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19
PTO.
CCENTS
"Cuttin~-dated,
THE PEOPLE
26 OCT 1969
14
나
1 EVEN STAGED AN AN RACE IN MY ROOM'
ANTHONY GREY continues the story of his Chinese torture
Throughout his detention Grey kept a diary of events, secretly written
in shorthand and hidden under his mattress. Back home, he looks at this
record of his ordeal with his girl-friend, Shirley McGulan.
One of Grey's most treasured possessions was this stub of pencil-at one
time all he had for writing, Finally he bad to hold a pair of sclusões
with it to hold the load in place.
The secrets of my smuggled diaries
12
ፋ ል
مین
9 J
Lon
O Grey wrote his diaries secretly in old exercise books, hid them under
his bed and managed to smuggle them ant with him on his release. He
wrote them in shorthand for extra secrecy. This extract (above) is from
his entry for August 31, 1967, describing the incident of his "arrest"
by Red Guards.
It includes these words: "At this time, the dead body of my cat was
lowered on a rope from the roof or balcony above; it was dangling in my
face as I bena over. There had been jeering and applause, and I think
this must have been as Ming-Ming 2005 being strangled above."
'It was nine
months since
I had seen a friendly face'
Cha
tine dated
THE PEOPLE
2 NOV 1969
CONFESS, CONFESS!!
streamed my
Chinese jailers impolite to a 16- year-old guard
Amiliony Groy's OWN story
O British journalist Anthony Grey committed Eno crime, but for 26 months
he was kept prisoner by the Chinese Communists in one small room in
Peking-a pawn
I
in international politics. Today, free at last in Britain, he continues
the moving story of his ordeal of isolation, frus tration-and
unrelenting hatred.
Me arrogant ? At that time I had been under their heel for 22 wretched
and
miserable months during which time they had done many things, short of
physical
1
7.7
1 violence, to crush my spirit. How could they imagina
I had any arrogance left in me?
This incident involved a new guard, a boy of 18 or 17, who was,
obviously, keen to make an impression on this "reactionary newsman."
H
Every time he looked at me he did so with a hatred and contempt designed
to show that he, at least, was in the forefront of the battle against
the "class enemy."
My 'crime'... I'd been
Even last Juno,
THE HOSTILITY of those Chineso guards never let up.
four months before my release, I was suddenly brought before them only
four months before my released was study by and confronted with that
sinister demand {cared by nearly all political priser... CONFESS 1
In there, I wasn't being asked to admit to spying or sabotage of
sedition. They wanted me to confers to being "rude and arrogant "-to a
16-year-old guard !
i
It was clear that the young- ster was trying to provoke me into doing
something in front of a witness. I longed to belt the pair of them, but
I knew would only have brought a it would only have brought criminal
charge against me,
Eventually I went downstairs,
One day he came into my office upstairs and stood and, stared at me, his
eyes ablaze with contempt. Thoroughly | But soon afterwards the official
fed up and angry. I stared | interpreter suddenly appeared on the scene
and I know there right back at him.
was trouble.
He had the advantage since he was standing and I was sitting down. The
minutes passed by like hours 11
glared at each other.
WC
I had never spoken directly to any of my guards and after several
minutes I decided to say something to see what effect my voice would
have on him.
Provocation
I said, quietly, but firmlys, "What do you want?*
He said nothing in reply, but three or four minutes ister he suddenly
turned on his heel and went out of the room. As far as I was Cón-
cerned, there was no clear, winner to this clash of minds,
But next morning he entered
my room with another guard: and the pair of them drew up
chairs and sat down opposita me at my desk, They sit chin In hand,
staring insolently at me from a distance of only two or three feet
|
I was brought before the guards and this teenager stood In front of me,
he started shouting.
The Interpreter stepped for ward and said to me:
**Yester day you were arrogant and shouted at this guard."
H
I kept very calm and I re- plied quietly: "I was not arro- gant and I
did not shout."
"You should confess to being arrogant and Impolite to this EuRrd," the
interpreter per- alsted.
H
Unnerving
I refused and these exchanges continued for several minutes,
It was unnerving for me, be- cause I did not know how far the Chinese
were prepared to go to get a confession. Never- theless I was determined
not to submit to this humiliation.
Eventually the interpreter came up with what appeared to be a
face-saving formula which set us all out of a tricky
altuntion,
Ita solemnly warned ine that I would have to bear in mind for the future
his WAINING about my behaviour.
1
I realised that this didn't ¦ commit me to mything and so I said that I
would be prepared to bear his remarks to mind-
THE WHOLE THING was a ludicrous charade. But it was a striking example
of the Chlaese outlook towards foreigners, and especially Westerners,
Since my return to Britain ¦ people have asked ma to ex- plain why the
Chinese, with their great traditions as the oldest civilisation on
on earth, behave with such barbarity to people who have committed ng !
crime against them.
Are they completely careless about their image in the out- side world?
The Chinese are a complex people and it is Impossible to Fire *
satisfactory Answer briefly.
But I L A fact thai phụ Chinese people have been con- ditioned by their
Communist masters Into total and blind acceptance of anything that the
Party lays down,
They are not worried about what the Western world thinks, because in
their eyes the only opinion that counts is that of Chairman Mao and
other pro- Peking resolutionaria.
P
PTO
2
It is the greatest example of mass indoctrination that the world has
ever seen. To these people Chairman Mao is a god- cure who can do bo
has been achieved by a propaganda. campaign
Cutting dated
THE PEOPLE
- 2 NOV 1969
At the beginning of the not summer in 1968 I asked if I could have one
window open all - night to let in some air. They Agreed, and even
installed wire screen scross the open window to keep Insecta oUL
The screen was held in place
Sevim
which goes on day and night, ; by only one pail year after year. The
people, four-diths of whom are pend- ants, live their Bres in a total
stmosphere of propaganda.
I have seen" it and heard it myedit. Even la may
- call
( Peking I could hear loudspeakers blaring out endless elllogies of
Chair- man Mao across the roof-
topa
And 10 nowspapers. Alms, books and tele- Vison not a day goes by fuisoma
and detalled tribute to the achievements
maa Mão.
It is a simple but nghteningly
sliding all Information from the outside world and pump- "
unending
stream of propaganda, the Communists have been able totally to los
doctrinate the largest sation on earth.
Even now the Chinese people do 201 know oficially that man has walked on
the moon/ But everyone knows that Chair man Mao is the "great red sun in
our hearta."
I HAD BEEN under house arres for almost three months when I received a
visit from an interpreter at the Public Security Bureau. He came into my
tiny room with three guards.
Ꮀ
He ordered me to get out my Httle red book of Chairman Mao's quotations
weten knew I had on the shelf to- ether with four volumes of Cao's
selected works.
J
He informed ma that I must join them in the road- ing of soma of Mao's
quota tions. I flatly refused.
the
The interpreter and guarda got more and more angry but i would not
yield. Eventually I mud: "I am your prisoner and I can't leave chia
room. if you start reading. then there is nothing I can do but stand
here and ilsten-but I am not going to read."
They were furious, but they had to socept this. The guarda tried their
little red books "high up in front of their (LCEL and started to rend
loudly and * aggressively in Chiness with
the, interpreter.
Is was a comical and farCICAL aerise, DECUse the interpreter had a red
book in each hand- one in Chinose Lod the other the Koglwb translation.
Be would hold up the Chinese version and read with the guarda. Then he
would lower that book, raise the English ver sion and read out the trane
lation for my beneit
Bvery proner, DO matter what his circumstances, at some time thinks of
escapa
I thought carefully about all tive possibilities but finally olded it
was quite impossible.
Nevertheless, I worked out plan for a limited escape which,
with fuck, would get me
the British Mission.
1 Agured that in an emer- gency 1 could get through this window under
cover of dark- ness and Into the yard outside.
There was a ladder in A corner of the yard where coal was stacked and I
planned to use this to gain access to the rooftops of adjoining
buildings and thence to the street below.
I then planned to skirt or swim the most surrounding the Forbidden City,
steal L bicycle and ride the three or four milies to the British
Mission.
But of course there would have been little guarantee of JAGCLINGY Hven
in the mission. In most countries the pre- mises of foreign missions or
KA regarded foreign territory which cannot be violated. But the Chinese
would not have been deterred by much diplomatie alcetins Banco salna in
to get me
I never did put my plan into operation.
NEXT SUNDAY: The shametul facts of how Mao's mob burned down the British
Mission
19
GREY'S CHRISTMAS DIARIES
Here are more extracts from Phe diaries which Grey secretly wrole during
his detention:
DECEMBER 24, 1847.
6 DES ETC.
Christ- Just before I was given the good news that 1 could send cables
the sign boarda in my room (hinckboards with com- munist stogas
chalked them) were changed.
The first new one sold: perialism will not last long bes ewise it always
does evil things," The other! * All reactionaries Are paper tigers Had
half-expected them to 147: * A happy Christmas to all our fenders."
LATE
DECEMBER 31, 1967. diary entry of the bad year 1967, Am hopeful that
1968 will bring better days, but i am also aware that my ordeal may not
be over by a long way. Yesterday I pat my tiny elecizie dite going and
for the Gnt time 1 waa khla tó abandon my heavy dost In the OVCHINIA.
