the Governor's views;
Mr. Long must, I think, be based on the assumption that there
will be no fresh moves on our side. In answer to a direct
query on the telephone by Mr. Long on 25 July, I confirmed
that nothing new was in the offing in Hong Kong.
7. Mr. Long's indictment is fourfold.
(a) Our argument that an early release of the Hong Kong
prisoners would greatly reduce the sanction of prison
sentences as a deterrent applies, in his view, with at
least equal validity to the release of the Krogers.
In an attempt to cope with this I have thought it best
SECRET
- 3-
SECRET
to refer with some frankness to the special
circumstances of Hong Kong and the real implications
for the Colony should we concede defeat in this matter
by the Chinese.
(b) Our argument that if the Chinese were successful in
using Mr. Grey as a hostage they might well be encouraged
to try the same thing with other British subjects in
future also applies with equal validity to the release
of the Krogers. It would seem best to leave this
unanswered.
(c) There is no parallel between the deal made over the
Krogers and the proposed deal with the Chinese to release
the Hong Kong prisoners outside the Colony. Mr. Long's
point a subtle one
-
is that in agreeing to release
the Krogers to Poland we were giving the Russians what
they wanted, while in offering to release the newsworkers
to China we knew we were proposing something to which the
Chinese were strongly opposed. There is some validity
in this. But in each case we did offer what was in
effect an exchange; and in an effort to make an exchange
more palatable to the Chinese we showed considerable
flexibility. I have thought it worth reminding Mr. Long
how far we were prepared to go in offering the Chinese
a reasonable solution. This involves setting down the
essence of the arrangements offered to the Chinese through
covert channels earlier this year. I have however
avoided any mention of the channel as such (although
SECRET
SECRET
(a)
8.
Mr. Long has in the past been informed orally of
its existence).
In comparison with Mr. Brooke, Mr. Grey has been
penalised for his fortitude and good sense. I think
we must concede this point, arguing in reply that had
Mr. Grey's health broken down we should have been faced
with an agonising decision; but this fortunately did
not occur and the national interest has been served
accordingly.
There is a further defence which might have been offered
to Mr. Long for our different handling of the Brooke and Grey
cases, but which on balance I have excluded. It is this.
The deal over Mr. Brooke and Mr. Grey covered, as far as I a
aware, all the British subjects in detention in Russia and all
the inmates of our prison in whom the Russians had expressed
interest. Apart from Mr. Grey and the newsworkers, there
are in detention in China a dozen other British subjects,
and in prison in Hong Kong some 230 other communiste whose
premature release the Chinese have been trying to secure.
If we had made a deal over Mr. Grey and the newsworkera, we
have would/come under pressure from the relatives of the other
British subjects and possibly also from the Chinese to go on
making similar deals.
9. There were indications at the end of last week that
Mr. Long might be on the point of mounting a press campaign
criticising our handling of the Grey affair. This has not so
far been the case. I had a telephone conversation with him
SECRET
- 5 -
SECRET
on the evening of 25 July in the course of which I expressed
my anxiety lest public controversy and what would be said
about Chinese attitudes might somehow upset the tacit deal
we now have with the Chinese about Mr. Grey. This may have had
some effect.
10.
Depending in some measure on Mr. Long's reaction to
the reply, I would propose in due course to see the office-
bearers of the Reuters chapel of the National Union of
Journalists, who have kept in touch with us, and explain our
preoccupations.
Copies to: Private Secretary
Mr. Godden
Mr. Baker
Sir L. Monson
Mr. Carter
Mr. Giffard
Mr. Haydon
Humay Jon Money.
(James Murray)
31 July, 1969.
Please also see further minute schon
"A conclusion
1/vi/65
Private Secretary Thasy sagues yo Ho
SECRET
- 6-
REUTERS "haft 29/7
FEX for dift senly have 282
MA 241
927
Private and Confidential
The Rt Hon Michael Stewart CH MP Secretary of State for Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs
Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SWI
July 25 1969
Dear Mr Stewart
I wrote to you first just over a year ago to ask you to consider an
early release for the newspaper workers imprisoned in Hong Kong in order
to secure the freedom of Anthony Grey. I have renewed that request
several times and I do so again now.
2. You have given in letters and conversations reasons for not releasing
the
newspaper workers, the validity of which was not mine to judge since
these reasons arose from responsibilities which are not mine. Whatever
validity they had, however, has surely been considerably eroded by the
passage of time and I would have thought entirely cancelled out by the
announcement in the House of Commons yesterday that an agreement had
been made with the Soviet Union to exchange two convicted spies for Mr
Gerald Brooke.
> I do not wish to comment on the agreement which has secured Mr
Brooke's
release. I am reminded, however, that in your letter of February 28 this
year you said that an early release of the Hong Kong prisoners would
greatly reduce the sanction of prison sentences as a deterrent and that
if the Chinese were successful in using Mr Grey as a hostage in this way
they might well be encouraged to try the same thing with other British
subjects in the future. Did not both these objections apply with at
least equal validity to the release of the Krogers?
