since this argument is unlikely to impress
Reuters
ers) We have also suggested that most of
the disadvantages of the other routes could
å sambar of our mission in Pading be overcome if Garside/were to
accompany Grey to
the point at which he is met by a representative
br Reuters.
15.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
WEDL 51-7406
5. We intend to make a final effort with
Long, the General Manager of Reuters, when he
returns from leave on 29 September.
If we fail
to move him, we shall be faced with a choice of
telling Reuters either
16.
(a) that we agree to advise Grey to
come through Hong Kong and will do
our best with them to ensure that all
goes smoothly; or
(b) that we consider that, in view of
our own responsibilities for Grey and
more generally, we must, while leaving
the final choice to him, advise him to
return via Pakistan.
We hope that you will agree that we must
if at all possible avoid course (b). Despite
difficult moments, we have managed to keep
Reuters in step with us throughout this diffi-
cult case. It would be unfortunate if(an open
disagreement with them at the final stage.
Indeed, it might stimulate them into the very
kind of controversy about the whole handling of
the affair which we hoped to avoid.
If despite are think
bur arguments Long remains adamant, wesid you
we should have
Doe grave objection
on the lines of (a) above?
our acquiescing
ble shows however
be grateful for your views argent lang.
Jument
Seff.
CYPHER/CAT A
HONG KONG
TO
CONFIDENTIAL
бальзам
TOP COPY
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
HONG KONG TELNO 185 TO PEKING 26 SEPTEMBER 1969
CONFIDENTIAL
981
IN
50
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 185 OF 26 SEPTEMBER, REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO F.C.O.
976
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 555 TO F.C.O.: GREY.
29 SEP 1969 |
Free Wall
YOU CAN ASSUME THAT, UNLESS YOU HEAR FROM US TO THE CONTRARY WONG CHAK
WILL BE RELEASED BETWEEN 8.30 AND 9 A.M. OUR TIME ON 3 OCTOBER.
FCO PLEASE PASS ROUTINE TO PEKING.
SIR D. TRENCH
FILES
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
NEWS DEPT.
CONSULAR DEPT.
SIR S. TOMLINSON
MR. WILFORD
NNNNN
REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 330
M
T
TO PEKING
25 SEPTEMBER 1969
(FED)
Fac 13/1
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 330 OF 25 SEPTEMBER REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG,
9-76
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 555: GREY (PARAGRAPH 3).
PRESS WERE REASONABLY SATISFIED WITH THE LINE TAKEN BY NEWS DEPARTMENT
IN M.1.F.T. BUT WE CAN EXPECT MORE SEARCHING QUESTIONS AS 3 OCTOBER
APPROACHES. WE DID NOT MENTION YOUR VISIT TO THE M.F.A. ON 24 SEPTEMBER
AND WILL CONTINUE TO AVOID DOING SO.
2. IF ASKED WHEN AND HOW GREY INTENDS TO LEAVE CHINA WE PROPOSE TO SAY
THAT THIS WILL DEPEND UPON HIS WISHES AND BEFORE ANY ARRANGEMENT WERE
MADE WE WOULD WISH TO ASCERTAIN HIS VIEWS.
3. IN VIEW OF FIRM CHINESE ASSURANCES ON 24 SEPTEMBER THAT GREY WOULD BE
RELEASED WHEN THE ELEVENTH NEWS-WORKER WAS RELEASED, WE WOULD PREFER NOT
TO USE PHRASES LIKE ''WE EXPECT THEM TO ABIDE BY THEIR ASSURANCES'' AND
THE LAST SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 3 WHICH IMPLY THAT THE CHINESE MAY NOT
KEEP THEIR WORD.
STEWART
FILES
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
CONS DEPT. NEWS DEPT.
CONFIDENTIAL
980
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
FED
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Confidential
Unesafed
25/9
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence-
En Clair Соба Cypher
Draft Telegraph to:-
X PEKIN
No. y
(Date)
330
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date).
Despatched
classification] [Security classification"]
if any
[Secu
[ Privacy marking
-if any }
[Codeword-if any].
Addressed to
telegram No.
And to
reach addressoc(s)..
2579
234
2015
----|
LIJILL
---------- LILJA
bum-T11. ---------------
I
CYPHER
330
IWILIII .
