22 October, 1969.
I am replying to your letter of 14 October about the fate which befell
Mr. Anthony Grey's cat.
While it is manifestly impossible to condone such treatment, repeated
representations were made to the Chinese authorities about the
conditions and circumstances of Mr. Grey's detention, and we believe
that these resulted in an alleviation of those conditions. Furthermore,
it is thought that the Chinese leadership ordered halt some time ago to
many of the activities of the Red Guards, who were responsible for the
behaviour you mention. Finally, we are confident that, insofar as the
Chinese take note of the expressions of the British preas, the extensive
coverage in the press of this incident will have been recorded.
J. Y. Knowles, Esq.,
164 Foxley Lane,
Purley,
Surrey CR2 3NF.
(R. Ralph)
L
Dear Sir,
164 Foxley Lane,
Purley,
Enter & pa
Surray. Cr2 3nF 14.10.69
FE
RIPR/1060 EL/K.
Mr Anthony Grey
an age when physical and mental torture nas become commonplace, one
wigut suppose the ordinary citizen would by now we too insensitive to
notice such trivial incidents as the nanging of ir Anthony Grey's cat.
Just how mean, contemptible and perverted can people get. The goastly
picture aroused in one's imagination compels some protest, however
remote may be the chance that one protest will ve
effective.
Such venaviour 18 a lot on the whole human race, and trŋ' lact that 16
occurred in Uniwa is unortunately incidental. However, the chinese
government is to viame for utver
lallure to enforce minimum standards of nuwan decency, li not for
ueiiberate encouragement of such acts.
i would be most grateful if some now you could ensure tnat inose
responsioie are maue aware of the horror that such Denaviour can sulii
arouse in ordinary people.
Iours sincerely,
Jim Knowk.
It
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Dear Mr Stewart
54 Elms Vale Road
-
1060
FE. Dover
Kent.
14-10-69.
On behalf of
all holders of British Passports,
I would like to thank
like to thank you
for making the Chinese authorities
•Release Mr Grey.
Yours faithfully.
Beecham
Mr. Wilford
CONFIDENTIAL
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21 OCT 1969
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MR. ANTHONY GREY
We have good reason to be grateful to Mr. Grey. If
during his detention he had shown signs of mental or
physical collapse or if his letters home had been less
discreet, his case would have presented an even more
difficult problem than it has done. The Secretary of
State in his letter of 4 August to Mr. Long of Reuters
acknowledged that Grey had been called upon to put up with
a great deal on our behalf and assured Mr. Long that this
was well recognised both here and in Hong Kong. I think
therefore that some message of greeting should be sent to
Mr. Grey when he is released from detention, and that the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office should be represented at
London Airport on his arrival. It seems to me that the
public will expect no less than this.
Recommendation
2.
I recommend that:
Despatched.
(a) The Secretary of State should be asked to authorise
personal
Mr. Denson to pass a/message to Mr. Grey when he first
sees him. I attach a draft telegram.
(b) A representative of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
should greet Mr. Grey on behalf of the Secretary of
State. I should have liked to have done this myself
since in the course of the case I have become acquainted
/ with
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
with the principal members of Mr. Grey's family,
and his trade union and other associates.
I am
however due to fly to Washington tomorrow for talks
on China. I suggest therefore that either Mr. Wilford
or Mr. Wilson (who will be in charge of Far Eastern
Department) would be appropriate.
A Wilson.
Jane Ummary
(James Murray)
2 October, 1969.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
21 OCT 1969
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MR. ANTHONY GREY: PUBLICITY
In his telegram No. 562 of 29 September Mr. Denson
asks for our views on the publicity aspects of Mr. Grey's
release. He recommends that on Mr. Grey's release he
should make an announcement to this effect adding that the
Mission is consulting Mr. Grey about the arrangements for
his departure from China. While welcoming Mr. Grey's
release Mr. Denson would also refer to the fact that there
are still twelve other British subjects detained by the
Chinese. We have already telegraphed approval of the line Mr. Denson
proposed. The submission examines the question
of publicity in fuller detail. News Department agree with
the conclusions.
ARGUMENT
2.
When Mr. Grey is released from detention he will still
require to apply to the Chinese authorities for an exit visa.