1 kave just drunk a New Year toast - la WaTis water from mi Vacuum
Bask! - to my nather, family and girl-Celend | hophie that this la polkg
to be a better Your for us all.
As I write the door of my room I upen and the head ganzd in MEETING IN A
Chair in the passager way eight feet away from nie Ku to also drinking
hot water from a Bank but I think be bas joms tan in his |
Th
DECEMBER 13, 1968 afternoon, haring wited more than two weekes for a
dartur LO Come and nee me, a small temps of neutral people descended on
Twe wamen nocturn in Whita ORDA MAKs and overalls exante ined two from
top to toe, ether ordertien puuk klonal tests and several siber people
merted ba Xomy equipment which appested
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to date frum the early part of the century!
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I even had to hold the X-ray plates against my chest with my own bands
while they positioned the
on a rouch, ad ANTA
One of justable wouden stand. the doctora Decred at my chest through a
portable viewer which lonked like a large megaphone The one end, with
holes at whole performance lasted two bounty
Despite
turion
+4
laughable con-
10
aud
E
the LC seemed
examination thorough hope I will know in a few dayı If i am in sound
health or not.
DECEMBER 17, 1968, Today While I was walking in the court- yard a
portrait of Sino that was pat up over my bed a few dayı ngo Was moved
and put up over
the door. The one that bas been on the wall at ere-level by my eating
table for a JERE WA moved and put up over the door to the washroom.
1 bave just completed my 279th crossword puzzle. My mind da fairly
blank.
I am hoping for something, bowever Nicht for Christma. but I am prepared
if I don't Eective Anything
Yester- day the little translator enue to Tell
the
DECEMBER 20. 1964.
tha
results of medical,
Ald (berd nothing wrong with my heart. Jung or Bver or ather orguns.
The diagnosis was pharyngitis fa throat Infection). 1 asked Tor
medicine. The charge for che ricorrist
לפות
was 31 Yoon
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1
1
Cutting dated
THE PEOPLE
E9 NOV 1959
19
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JENIH MALL,
Anthony Crey holds a copy he made of
a placard the Chinese forced him to wear. The top group of characters
describe him * a ** British imperialist" and "Reuters roactionary
correspondent." Below are four orders be had to obey.
FILE: BIG PER
AA
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HUMILIATED, ASSAULTED,
TAUNTED
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◇ Anthony Grey has just completed his first assignment since he was
released by the Chinesa after 26 months of captivity.
From his contacts as a foreign correspondent he has picced together the
first full story of the
sacking of the British Mission in Peking in August, 1967.
He reveals how the staff were beaten and humiliated by the Red Guards.
And he, rightly, proises the courage of the British men and scomen in
the face of the fenatics.
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PTO
Etiha
Contai
THE PEOPLE
Cutting dated .......
* 3 ROV 1900
but, unknown to them, the in-
THE CALLOUS brutality of the it vaders had already cut the
Red Guards who broke into my house in Peking and hanged my cat is
something that I am not likely to forget.
But even that ordeal did not com- pare to the terrifying treatment they
meted out only four days later to the staff of the British Mission in
the Chinese capital.
In sacking and burning the mission the Chinese committed one of the
grossest acts of diplomatic violation ever per- petrated in a supposedly
civilised country.
But by far their greatest outrage wRS the manner in which they treated
the mission staff-especially the young British girls who worked
there as secretaries.
cable.
H
Inside this zoonk, refuge 1966 to them, th Eriti cartas and W. 12 25
Byla zekuste eich distS, body was remarkably enim and collected.
By this time, however, a large i part of the building was on fre and the
mob were burning efigies at the window of the room housing the staff.
The window bad wooden shutter on the outside, troa bars and glass. The
glass went - but the Iron bars held. Whe shutters, however, caught are
and smoke poured in.
A friend who was there told ma: "People were frightened- it would be
fute to pretend anything else. But they werH
very calm and doing any thing that was asked of them quickly and
quietly."
Although I was already incarcerated in my eight-foot-sull square "cell
in my house and, therefore, saw nothing of
-
the attack on the mission, I have, since my release, pleced· together
the full, horrifying story of that awful day.
From friends who were in the mission at the time, and from other
contacts, I have beza able to complie the Best detailed account of what
really happened during the rape of the mission.
it is a shattering indict- meat of Chinese cruelty, For the behaviour of
many Red Guards, especially in the way they manhandled the £ve girls of
the mission stati. was loathesÖNE.
Play set out to humiliate the sexually by handling them in a moes vulgar
manner.
In some cases girls had ther underciocnes torn from them.
When they were interfered with '
in a rewolung way.
byan maka members of the stam received similar treatment from the
fanatical female Red Guard
Ous diplomat was subjected to pain and humiliation by female Red Guards
who took a " Sendish and parrarted delight in grabbing him by the
genitals.
HEROISM
I have reconstructed the events because I belleva the- wozie should know
the "full
But above all, I think the Brush people should know soout the quiet
herolum of the 23 stam men and women who suffered at the hands of Chaus
man Mao's mobsters.
The attack itself took pince on August 22, 1967, at 10.30 pun,
The tension had been bulld- ing up all day with crowds of demonstrators
gathering outside the mission building.
Two days earlier, the Chinesa government had delivered a 48- hour
utimatum to Whitehall| demanding the release of
Ohuitse journalists jailed in hong Kong on riot chargas. what ultimatum
was due to pura at 16:30 p.m.
As the crowds gathered, loud- speakers kept up deafening Mare of
ant-Bruch lovective
It was in this Incredibly tenisa situation that the mission Ja of
33-including hva girls -uned to go about their busi zes in the
belanguerad build-
AK GAZETTEKx fell, esa Bristch sipidmat peaced into the street and
noticed that all the Red Guards, now strangely quiet,
People
Word exclusive
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were sitting on the roed neatly drawO UD TANKS a.bour 10.000 of chem,
the Chinese Press later reported.
Upstairs, the Charge d'Affaires, Bir Donald Hopson, was playing bridge
with three colleagues. Downstairs, in the main entrance-hall, an impro-
vised him show was being put on-Pater Sellers in * The Wrong Arm of the
Law an effort to reduce tension
AL 10.30 p.m. precisely rocket dared. It was the signal for 10,000 Red
Guarda to lear into action.
They Swanned over the walls and gates, carrying crowbara, hammers, cans
of petrol mod various blunt testruments of destruction.
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H -
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As the mob came on, break- ing everything in their path, they were
chanting: Shul
Sha!
Inside the mission Bl: Donald and his staff moved into the "secure area
of the building where confidential work wa carried on and bolted the
door.
H
One of the stai who was pre- sent at the time sold i
Within a couple of minutes the whole building was resound- ing to the
onslaught of the Dacies.
"They attacked all doors and windows from all directions simultaneously.
"It became obvious that the outer defences vare not going to holde
PETREAT
The staff made a further retreat behind an iron grilio door at the narra
centre of the
mission.
Large metal cupboards waTU bauled in front of this metal door and the
lights turned out so that the mob would not know rieze the Britoes were
hiding. the last radio messiga WI ing out to London saying crypically:
**They're coming
Wirslers operators contin- to send further messages
The smoke made breathing
--
dimcult The only feasible way 13. out was through an emergency
door steel-plated exit - & leading into the compound yard.
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were
By this time the attackers
their amashing
WAJ through the brickwork Bur rounding the door and it be came clear
that it would only be a matter of minutes before they breached the wall
and poured through.
Sir Donald gave the order to
open the escape door and led them out.
The Britons were surrounded by shouting Guards, Sir Donald was struck a
sickening blow on the forehead with a heavy Instrument. Blood gushed on
to his shirt.
:
The others were grabbed by . the frantle mob and separated. One of my
friends recalled: *Hands scized us from all directions and punches
rained and heade down shoulders. My shirt was being || torn from my
back, so it bad
ca
OUT
the effect of garrotting me"
SEIZED
The British girls had a par- Опа ticularly dreadful time. was seized by
the hair by Red · Guarda da" she struggled in ' the crowd to tres
herself the Guards tore of her underpants: and wrenched her dress up
around har chest.
As she continued to struggis the Guards molested her in a disgusting
humiliating
fashion.
and
All the other girls-four were Kecretazīta and one the wife of
diplomat-ware
similar treatment.
One diplomat who was skuge- ling to help one of the girls had to bare
his teeth and threaten - to sink them into the writ of " Red Guard
before he would let go of her hair.
As this was going on, the soldiers of the Prople's Libera- tion Army
were drawn up out side the compound. They were
supposed to be there to pre-
vent the moh 'getting out of hand-
Britons
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THE PEOPLE
Cutting Jated
&g Ray 1909
3
19
That was the ordeal
of British girls in
Peking
struggled one by one through to the road outside where they were
gathered together by the soldiers who eventually got them away from the
scene.
But the fire raged on and the mob went happily on with the task of
destruction.
The mcking of the mission. was clearly officially inspired by Ta the
Chinese govemment. me 15 is a miracle that nobody was severely injured
or killed.
