION GIVEN BY THE REDUCTION
OF WONG CHAK'S SENTENCE THAT WE ARE READY TO PLAY OUR PART IN SETTLING
THE AFFAIR BY OCTOBER AT THE LATEST. EQUALLY, THEY MAY JUDGE THAT AN
UNEQUIVOCAL ASSURANCE OF THIS KIND, IF IT BECOMES KNOWN, IS LIKELY TO
INCREASE PRESSURE ON US FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE ELEVEN, BUT IN
ANY CASE, IT IS HELPFUL TO HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL REASON FOR CONFIDENCE
THAT GREY WILL BE RELEASED WHEN THE ELEVEN HAVE BEEN RELEASED.
:
3. AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC IS CONCERNED WE INTEND TO TREAT THE STATEMENT
UNSPECTACULARLY. THE PRESS HERE HAVE GENERALLY INTERPRETED THE DECEMBER
STATEMENT AS A FAIRLY FIRM INDICATION OF CHINESE INTENTIONS. THOUGH WE
HAVE STRUCK A NOTE OF CAUTION WITH THOSE DIRECTLY CONCERNED, WE HAVE
BEEN CAREFUL NOT TO EMPHASISE OUR DOUBTS IN PUBLIC. IF WE NOW GIVE
PROMINENCE TO MA'S
/ STATELENT
SECRET
E
SECRET
2 -
STATEMENT WE SHALL CERTAINLY BE ASKED WHETHER WE ACCEPT IT AS A FIRM
ASSURANCE OR NOT: AND IN REPLY WE SHOULD IN COMMON PRUDENCE HAVE TO MAKE
SOME RESERVATION WHICH THE CHINESE MIGHT CHOOSE TO REGARD AS CASTING
DOUBTS ON THEIR GOOD FAITH, WE PROPOSE THERE- FORE IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS
IN PARLIAMENT ABOUT CHINESE INTENTIONS TO COMFINE OURSELVES TO A GENERAL
STATEMENT THAT THE CHINESE HAVE INDICATED TO US THAT THEY WOULD RELEASE
GREY WHEN THE NEWSWORKERS WERE RELEASED IN HONG KONG, WE PROPOSE,
HOWEVER, TO INFORM MRS. GREY THAT MA'S VISIT HAS REINFORCED OUR
CONFIDENCE ABOUT THE EVENTUAL RELEASE OF HER SON, AND TO EXPLAIN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES FULLY TO LONG OF REUTERS.
STEWART
FCO DISTRIBUTION:
FAR EASTERN DEPT
SECRET
1
155521 20/5/69
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
FE
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
JM
Top Secret 20/5
Secret
Confidential
Restricted
Unclassified
PRIORITY MARKINGS
Figth
Inmediate}
Priority Routine
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram shou
reach addressme(s).
MILILIILILJ
CPHER
Despatched
וזז
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Clair. Code Cypher
Draft Telegram to:-
No. it!
(Date) -15 ग्गड
And to:--
[Sec
Security classification" -if any
ity classifica. tion]
[ Privacy; any
Privacy marking
[Codeword-if any].
Addressed to
telegram No.........
And to
1.
Pri
-
DALLA
repeated for information to...
Saving to..
SECRET
HONG KONG
(date)
PEKING
I-IL-------
22 May
2. MAY
PETTATAMENTE=====
BANGKOK (for Lord
Shepherd)
E
Repeat to:-
Peking
Saving to:-
Distribution:-
f.c.o.
(FED).
Copies to:-
My telegram No. 180 of 20 May: Grey.
Ma was reading from a prepared text and we
must conclude that his words had been carefully chosen
for him by his masters. We think therefore that we
would be justified in regarding his statement as a
formal assurance that Grey will be released when the
eleven newsworkers are released.
2. Unless we were being over-cautious in assuming
that the Chinese had carefully drafted their December
statement in such a way as to avoid a firm commitment,
it is a matter for speculation why they should now
have changed their minds, The presumption must be
that they wanted to edge us towards the early release
of the eleven newsworkers. The most favourable
interpretation of their motives is that, keen to get
the Grey affair out of the way, they are responding to
the indication given by the reduction of Wong Chak's
SECRET
/SENTENCE
SECRET
sentence that we are ready to play our part in
settling the affair by October at the latest.
Equally, they may judge that an unequivocal
assurance of this kind, if it becomes known, is
likely to increase pressure on us for the immediate
release of the eleven. But in any case, it is
helpful to have this additional reason for confidence
that Grey will be released when the eleven have been
released.
3. As far as the public is concerned we intend to
treat the statement unspectacularly.
The press
here have generally interpreted the December state-
ment as a fairly firm indication of Chinese intentions.
Though we have struck a note of caution with those
directly concerned, we have been careful not to
emphasise our doubts in public.
If we now give
prominence to Ma's statement we shall certainly be
asked whether we accept it as a firm assurance or
not; and in reply we should in common prudence
have to make some reservation which the Chinese
might choose to regard as casting doubts on their
good faith. We propose therefore in reply to
questions in Parliament about Chinese intentions to
confine ourselves to a general statement that the
Chinese have indicated to us that they would release
Grey when the newsworkers were released in Hong Kong.
We propose, however, to inform Mrs. Grey that Ma's
visit has reinforced our confidence about the
eventual release of her son, and to explain the
circumstances fully to Long of Reuters.
SECRET
032717 E.W.GS.LM. 164m 3
que.
"221"
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
From the Editor-in-Chief
REUTERS
१०
13 May 1969
James Murray Esq CMG
Head, Far Eastern Department Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW 1
R
R
1.30 20 MAY 1969
I have potom to the Gravesvaly,
who is willing
to was
Ivo Suego.
I have inhomes To Harton accordingly, The will plove and whom the Sway
to Lonction gamin arsh informa
and
-Dear Mr Murray
FEC 131ts
No
Roy
with 20 1015
17+ 5
Mrs Grey visited us yesterday after seeing you and mentioned that she
would like to meet Mr Cradock. I understand that Mr Cradock has now
returned to this country. I wonder if you would like to arrange a
meeting and let me know so that I can advise Mrs Grey. I think it might
be better if we arranged the meeting because I understand from Mrs Grey
that the Daily Express have offered their services in this matter, for
reasons which you will probably understand.
Yours sincerely
Brain Horton
+
Boppe
B3145
Mr Ow
Galisapa
Leo 2015
Brian Horton Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4 Telephone 01-353
8060
Sir A Reds father
Mr. lozofon
SECRET
Aquene
тел. хил.
يمه
pako
3015
MR. ANTHONY GREY OF REUTERS
RECEIVED IN
REGITRYN TO
27 MAY 1969
FEC
13c1
STATEMENT BY THE CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES ON 19 MAY
In the course of discussion at the Office on 19 May
about British subjects, Ma, the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires,
said that "if all the patriotic journalists were released
Gray's freedom of movement would be restored. The Chinese
Government means what it says. It is now up to the British
Government". This is on the face of it an unequivocal and
formal assurance that the release of the eleven newsworkers
will result in the release of Mr. Grey, and thus goes beyond