It may be urged that Brooke was ill and under the threat of further
charges. Is Grey to suffer continued detention because he has had the
fortitude to withstand the rigours of imprisonment and the good sense to
give his gaolers no grounds for any charges against him? It might be
thought that Grey's case has the more merit since unlike Brooke, who
knowingly broke Soviet
Gerald Long General Manager Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4
Telephone Fleet Street 6060
2
law, he has committed no fault of any kind.
"I cannot accept that there is any parallel between the deal made over
the
Krogers and the proposed deal with the Chinese to release the Hong Kong
prisoners outside the colony. The reasons why I cannot accept this com-
parison are well known to you and I will not go into them here except to
say that the Russians were known to want the release of the Krogers to
Poland while the Chinese were known to refuse the expulsion of Hong Kong
Chinese from the colony.
I am already being asked by Reuter journalists what justification there
is after yesterday for not taking the action which it is known will
bring about Grey's release. No doubt Grey's colleagues throughout Fleet
Street and indeed throughout the world will be asking the same question.
Grey will be asking it himself and may be expected to ask it insistently
when he is released. I can give no answer to this question since I can
myself see no justification.
7 I am compelled to write as I do as Grey's fellow journalist and as the
man
who unknowingly sent him into the situation that was to produce his
detention. I do not believe that Grey should be asked to endure one day
of detention that could be spared him. I ask you to show the same
understanding for Anthony Grey that you have been prepared to show for
Gerald Brooke.
Yours sincerely
Gerald han
10, DOWNING STREET, S.W.1.
PRIVATE SECRETARY
Entera patum ko
618
FE
FOREIGN AND COMMON WEALTH OFFICE
The attached communication addressed to the Prime Minister is
transmitted to you to be dealt with whatever manner is considered
appropriate by the Department concerned. It refers to previous
correspondence which was forwarded to
you en...
J
1. No acknowledgment has been sent from here.
2. A plain acknowledgment has been sent from here, adding that the
communication has been forwarded to your Department.
3. A plain acknowledgment has been sent from here, adding that the
communication is receiving attention. You should ensure that a
substantive reply is sent from your Department as soon as possible.
4. A copy of the acknowledgment which has bebit sent from here is
attached.
Date
4.869
7545 Dd. 667733 10w 1/69 CHC 696
been REGISTRYN CO -7 AUG 1969
Fee 13041
Lig. 12/s at
FCO.
Azz
Dear Sir,
So, Whateley Road,
East Dulwich,
se.aa.
22
30th July, 1969.
R-218
I am
writing
to ade
you
why is
it not possible to get Anthony Grey the Reuters Correspondent, who is
being held in Peking released?
The week before Gerald
before Gerald Brooke
was
allowed to come home, the
Mr. Michael Stewart
Foreign Secretary announced that Mr. Grey
was
going to
މ
be released in October,
when the last Chinese Communist Journalists holding in Hong Kong finish
we are
their Prison sentences.
E
Then, on the day Gerald Brooke returned to this Country, Mr. Stewart
made another statement to the House
Mr Grey
of Commons, saying
e released in October as
ве
hoped.
world not he had
in
Was there a great hue and ary? No Sil, there was not only my room, and I
have no doubt in Anthony Greys Mother's home were the protests heard.
I am
glad you were able to arrange
for Gerald Brookes release, at a price of course, but I cannot feel
great
I do for Mr. Dyompatty for them as I do
for
Grey. After all, Gerald Brooke went to Russia as a
visitor, he broke
مال
3
that
the laws of punished for doing
Country
and was
20
Anthony Grey has broken no kaws
im
very
ma.
He too, is I am sure a
physically and mentally
sick man,
I remember his Mothers words when
she was interviewed on the BBC Radia
one morni
morning
months
ago
"He is a
tough lad, but I don't know how much
more
До
of this he can
stand:
everything being done that it is possible to do to have this poor now
brought home? Must we
by and let them hope?
no
Just stand
go on suffering with
д
am
just
4
one woman
woman,
nearly
a Widow
21 years.
with a son who is
вам
you
please explain to me how
ice when
the woke World couldreforce
men reached the Hoor and walked on
나,
it, and
yer
know that one human
being is left, suffering on this Earth,
as Anil
Anthony Grey is, and do withing
about it.
weep for him and his poor Mother
for them both,
I can only
Я
I pray for
hope you
Sir,
can do more
for
them
than 9.
I know
you
very busy
man, and have so many problems
are a
녀
to solve, but I hope you
is
be able to spare a few
to read
my
letter,
well
moments
Yours truly, Maureen Wooden.
на
noi la Hull Road,
M 4/8 betting han.
FED to reply be
A. Micheal Stewart. Im P.
10
Fareign Serretay.
4/7/ Parlante
до
-London
REG...
ماء
- 7 AUG 1969
FEC indi
Yorks
(921)
Yorkshire
Eater 40518
R&2018
p.a. RR.