25 Saftig repeated for information to
And to:-
Repeat to:-
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-----. -IMISINI
L
CONFIDENTIAL
PEKING
(date)
11
25 Septembe
.PPI Burton
HONG KONG
Your telegram No. 555: [Grey paragraph 3).
D
Preas were reasonably satisfied with the line.
taken by News Department in MIFT. But we can expect
more searching questions as 3 October approaches.
We did not mention your visit to the MFA on 24
to avoid doing so.
September and will continue not to io so
2. If asked when and how Grey intends to leave China
his
we propose to say that this will depend upon Sweylə
wishes and before any arrangements were made we would
wish to ascertuin his view9.
3. In view of firm Chinese assurances on 24 September
that Grey would be released when the eleventh news-
worker was released, we would prefer not to use
phrases like "we expect them to abide by their
the
assurances" and last sentence of paragraph 3 which the Chinese may
imply that we do not belie
word.
выстра
79.
not
they will keep their
2519
Fee 14%.
CONFIDENTIAL
bajheno
24 September, 1969.
Thank you for your letter of 26 August about the possibility that
Reuters night want to replace Anthony Gray in Peking as soon as
possible.
2. I am frankly baffled that Gerald Long should have spoken to Walden as
he did. Long has from time to time over the past year discussed the
problem with me but always to say that he would be most reluctant about
despatching another Router oorrespondent to Peking and to express the
hope that the Chinese, once they had removed the restrictions of
movement on Grey, would not insist that Reuters send in a replacement
before they granted Grey an exit visa.
3. Long is on holiday until the end of this month. Imediately he returns
I intend to raise the matter with him. I agree generally with the
analysis in paragraph 3 of your letter and that it would be sonsible for
Reuters to wait and see what the atmosphere is after October before
deciding what they would wish to do.
4.
I am sending a copy of this letter to Arthur Maddocks in reply to his
letter 3CR 4/3571/62 III of 9 September.
J. B. Denson, Esq., 0.B.I.,
PEKING.
CONFIDENTIAL
(James Murray)
971
(978)
назора
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
TC FORSIG. AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
ILEGRAK NO.556
£6 SEPTEMBER 1969
+
R
! 29 SEP 1969
COLFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 556 OF 26 SEPTEMBER
RFI HONG KONG
MY TELNO 555 PARA 1.
776
CHINESE MFA WILL BE CLOSED ON FIRST AND SECOND OCTOBER
AND IT WOULD THEREFORE BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD PASS
INFORMATION BEFORE THEN. HONG KONG MAY ALSO WISH
TO CONSIDER PASSING IT TO NONA.
MR. ALLAN
FILES
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
NEWS DEPT.
CONS DEPT.
SIR S.TOMLINSON
MR. WILFORD
J
CONFIDENTIAL
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
:
977
EN CLAIR
TOP CUPY
PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMONWEALTH OFFICE TO PEKING~~~1/9
TELNO 331 25 SEPTEMBER, 1969 (FED)
UNCLASSIFIED
FEC 13c|,
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 331 OF 25 SEPTEMBER
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.
IN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS TODAY ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF
ANTHONY GREY'S RELEASE NEWS DEPARTMENT TOOK THE FOLLOWING LINE.
BEGINS:
THE POSITION REMAINS THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAVE
INFORMED US THAT WHEN THE CHINESE NEWSWORKERS IN PRISON
IN HONG KONG ARE RELEASED, MR. GREY'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
WILL BE RESTORED.
THERE IS NOW ONLY ONE CHINESE NEWSWORKER IN PRISON IN HONG
KONG LINKED BY THE CHINESE WITH THE CASE OF MR. GREY. HE IS
WONG CHAK, DUE TO BE RELEASED WITH FULL REMISSION OF SENTENCE
ON 3 OCTOBER.
YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID AT A PRESS
CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK ON 23 SEPTEMBER: ''I HOPE THAT MR, GREY'S
RELEASE WILL NOT (REPEAT NOT) BE LON DELAYED'',
CONDI
A.
ENDS.
STEWART
FILES
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
CONS DEPT.
NEWS DEPT.
No. FED
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
CW
Top Secret 25/9
Secres
Confidential
Réserverid
Unclassified
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date)...
Routine
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressoc(s).
Despatched
SEP 196
242222
+
Diving------------
Forsla
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
25/9.
1807
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Clair.
wha
Draft Telegramo:-
X Peking
No.