Ye think that the Chinese will not place difficulties in his
way but it may take some 24 to 48 hours to obtain a visa. In
addition, Mr. Grey himself may elect to stay in Peking for a
few days to reorientate himself before facing the outside world.
It is important therefore during the period when he is still
in China that we should refrain from comments which might
prejudice his chances of obtaining an exit visa. The brief
/statement
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I
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statement suggested by Mr. Denson would seem to me to meet
these requirements.
3. The release of Mr. Grey will inevitably have repercussions
for the cases of the twelve other British subjects detained
While confining our remarks on Mr. Grey's
by the Chinese.
case to the bare minimum it will be difficult to avoid
referring to these other cases. In addition the publicity
surrounding Mr. Grey's release is bound to raise in one form
or another the question whether this will improve their
chances of release. It should also be remembered that some
of the families of those detained have complained in the past
that we give more time to the Grey case and that they will
undoubtedly be approached by the press as soon as news of
Mr. Grey's release breaks. A statement therefore on the
lines suggested by Kr. Denson would serve to reassure them
that we have not forgotten their cases and forestall any
possible criticism. Further guidance on handling questions
about the remaining communist prisoners in Hong Kong is
included in the supplementary press guidance at Appendix 4.
4. Once Kr. Grey is out of China the press will be primarily
interested in obtaining his account of his experiences. We
are leaving the arrangements for Mr. Grey's press conferences
to Reuters (in Hong Kong if he transits the island and at
Heathrow Airport) and in general should stay in the background
at this stage. News Department do not think it advisable
that a member of the department should be present at Mr. Grey's
/ press
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- 2 -
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press conferenceat London Airport since this may give the
impression that we are trying to manipulate the news.
News Department will no doubt be called upon to answer factual
points and the attached background brief on the Grey case
(Appendix B) should be useful in this respect.
5. It is possible that the press or Mr. Grey himself may
be critical of the way in which his case has been handled.
je presume that the main line of attack will be that Mr. Grey's
release could have been expedited if we had agreed to the
premature release of the newsworkers in Hong Kong. Guidance
on answering this type of question is included in Appendix A.
way.
Jane Tenay
Copies to: Miss Deas
News Department
Mr. Stevenson, I.R.D.
Hiss Satterly, I.P.D.
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- 3-
M: C. Wilso
(James Murray)
2 October, 1969.
This is all right. But it now
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CONFIDENTIAL
SUP FLEMENTARY PRESS GUIDANCE
APPENDIX A
An earlier exchange of prisoners would have expedited
Mr. Grey's release.
Objections to an exchange
The solution of the Grey case by means of our
exchanging him for one or several of the newsworkers in
Hong Kong was not open to us. It became clear at an early
stage that a solution of this type was unacceptable to the
Chinese.
Repercussions for Hong Kong
the courtã pursowan
The premature release of the newswaskere would be
involved interference with the judicial process which might
have undermined local confidence in Hong Kong.+31
Would an exchange of the remaining prisoners in Hong Kong
facilitate the release of the twelve British subjects
detained by the Chinese?
The Chinese have consistently taken the line that in
their view these persons have offended against Chinese laws
and regulations and that their cases are being dealt with on
their merits. The Chinese have never made any suggestion
that the other British subjects are being held as hostages
for the Chinese still serving sentences in the Colony.
seems unlikely therefore that their releuae would help the
position of the other detained British subjects.
It
CONFIDENTIAL
/ Does the
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2
ses the release of Mr. Grey improve their chances of release?
The release of Mr. Grey has removed a serious obstacle
to the improvement of Sino-British relations. We hope that
this will lead to a further relaxation in relations.
Representations on behalf of British subjects
Representations by Note were made to the Chinese
authorities by our Mission in Peking about ten days ago in
the cases of all British subjecte detained in China.
Far Eastern Department
2 October, 1969.
CONFIDENTIAL
2
CONFIDENTIAL
APPENDIX B
Background Note
MR. ANTHONY GREY
Mr. Anthony Grey, Reutes correspondent in Peking, was
put under house arrest by the Chinese 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. patriotic newamen, the Chinese
Government had decided to limit the freedom of movement of
the Reuters correspondent in Peking until further notice".
