would be out of prison by early October and the
/assurances
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
WIEL SI-740L
assurance given us by the Chinese Chargé
d'Affaires that Grey would be released from
detention when the newsworkers had been
released, Mr. Long seemed to have accepted
that we were likely to let matters take their
course in Hong Kong until October. The
decision about the Brooke affair has clearly
upset him.
4. We foresaw that the manner of handling
Mr. Brooke's release would have repercussions
for the Grey affair. We have tried to dis-
courage comparison between the two cases but
already we have been subject to
to some question-
ing by the press, On 24 July the Secretary of
State_in-response to questions by reporters
by reporthas
"The Secretary
State was asked/if
Breathe
the handling of the case set a pre-
cedent for the treatment of
Mr. Anthony Grey, and He replied,
"There are very important differences
between Mr. Grey's case and this.
We had suggested to the Chinese some
time ago that one might be able to
get the release of Mr. Grey in return
for the release of certain Chinese
newsworkers in Hong Kong, they to go
back to China in the way the Krogers
will presumably go back to Poland.
The Chinese made it quite clear that
an arrangement of this kind was not
possible. What was in issue there
was that the Chinese newsworkers
should be released and should be free
to continue to reside in Hong Kong to
/carry
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
WEL 51-7406
Flag F
Flag G
Flong H
In unsuns to a dunnet query bu
the telefleure by to hovy
Job Times, I ha
nothing Also
so in the offing in
Itary King
carry on their occupation.
You will
realise that is rather different from
what is proposed in relation to the
валий
Krogers." (I) in to Mian refly that Ift huy in proumably refhowing in
the fifth pana.
Generally, News Department have been able
to deal with press enquiries by the use of the
three points put forward in paragraph 3 of my
submission of 23 July. However, Mr. Long's
letter, which is powerfully argued, cannot be
answered simply in these terms.
6.
As a preliminary, there is a policy point
to be decided: should we in the reply hold out
any hope that the newgworkers may yet be
released before their due dates. In our tele-
gram No.4*4 Juto Hong Kong the Governor was
he
informed that if we were to decide that the
time had come when the premature release of the
newsworkers by a matter of weeks would be
regarded by the Chinese as a gesture of accom-
However,
modation rather than an act of weakness, we
should not want Him to exclude this.
it is clear from his telegram No.
that the Governor has no such step in mind.
J
of
I
intend to submit separately about the Governor's
views; but in the meantime our reply to Mr. Long
must, I think,be based on the assumption that
there will be no fresh moves on our side.
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
Love
to cope with this I thought it best to
/refer
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
WEL 51-7404
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
the
were successful in using 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 out-
side 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 news -
workers 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.
have I/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 arrange-
ments offered to the Chinese through
/covert
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
WOUL 51-7406
3.
covert channels earlier this year. I
have however avoided any mention of
the channel as such (although Mr. Long
has in the past been informed orally
of its existence).
(4)
In comparison with Mr. Brooke,
Mr. Grev has been penalised for his
fortitude and good seng G 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
It is this. The
on balance I have excluded.
deal over Mr. Brooke and Mr. Grey covered, as
far as I am aware, all the British subjects in
detention in Russia and all the inmates of the
prison in whom the Russians had expressed interest.
B
Apart from Mr. Grey and the newaworkers,
there are in detention in China a dozen other
British subjects, and in prison in Hong Kong
bome 230 other communists whose premature
release the Chinese have been trying to secure.
If we had made a deal over Mr. Grey and the
newsworkers, we would come under pressure from
the relatives of the other British subjects
and possibly also from the Chinese to go on
haking similar deals.
B. There were indications at the end of last
week that Mr. Long might be on the point of
/mounting
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
WIDL 11-140L
mounting a press campaign criticising our
handling of the Grey affair. This has not so
Far
ffar been the case. I had a telephoe conversa-
tion with him on the evening of 25 July in the
course of which I expressed my anxiety lest
public controversy on this and what might be
Big Lot said about Chinese attitudes could somehow
upset the tacit deal we now have with the
Chinese about Mr. Grey. This may have some
effect.
10. Depending in some measure on Mr. Long'a
fe
Balz
reaction to our reply, I/propose in due course
to see the office-bearers of the Reuters chapel
the
of the National Union of Journalists, who have
kept in touch with us, and explaing our
preoccupation
J
F.E.D.
96
Enter pa
M
1/8
31 July, 1969
I write on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to
acknowledge the receipt of your postcard of 29 July giving your views on
r. Anthony Grey.
Mrs. Jean Pryor and
Hr. R. Edwards
(Mrs. V. E. M. Hartles) Private Secretary
1
PRYOR.
12, MILTON AVENUE
RUSTINGTON 5 X
29 7.69.
Published by D Constance Limited
Littlehampton.