Even so, one British diplomat was besten so badly that he was confined
to bed for two weeks in a strictly prane posle tion suffering from
concussion and * commotion of the brain." And all 23 of the staff emer-
ged from that dreadful evening covered in a mass of bruises,
Of course, I didn't know that the British Mission had been burned until
my first consular visit in April, 1963-eight months after the event
I had certainly learned from the Chinese press that "strong action" had
been taken by the masses against the mission. But I never dreamed that
they had buumed it down-until Donald Hopson told mc
Even so he mentioned it only briefly during our 20-minute meeting. I had
no idea of the horror of that night until I emerged from confinement and
spoke to friends in Peking,
AT LAST! THE DAY OF
Anthony Gray com- pletes his amazing story by telling of the moment
...he longed for during the 26 months of his incar- ceration. the moment
of release.
MY FIRST inkling that it was all coming to an end was at the end of May
this year.
My conditions improved and I was allowed to have my short-
+
FREEDOM
way, radio and longer exercise, periods.
I began to hear the B.B.C. news and to hear my name mentioned. My
spirita wore. really lifted when I heard that the Defence Minister,
Denia" Healey, had told a Press Con ference in Hong Kong that be
expected me to be relented in October when the last Chinese' Journake:
imprisoned in Hong, Kong was freed.
Pnally the day damembn October 4,
The chief guard came into my room after lunch accompanied by the oficial
interpretar, "hac Foreign Ministry
you" he intoned.
H
I was driven to the Ministry and shown into a tastefully furnished
lounge. Tia door opened and 14 came a man I knew an air. Chi An immacu-
lately dressed man who spoke faultless English with an Oxford Locenk
-
Mr. Chi had been pratent with * woman ometal July 21, 1967, when I heard
the dread words; "We are express- ing our indignation and taking action
against you. .
H
But this time it was courtesy and smiles. The British governe ment had
released the Chinmə Journalists in Hong Kong and, therefore, my -freedom
of
Care
TO WAS BAIG AS
natural thing in Tranny ma of my m GERMANS ANĆ RETET
Tome 236
Dee pretence was emphasZNG with great carn; " What we say
counts!"-apparently indicating that the Chinese neyaz mada fdin threats,
I was then driven by the Publie Security Bureau men to my house. I
stepped from the car outside the gate and the car drove aWAY. For the
final time in 26 months I was free to take a step in whichever direction
I choso.
The British Mission Abonnú secretary, Roger Garside, was walling outside
my gate and rushed over to shake hands,
My overwhelming feeling was simply RELIEF.
But I will never forget that wonderful moment when the airliner's wheels
touched down at London airport. Only then did I feel that I was finally
FREE.
Since then my life has been a whirl of nativity, I have been overwhelmed
by the concern and sympathy shown to me. both by fellow Journalists and
by ordinary people in many countries.
As for the future. I can't really say. I am happy enough to think only
of the present.
I just feel grateful to be home
know again, and to
that throughout those long months of crushing isolation I was DAYET
really forgotten. ...
-
movement " was being restored.
Copy to:
!
Mr. Wilford
¡
Hong Kong Dept
Mr. Godden
Mr. Wil
Mr. Munkay
Ak
Reference
ligy.com
FEC
070
i Relais (wartin)
(imy (any (McLaren)
елей тра репро
Mr. Anthony Grey of Reuters
7/1
Anthony Grey was interviewed last night on ITN
for half an hour starting at 9.30.
2.
Mr. Grey came over very well indeed. He gave an impression of great
balance and maturity. His account of his experiences in Peking was
straightforward and unhysterical.
3. The following two points are worth recording, particularly in case we
have to deal with a complaint from the Chinese Mission about this
programme,
(a) Mr. Grey's remarks contained nothing
which could be construed as anti- Chinese. He said that the ordinary
Chinese were like the ordinary British. They wanted better food, better
surroundings and a better life. He had no feelings of bitterness against
them.
Asked about Mao he said that he had been deeply impressed by popular
adulation of Mao which he had seen on May Day, 1967. He had taken this
devotion to be genuine and felt that the Chinese really regarded Mao as
a deity. There was nothing snide in the way he said this.
(b) Mr. Grey trod very carefully on the
Bubject of Sino/British relations and Hong Kong. Asked whether he felt
resentment against those who had been responsible for handling his case
he
asid
(1) that from time to time during
his detention he had felt resentful against various people including
HMG, Reuters and even members of the public who had sent him
well-meaning letters and
(11) he had sometimes felt like a
pawn in a game between two faceless governments. However he described
the question of his connexion with events in
as
Hong Kong as "a very complex question' declined to be