This was a reference to the arrest of eight Chinese communist
journalists in Hong Kong of whom three were employees of the
N.C.N.... Seven, including two N.C.N.A. men, were fined on
5 August, 1967, and released; the remaining N.C.N.A.
reporter was sentenced to a term of imprisonment and released
in November, 1968. All these arrests in Hong Kong were for
offences committed during May/June 1967.
2. After Mr. Grey's arrest, thirteen other journalists and
newspaper workers, including several communists and an N.C.N.A.
correspondent, were detained in Hong Kong for offences under
Hong Kong laws and were convicted and sentenced to terms of
imprisonment. In December, 1968, the N.C.N.A. said that the
continued imprisonment of these men justified the Chinese in
continuing to hold Er. Grey. However, this and other N.C.N.A.
and Chinese Government statements refrained from committing
the Chinese to release Mr. Grey should the newspaper workers
/ in Hong Kong
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I
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in Hong Kong be freed.
In July this year the Chinese
Government indicated to us in London and Peking that when
all the Chinese newsworkers in Hong Kong were released from
detention, Mr. Grey's freedom of movement would be restored.
3.
At this point there were eleven newsworkers still
serving terms of imprisonment in Hong Kong (i.e. two of the
original thirteen having completed their sentences and released).
Subject to maximum remission of sentence for good behaviour the last of
the eleven newsworkers, Yong Chak, will have been
released on 3 October. The other ten prisoners were released
between September 2 and 12. In Wong Chak's case his sentence had been
reduced from five to three years in May this year on the recommendation
of the Hong Kong Frison Board of Review,
as part of a review of all sentences of more than four years
for offences connected with the 1967 disturbances. (Other
prisoners had their sentences reduced in the same review.)
4. Hr. Grey's conditione under house arrest were severe
Although in the last few months they improved slightly.
telephone was cut off in August, 1967, and apart from three
visits by our Mission his only contact has been with his guards
and servants. For most of the time he has been confined to one
room of his house and denied reading material except Chinese journals
(which he cannot read) and the Chinese English language
periodical Peking Review; the room was hot in summer and cold
in winter. Mr. Grey was allowed two periods of 40 minutes
exercise per day. At the time of the last visit by the Mission
in July this year, Mr. Grey's conditions had improved, with
/ access to
His
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- 2
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access to more rooms, longer exercise periods, access to his books and
he was allowed to listen to his radio
(including the BBC).
5. During Mr. Grey's detention, the Chinese allowed only three visits by
members of H.M. Mission, on 23 April,1968, by Sir Donald Hopson and Mr.
Weston lasting twenty minutes; on 26 November, 1968, by Mr. Fercy
Cradock and Mr. Roger Garside lasting twenty-five minutes;
and on 14 July this year by
Mr. John Denson and Mr. Roger Garside lasting forty minutes. These
visits were obtained after repeated requests by the Mission and the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office and were allowed in return for special
quasi-official visits to the Chinese newsworkers imprisoned in Hong
Kong.
6.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Mission in Peking made
repeated attempts to obtain Mr. Grey's release, an improvement in his
conditions and when necessary adequate
In August, 1967, the then Secretary of
Medical treatment.
State, Mr. George Brown, informed the Chinese Foreign Minister of his
readiness to try to arrange the release of the Chinese newsworkers in
prison in Hong Kong to China in return for an undertaking that kr. Grey
and other British subjects detained in China would be free to proceed to
the United Kingdom. The Chinese however never took up the offer. were
made to the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires in London by Foreign and
Commonwealth Office Ministers and senior officials about the case of Mr.
Grey (and the other British subjects
Representations
detained in China) on numerous occasions. Our Mission in Peking
also made frequent representations.
CONFIDENTIAL
- 3-
+
PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL
Dear Coun
RELEIVED IN
RG. TRY No.50
T 1969
FEC 124/1
Eleif (1057
Office of the British
Chargé d'Affaires,
Peking.
lazil
7 October, 1969.
The attached envelope contains notes which Anthony Grey was able to make
during the period of his detention. He has asked that you should keep
them for him until he is in a position to come and collect them himself.
He will telephone you after he gets back to the United Kingdom.
Youto
ints ever
Jonn
J. B. Denison
Colin Wilson, Esq.,
Far Eastern Department,
F.C.O.