Sussex
Constance
lack
POST CARD FED
LEHAN
7 -PM 29 JLY 1969
Decin Ma Stewent, SUSSE
عم
sray
"YES
to the Chinese Government
anu Eli's have ma
ni
anthony Ering home
in Butai, Kes winth
10 Chinese reponions whecker
Idong Kong on Ching
in Icher
Your
rince
8220 BEACH DONKEY
Team Payon
STON
1
MR. STEWART
5o.
FOREIGN MINISTER
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
LONDON
Colour Photo by John T. Pullen
• Ma.. R. & dwands.
Galer
)
a log
7/8
J.D.I Boyd, Esq.
Far Eastern Department,
FCO
With the compliments of
THE BRITISH CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES
J.B. DENSON
29 July, 1969
PEKING
Orries of the British Chargh
d'Affaires
Peking
29 Julx, 1969
You have no doubt read the descriptions in the British press or the
meeting which Fr. Garside and I had with your son on 14 July. You may
also like to have my own fuller impressions to supplement the report
which James Turray sent you.
Tony had already heard the statement sade in Hong by the Pritish
Minister of Defence Kr. Healey who had given his opinion that Tony would
almost certainly be released in sariy kia October when the last of the
newɔworkers, whose imprisonmeKİ, in Hong Kong is used by the Chinc -
authorities so a protett for detaining your son, will have en released,
I confirms d that this was our view an. that we looked forward to seeing
his at liberty again very early in October, I passed on your message to
him and he sent you one in return which you will already have received.
Tony was looking very much more relaxed than in November when my
predecessor went, also in the company of Mr. Garside, to see him. ...t
time his hands were often clenched tight during the interview and he
leant forward, his shoulders hunched in a tense way. This time he sat
bes in his chair and his hando lay onlmly at his si We began
by reading out the sesaaŋos which you and Reuters had sent to him and
then 'r, Caraile gave a brief account of a meeting which he had had in
London with Miss McGuinn,
As might be expected Tony looked a little pale of course, but his skin
was in good condition and his eyes leaked completely clear and untired.
He smiled repeatedly during the interview and indicated his sense of
humour is very mich alive, As you will know from the press and from his
letters the improvements in his conditions of life which waNO introduced
on 30 Hay have cơ tributed greatly to his more rolazed state of mind. It
is above all the permission to listen to his radio, which picks up the
JBC easily, which
Mrs. Leng Yifarn Road,
Norwich,
Korfolk.
1
7
J.
Office of the British
d'Affaires
RI
Peking
19 July, 1969
FEE
You have no doubt road the descriptions in the British press of the
meeting which Fr. Garside and I had with your son on 14 July. You may
also like to have my em fuller impressions to supplement the report
which James Murray sent you.
Tony had already heard the statement made in Kong kong by the British
Minister of Deferee Mr. Healey who had given his opinion that Tony would
almost certainly be released in early October when the last of the
newsworkers, whose imprisonment in Hong Kong is used by the Ching -
authorities as a pretent for detaining your son, wili have been
released. I confirmad that this was our view ́an, that we looked forward
to seeing him at liberty again very early in October. I passed on your
mensage to him and he sent you one in return which you will already have
roosivad.
Tony was looking very much more relaxed than in Rovember when my
predecessor vent, also in the company of Mr. Garside, to see him. it
time his hands vere oftan alenched tight during the interview and he
leant forward, his shouldara hunched in a tense way. Chis time he sat
back in his chair and his hands lay calmly at his side, We began by
reading out the messages which you and Reuters had sent to him and
thenr. Garsile mve a brief account of a meeting which he had had in
London with Miss McQuinn.
As might be expected Tony looked a little pale of
þut his skin vas in good condition and his eyes looked completely clear
and untired, He smiled repeatedly during the interview and indicated his
sense of humour in very mich alivo. As you will know from the press and
from his lettere the improvements in his conditions of life which wËPI
introduced on 30 Kay have contributed greatly to his mOTH relaxed state
of mind. It is above all the permission to listen to his radio, which
picks up the 3BC easily, which
Grey
Mre. Ang Hivern Road,
Norwich,
Korfolk,
P
F
|
}
has
a great differenss, He starts listening ve at 3.00 p.m. in the evening
and sometimes goes on util midnight. He was able to follow the moon
exploration the Grow of Apello 11. Hia Chinese guarde cooperate mying
new batteries when his old ones grow work,
Kia courage and patienes under this ordes) hava truly remarkable and
you, have every reason to feel immensely proud of him. All of us at this
Mission hap highest admiration for his fortitude. Although he has been
helped by the recent relaxation in his conditieme the indications that
he can hope to be released in Osti I think that he had already won the
battle to retain his balance of mind by the end of last year, which is
an greater tribute to his.