Peking 331 25 Safti
(Day)
And to:-
Repeat to:
Holy triang
Saving to:-
Distribution:-
Files
Copies to:-
[Secu
'Security classification -if any
tion]
UNCLASSIFIED
]
[ Privacy marking
-if any
[Codeword-if any].
Addressed to
PEKING
telegram No.
331
(date)
PHOTOS
25 Saptaha..
And to
repeated for information to
HONG KONG
Saving to
[PT]
In answer to questions today about the
likelihood of Anthony Grey's release News Department
took the following line.
Begins:
The position remains that the Chinese authorities
have informed us that when the Chinese newsworkers
in prison in Hong Kong are released, Mr. Grey's freedom
of movement will be restored.
There is now only one Chinese newsworker in prison
in Hong Kong linked by the Chinese with the case of
Mr. Grey.
He is Wong Chak, due to be released with
full remission of sentence on 3 October.
You will recall that the Secretary of State said
at a press conference in New York on 23 September: "I
hope that Mr. Grey's release will not (repeat not) be Long delayed."
End.
1025/9
CYPHER/CAT A.
IMMEDIATE PEKING.
CONFIDENTIAL
AR...
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE.
TELEGRAM NO. 555.
25 SEPTEMBER 1969.
25 SEP 1969
RECEIVED IN RIG.TRYNO.50
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 555 OF 25 SEPTEMBER RFI HONG KONG.
KEC 1.
MY TELNO 551.
1961)
f
976
SINCE GREY'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IS SO UNEQUIVOCALLY LINKED WITH WONG
CHAK'S RELEASE ON 3 OCTOBER, GRATEFUL IF HONG KONG COULD TELL US EXACT
TIME THAT THIS WILL TAKE PLACE. I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD
PASS THIS TO MFA IN ADVANCE. WE SHOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION
BY FLASH TELEGRAM ON 3 OCTOBER WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED.
2. WHILE I REALISE THERE IS PROBABLY A STOCK PROCEDURE IN NORMAL CASES,
FROM POINT OF VIEW OF THIS POST THE EARLIER RELEASE OCCURS ON 3 OCTOBER
THE BETTER. (E.G. 6.30 A.M PEKING TIME, 2230 HOURS GMT ON 2 OCTOBER).
THIS MIGHT ENSURE THE RESTORATION OF GREY'S FREEDOM EARLY ON THAT DAY
WHICH WOULD HELP HIM TO EVADE UNWELCOME INTEREST FROM THE PRESS WHO,
WHATEVER WE SAY, MAY BE TEMPTED TO WAIT OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE. IT WOULD ALSO
ENABLE US TO GET AHEAD WITH ASSISTING HIS DEPARTURE ARRANGEMENTS.
3. IT WILL OBVIOUSLY BE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHAT IS SAID IN ANSWER TO
PRESS INTEREST BEFORE 3 OCTOBER. DENSON MAY WISH TO COMMENT ON THIS AND
OTHER PRESS ASPECTS ON HIS RETURN: MEANWHILE I WOULD SUGGEST WE CONTINUE
TO SAY THAT CHINESE HAVE INDICATED TO US ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS THAT
GREY'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WILL BE RESTORED WHEN ALL NEWSWORKERS IN HONG
KONG ARE RELEASED. WE COULD ADD, IF QUESTIONED, THAT WE EXPECT THEM TO
ABIDE BY THEIR ASSURANCES BUT THAT THE CHINESE HAVE GIVEN US NO
INDICATION OF THE EXACT TIMING OF HIS RELEASE, NOR HOW OR WHEN HE WILL
LEAVE CHINA: THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT MUST BE AWARE OF THE REACTIONS WHICH
THEIR SEEKING TO OBSTRUCT HIS
DEPARTURE WOULD EVOKE.
MR. ALLAN
FILES
F. EASTERN DEPT.
HONG KONG DEPT.
NEWS DEPT.
CONS. DEPT.
SIR S. TOMLINSON MR. WILFORD
CONFIDENTIAL
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
r
CS. 4LA
2600077
10,000-5/69-8570149
REF.
SCR 4/3571/62 III
CONFIDENTIAL
673
Dear James,
Japon 3574
3079
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD HỒNG KÔNG
9 September, 1969.
975
Lea reflex to 17 Jumann's lathes £26 day.
"Herzusch.
We vere very interested to see John Denson's letter of 26 August to you
about the possibility that Reuters might want to replace Anthony Grey in
Peking as soon as possible.
2.
20
Sel
We agree with John Denson that it seems premature for Reuters to be
thinking in those terms. If it is true that the world-vide condemnation
of Grey's detention has embarrassed the Chinese Government it would seem
to us that to replace him very soon after his release would have undone
any good that such embarrassment may have wrought. We hope you can
persuade Reuters to wait for some time, even perhaps for some gesture by
the Chinese Government indicating a change in their attitude. If on the
other hand the Chinese have not been embarrassed by the world- vide
criticism, to send a replacement would simply be to give them another
hostage.
3.
in Peking.
I am sending a copy of this letter to James Allan
Your
ever
other
(A.F. Maddocks)
J. Murray, Esq., CMG,
Far Eastern Department,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office, LONDON, S.W.1.
CONFIDENTIAL
Reference..
31
174
:
Flag A
Kr. Murray
раразара
This report is rather odd since it was my understanding, based on the
attached article from the Daily Mirror, that Mr Long had decided against
replacing Mr. Grey at the moment. may, however, already have had an
opportunity of discussing this question with him.
You
2. As you are aware, Reuters are very sensitive to criticism of their
commercial opportunism" in their handling of the Grey case and must have
weighed carefully the pros and cons referred to
in paragraph 3 of Mr. Denson's letter. According to the article in the
Daily Mirror, Mr. Long had already come to the conclusion that there was
little employment for a correspondent in Peking at present.
3. I doubt whether the Chinese would refuse to accept a Reuters
correspondent since they might well fear that this would endanger
N.C.N.A. representation in London,
4. The political arguments seem evenly balanced. I do not feel as
strongly as Mr. Denson does that the return of a Reuters correspondent
should be linked to Chinese handling of the cases of the remaining
twelve British subjects or evidence of further improvement in
Sino-British relations, If, as we have said in submissions, we are
hoping that the rela@idris of Mr. Grey will improve the general
atmosphere of Sino-British relations, we ourselves have a responsibility
to maintain the momentum and it could be argued that the early return of
a Reuters correspondent would be judged by the Chinese as a gesture of
accommodation.
5. However, the main arguments against the return of a Reuters
correspondent are commercial ones and are related to Reuters' concern
for its own image and I suggest that they should be encouraged to make
their decision on these grounds,
l. Casin
(c. Wilson)
4 September, 1969
See duff uply to To Lence
24 Sole.
(24
Dear James,
CONFIDENTIAL
te. Wit
1.
Кризата
3079
Office of the British Chargè d'Affaires
Peking
26 August, 1969
Luft vfly to to Jason.
973
When Walden was in Hong Kong he met by chance Gerald Long who indicated
that Reuters were keen to post a correspondent to Peking as soon as
possible after the release of Anthony Grey. He implied that the only
thing which could hold them up would be the problem of finding a
suitable person.
2.
I do not know whether Reuters have discussed their plans with you but it
is obviously highly desirable that they do so before making any approach
to the Chinese. The latter will certainly regard a move of this sort as
having official blessing, even if it was not actually made at the
inspiration of H.E. Government.
3. My own view is that it is premature for Reuters to be thinking in
these terms. Although I realise that they have to take into account
comercial considerations (no doubt selling the Peking dateline is highly
profitable), the posting of a new Reuters Lan to Peking so soon after
the release of Grey would show indecent haste and indicate to the
Chinese that Reuters had really not been all that concerned about the
fate of Grey or were indeed worried about the position of his successor.
It would seen to me more sensible for Reuters to wait and see what the
atmosphere is after October and also to take account of whether any
other British subjects detained here are released. Only then can we
judge the extent of any improvement in Anglo/Chinese relations. There is
the final consideration that the Chinese night well refuse to accept a
Reuters correspondent.
4.
The actual useful work which a correstondent can do here under present
conditions is virtually nil. Indeed, there is often nothing much more
for him to do but edit official Chinese handouts. Frank reporting
invites expulsion as the cases of Vincent of AFP and the Hungarian
journalist show. I hope therefore that you can find out what euters have
in mind and if possible steer them in the right direction. It might be
as well
+
James Ku.ray, Esq., C,H.G.
Far Hastern Department,
FOO
C. IFIDENCI
/not to
JCHFID. ITIAL