PERSONAL A CONFIDENTIAL
CHURCH OF ENGLAND
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
General Secretary :
Canon J. R. Satterthwaite
Telephone: 01-928 4880
Elá
C.Wilson Est
RECT D IN
With Compliments
7.
21 OCT 1969
Fee isc
2
Pilace Court,
222, Lambeth Road,
London, S.E.I
*
COPY FOR: MR.C.WILSON
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE. CHURCH OF ENGLAND
Council on Foreign Relations
President: The Archbishop of Canterbury Vice-President: The Archbishop
of York Chairman: The Bishop of Winchester General Secretary: Canon J.
R. Satterthwaite
JRS/JDI.
PALACE COURT,
222 LAMBETH ROAD,
LONDON, S.E. I
Please address all communications to the General Secretary:
TELEPHONE: 01-928 4880
14th October, 1969.
My dear Reverend Mother,
On his return to England Mr.Anthony Grey heard that the Archbishop of
Canterbury had been remembering him in his prayers and also that he had
asked you and your Sisters to pray for his whilst Mr.Grey was under
house arrest in leking. In thanking the Archbishop he has also asked for
his sincere thanks to be sent to you and to the Sisters in the House of
Frayer, Burnham, Bucks.
The Revd.Mother SC., House of Frayer,
Burnham,
Bucks.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
John R.Satterthwaite.
tazelin
1056,
Ec 13c1,
14 October, 1969
ASX
a
The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary has asked me to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of 9 October and to thank you for your efforts
regarding Mr. Anthony Grey.
(Mrs. V. E. M. Hartles) Private Secretary
Kiss Helen Hutchison,
354 Cooper Street,
OTTAWA, 4.
1
Private Secretary
21 OCT 1969
Fee 130/1
MR. ANTHONY GREY
(~1054)
Mr Boyd 741/1
M
114/1
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ド
I was at London Airport on the morning of 12 October to welcome Kr. Grey
back. I took the opportunity to convey a message of greeting on behalf
of the Secretary of State in much the same terms as authorised in the
message sent to Peking. Mr. Grey asked me to thank the Secretary of
State again and added, entirely spontaneously, that he was extremely
grateful for the assistance of Kr. Denson and the members of his staff
and also for the help given to him by members of the High Commission in
Pakistan.
2. Hr. Cradock, who was also present, and I had a chance for a few words
with Mr. Orey later, but I need hardly say that we made no effort to
give him any instructions about what he should or should not say to the
press, This part of some of the reports which appear in this morning's
press seen to be pure
invention.
3. I was struck by the normalcy of Hr. Grey's condition. was clearly
determined not to rush into print on any aubject until he has had time
to sort things out in his own mind.
He
13/c
1
O.C.
Lord Shepherd
News Department
Par Eastern Department
(K.V. Wilford) 13 October. 1969
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I
1.
GA HI
T.S. 1/68 II
CONFIDENTIAL for musement
Third Draft 3/10/69
ANTHONY GREY CONTINGENCY PLAN
The last of the "newsworkers" left Stanley to-day. We hope that Anthony
Grey will be released soon.
2.
It is possible that we shall have no control over his movements after
his release. It is possible the Chinese may not let him leave China or
may expel him from China by a route of their choosing or that a decision
about the route will be taken in Peking by Anthony Grey himself. We are
doing what we can to see that he does not come to Hong Kong at all,
3.
If he does come to Hong Kong our arrangements will have to be made in
the light of the following four considerations:-
lition,
Anthony Grey's mental and physical condition and his own wishes;
(a)
(b)
the views of Reuters;
bi
21 OCT 1969
1052
(c) the need to treat him with humanity and
consideration;
(a) the need to get him out of the Colony as soon
as possible.
Immigration, health and travel arrangements
4.
It is very likely that he will have a valid British passport, either his
old one or a new one issued by the mission in Peking.
5.
So far as we know his health is reasonably good but it is unlikely that
he will have any inoculation certificates.
6.
We can assume that Reuters vill meet any expenses for his accommodation
and travel tickets. They will no doubt be available if necessary to do
any of the booking or other admin. work. They have a permanent
representat- ive here, Mr. Derek Round (Tel. No. H.93417). Mr. Doon
Campbell, Deputy General Manager, has arrived to advise Grey and look
after his arrangements.