Din Sir Mr. Antley Jay, an innocent mean is still held prisons in today,
This. WHY!
he had been a SPY,
China.
fought tooth Imail for you would have
release, D even
is re
If other SPIES. To achieve this
TO
exchange d
Is it an
now, in Eng land
Things
England,
murderers, & dom
crime
To be innocent of any vine? thugs) spies,
Meny ns? otomy friends, all seen π do well, under the present thone
Office & Foreign Office
Tay dip forst in
lomat is approaches Chinese government, & release the Communist
approaches to the
а
Journalists,
02: Gry!
now, not next year. A Dis granted Eaghishan now
Jom") R. V. ACKROYD!
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
920
Cypher/Cat A
PRIORITY
PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Telno 445
2 August 1969
f.
R
Paczo
CONFIDENTIAL
1969
718
Addressed to F.C.0. telegram No. 445 of 2 August Repeated for
information to Hong Kong
在
My immediately preceding telegram.
I hope that you will be prepared to give this publicity. I do not
believe that doing so will affect Grey's release. It should help to
dispel any
erroneous impression that improvements in Grey's
conditions amount to humane treatment, and thus deprive Chinese of any
undeserved credit they may be receiving.
Mr. Denson
[Repeated to Hong Kong]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
NEWS DEPT.
CONSULAR DEPT.
I.R.D.
I.P.D.
FFFFF
CONFIDENTIAL
1
EN OLAIR
PRIORITY
TELNO 444
ΤΟ PEKING
UNCLASSIFIED
1/1
TOP COPY
pulso 7/8
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
2 AUGUST 1969
RECTV
DRESSED TO FCO TELNO.444 OF 2 AUGUST. RFI HONGKONG
TRECTS:
MY TELEGRAM 410. WE TODAY TRIED TO SEND TO GREY THROUGH
FE C
THE INFORMATION DEPT. OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGIL AFFAIRS
A SMALL SELECTION OF UNCONTROVERSIAL BOOKS.
THESE WERE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TOGETHER WITH OUR NOTE.
THE MINISTRY TELEPHONED TO SAY THAT THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT
THE BOOKS AND HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY (1.E. OBLIGATION) TO
PASS THEM TO GREY.
MR. DENSON
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION%
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
NEWS D.
CONSULAR D.
I.R.D.
I.P.D.
Sir S. Tomlinson
SECRET
918
pa L20 7/8
THE GREY AND BROOKE CASES:
MR. LONG'S COMPLAINT ·
I
Before submitting my minute of 31 July ovaring a
draft reply to Mr. Long's recent letter about Mr. Anthony
Grey, I tried to confirm with Mr. Long that the reply would
be for his eyes only. (I assumed this to be the case since
Mr. Long's own letter was marked "Private and Confidential'
Mr. Long was, however, absent from his office for a couple
of days.
2.
I
►
Mr. Long returned my telephone call this morning.
said that in drafting the reply we had assumed that it would
be for his eyes only and that accordingly the draft
(a) had referred to the delicacy of our position in Hong Kong
in terms which we would not use publicly and,
(b) had mentioned the proposals made to the Chinese through
covert channels, of which he was the only person outside
government to be taken into confidence.
1
Mr. Long immediately confirmed that his whole correspondence
with the Secretary of State about Mr. Grey had been on this
basis, and that the reply to his most recent letter would be
certainly treated with similar discretion. If he subsequently
wanted a reply which he could show more widely, e.g. to members
of the staff, he would be in touch with us again.
T
SECRET
1
L
1
+
+
SECRET
Mr. Long referred to the Daily Express report that
Mrs. Grey was about to write to the Secretary of State
drawing comparisons between the Brooke and Grey cases.
He said that this was on her own initiative; Reuters had
had nothing to do with it.
1
+
Copies to: Private Secretary
Mr. Baker
Mr. Godden
Sir L. Monson
Mr. Carter
Mr. Haydon
SECRET
· 2
(James Hurray)
1 August, 1969.
!
i
i
Letter
917
дл
Pe 27/8
Gerald Long, Esq., General Manager, Reuters Ltd., 85 Fleet Street,
Secretary of State
London, E.C.4.
Thank you for your letter of 25 July about
Anthony Gray. I found it extremely well argued, and
indeed moving. Nevertheless, it does not cause me to
alter my views.
I cannot accept that my announcement regarding
Gerald Brooke has invalidated the approach we have so
far adopted in the Grey affair. The overriding
difference between the two cases, and the one most
closely engaging my responsibilities to which you refer,
is the difference of context. As I said in the House,
there is nothing in the manner of Mr. Brooke's release
that is incompatible with the long term interests of
this country. I continue to hold the view, however,
that the premature release of the newsworkers in Hong
Kong would have damaging consequences for our position
in the Colony. If I may speak frankly, our position
there rests on the confidence of the local people in
our intention and ability to retain our control of the
Colony in the face of Chinese pressures. Anything that
led them to believe that we were no longer able to
maintain our authority could quickly be disastrous.
In particular it could very quickly affect the morale
of the police and civil service, on whose loyalty we