Although he said there had recently been some delay in receiving your
nail and Wise McGuinn's he was in fact not particularly worried about
this as he has experiented similar delays previously and they have never
lasted vEPY long. I stressed the delay when speaking to press
correspondents here only in order to give a prod to the Chinese
authorities and to encourage them to release any mail which they might
be holding up.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded with speed to our request for a
meeting with Tony, in a way which they had never done before. I find
this encouraging, We are now about to try to persuade the Chinese
Foreign Ministry to let us send him a parcel of books which we haya
bought for him,
I hope that you find some reassurance in this accommŚ of our meeting
with Tony. If there is any further news I will of course make sure that
you are told immediately. Please do not hesitate to write to me if there
is any way in which you think I can help.
(J.B. Denson)
L
EN CLAIR
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO PEKING
TELNO 250
UNCLASSIFIED
28 JULY 1969 (FED)
EC
pa 420 30/7
·
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 250 OF 28 JULY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION
TO WASHINGTON.
YOUR TELNO 432.
201
AT PRESS CONFERENCE ON EVENING OF 24 JULY I WAS ASKED WHETHER THE
HANDLING OF THE BROOKE CASE SET A PRECEDENT FOR TREATMENT OF MR. GREY
AND REPLIED:
"THERE ARE VERY IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MR. GREY'S CASE AND THIS.
WE HAD SUGGESTED TO THE CHINESE SOMETIME AGO THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO
GET THE RELEASE OF MR. GREY IN RETURN FOR THE RELEASE OF CERTAIN CHINESE
NEWSWORKERS IN HONG KONG, THEY TO GO BACK TO CHINA IN THE WAY THE
KROGERS WILL PRESUMABLY
TO BACK TO POLAND. THE CHINESE MADE IT QUITE CLEAR THAT AN ARRANGEMENT
OF THIS KIND WAS NOT POSSIBLE. WHAT WAS IN ISSUE THERE WAS THAT THE
CHINESE NEWSWORKERS SHOULD BE RELEASED AND SHOULD BE FREE TO CONTINUE TO
RESIDE IN HONG KONG AND TO CARRY ON THEIR OCCUPATIONS, YOU WILL REALISE
THAT IS RATHER DIFFERENT
FROM WHAT IS PROPOSED IN RELATION TO THE KROGERS''.
2. THERE WERE ONLY A FEW PASSING REFERENCES TO GREY IN SUNDAY'S PAPERS.
STEWART
FILES
F. EASTERN D.
H.K.D.
NEWS D.
CONSULAR D.
I.R.D.
1.P.D.
(912)
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
FFI
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top-Secret Secret
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date)
Immediate }"
Despatched
Romericted
Unclassified
Confidential
Portcy Routine
PRIVACY MARKING
[s
In Confluence
Security classification" -if any
stion]
Ex Clair.
[
Privacy marking -if any
1
Corts
Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressee(s)
20 JUL
It
1731
די
----
Unclassified
Ir.
expher
Draft Telegram to:-
PEKING
No.
150
(Date) ... 28/7.
And to:-
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
telegram No.
And to
250
---------------
repeated for information to
---- ILLI LIL
Peking
(date)
28 Juday
-------------- HJJILII'IIILI
-+--------------PPO-PEONYIOCHI
Wastigli
------
---------+ +- Everladdermuo÷¬‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒+
Saving to.....
LLL
--JILLI
-
Repeat to: Washington
THE
Yourtelno 432
At pres-conference on evening of 24 July I [x] was asked whether the
handling of the Brooke case set a precedent for [y] treatment of M" Grey
and raptist;
THERE
There are very important differences between Mc Grey's cax and this. We
had suggested to the Chinge sme time
Saving to:-
WE
Distribution:-
Files:
FE)
MKB News Dept Cay Bapt
Copies to:-
The Rolanse
THERE
azo
KIND
that me might be able to get the release of M2 Grey in retum for the
release of certain Chinese newsworkers in Hong Kong, they to go back to
China in the way the Krogers will presumably go back to Poland. The
chinse made it quite clear that an arrangement of this kind was not
possible. What was in issue there was that the chinese news workers
should be releard and should be free to continue to reside in Hong Kong
and to carry on their occupations. You will realise that is rather
different from what is proposed in velation to the Krogers."
RELEASED
a few
RELATON
2. There were only a passing references to Grey in Sunday's papers.
ko 28/7
TOP COF
K.
IN
A09
.: Clair
PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Telno 432
UNCLASSIFIED
26 July, 1969
705
28 JUL 1969
kc 134/1
منا
Fec
叫
pako
Your telegram No. 476 [to Hong Kong? Brooke and Grey cases].
Grateful for text of additional remarks reported by B.B.C.
to have been made about the Grey case.
2017
Mr. Denson
FILES
Far Eastern Dept
P.S. to Lord Shepherd
P.S. to P.U.S.
Sir S. Tomlinson
Sir L. Monson
Sir T. Brimelow
B.E.S.D.
Hong Kong Dept
P.U.S.D.
News Dept
bbbbb
+
En Clair
SECRET
TOP COPY: