Fac 130|1
ANTHONY GREY.
MR. ANTHONY GREY, REUTERS CORRESPONDENT IN CHINA, WAS RELEASED FROM
HOUSE ARREST IN PEKING ON 4 OCTOBER. IT IS EXPECTED THAT HE WILL LEAVE
PEKING IN THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK AND RETURN TO
LONDON. MR. GREY HAS BEEN UNDER HOUSE ARREST SINCE 21 JULY 1967. FOR
MOST OF THAT TIME HE WAS CONFINED TO ONE ROOM.
2. THERE HAS BEEN A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS DURING
RECENT MONTHS MAINLY AT THE WORKING LEVEL ALTHOUGH THEY REMAIN POOR, WE
ARE HOPING THAT THE RELEASE OF GREY WILL LEAD TO A FURTHER IMPROVEMENT
IN OUR RELATIONS BUT DO NOT EXPECT ANY DRASTIC
DEVELOPMENTS. MOREOVER THERE ARE STILL TWELVE BRITISH SUBJECTS
DETAINED IN CHINA. (FOR DETAILS SEE HANSARD OF 23 JUNE: COLS 974-975.)
THE CHINESE HAVE CONSISTENLY TAKEN THE LINE THAT THESE
PEOPLE HAVE OFFENDED AGAINST CHINESE LAWS AND THAT THEIR CASES ARE
BEING DEALT WITH ON THEIR MERITS. WE HAVE REPEATEDLY MADE
REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE TWELVE (MOST RECENTLY WITHIN THE PAST TWO
WEEKS) BUT HAVE MADE NO PROGRESS.
3. THE HISTORY OF THE ARREST.
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
NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY PATRIOTIC NEWSMEN, THE CHINESES GOVERNMENT HAVE
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
EMPLOYED BY THE NCNA, IN AUGUST 1967, SEVEN OF
THE MEN
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
-2-
THE MEN WERE FINED AND RELEASED: ONE NCNA REPORTER WAS IMPRISONED
AND RELEASED IN NOVEMBER 1968.
4. AFTER MR. GREY'S ARREST, MORE JOURNALISTS AND NEWSPAPER WORKERS,
INCLUDING AN NCNA CORRESPONDENT, WERE ARRESTED IN HONG KONG AND WERE
SENTENCED TO TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT. IN DECEMBER 1968, THE NCNA SAID THAT
THE CONTINUED IMPRISONMENT OF THESE MEN JUSTIFIED THE CHINESE IN
CONTINUING TO HOLD MR. GREY.
5. THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCHANGING MR. GREY FOR ONE OR SEVERAL OF THE
DETAINED NEWSWORKERS WAS NEVER OPEN TO US. IN FACT, IT BECAME CLEAR AT
AN EARLY STAGE THAT A SOLUTION OF THIS TYPE WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO THE
CHINESE.
6. HOWEVER, IN JULY THIS YEAR, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT INDICATED TO US IN
LONDON AND PEKING THAT IF ALL THE CHINESE NEWS WORKERS WERE RELEASED IN
HONG KONG, MR. GREY'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WOULD BE RESTORED.
7. AFTER VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, IT WAS DECIDED THAT PREMATURE
RELEASE IN HONG KONG OF THE NEWSWORKERS COULD NOT BE ALLOWED AS IT WOULD
INVOLVE INTERFERENCE IN HONG KONG'S JUDICIAL PROCESS AND UNDERMINE LOCAL
CONFIDENCE.
8. AT THIS POINT THERE WERE ELEVEN NEWSWORKERS STILL IN PRISON IN HONG
KONG. HOWEVER, WITH MAXIMUM REMISSION OF SENTENCE FOR GOOD BEHAVIOUR THE
LAST OF THE ELEVEN, WONG CHAK, WAS RELEASED ON 3 OCTOBER. IN MAY THIS
YEAR HIS SENTENCE WAS REDUCED TO THREE YEARS ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE HONG KONG PRISON 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 HAVE ALSO HAD THEIR SENTENCES REDUCED).
9. MR. GREY'S TREATMENT.
MR. GREY'S CONDITIONS UNDER HOUSE ARREST WERE SEVERE ALTHOUGH
RESTRICTED
/IN THE
זיי
I
RESTRICTED
FCO TELEGRAM NO. 201 GUIDANCE
-3-
IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THEY IMPROVED SLIGHTLY, HIS 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. IN JULY THIS YEAR, HIS
CONDITIONS WERE IMPROVED, WITH ACCESS TO MORE ROOMS, LONGER EXERCISE
PERIODS, ACCESS TO HIS BOOKS, AND PERMISSION TO LISTEN TO HIS RADIO
(INCLUDING THE B B C).
19. DURING MR. GREY'S DETENTION, THE CHINESE HAVE ALLOWED ONLY THREE
VISITS BY MEMBERS OF H.M. MISSION. NONE LASTED LONGER THAN
40 MINUTES. THEY WERE OBTAINED ONLY AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS BY
THE MISSION AND THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND WERE ALLOWED
IN RETURN FOR SPECIAL VISITS TO THE CHINESE NEWS WORKERS IMPRISONED
IN HONG KONG.
11. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PARAGRAPHS 2, 5 AND 7, THE WHOLE OF THIS GUIDANCE
MAY BE USED FREELY. PARAGRAPHS 2, 5 AND 7 CAN BE USED
UNATTRIBUTABLY,
STEWART.
BY TELEGRAPH:
BONN
BRUSSELS
COPENHAGEN
THE HAGUE
VIENNA
UKMIS NEW YORK BIS NEW YORK
WASHINGTON
BAGHDAD
BEIRUT
STRASBOURG UKOEL. ALGIERS
OSLO
PARIS
ROME
BELGRADE
BERNE
DUBLIN
HELSINKI
STOCKHOLM
CAIRO
KHARTOUM
RABAT
ADDIS ABABA
MOGADISHU
MONROVIA
FCO/WHITEHALL DISTRIBUTION
GUIDANCE D.
CAPE TOWN PRETORIA
KATHMANDU
PHNOM PENH
RANG OON
POLAD SINGAPORE
TOKYO
VIENTIANE
OTTAWA
CANBERRA
WELLINGTON
NE DELHI
[ALL PRIORITY]
RAWALPINDI COLOMBO
KUALA LUMPUR SINGAPORE
DAR ES SALAAM KAMPALA
NAIROBI LUSAKA MAURITIUS
GOV. HONG KONG POLAD HONG KONG RIO HONG KONG
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION GUIDANCE
RESTRICTED
I
·
EN CLAIR
IMMEDIATE
IMMEDIA TE
HONG KONG
R
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 189 TO PEKING
-8 OCT 1969-
7 OCTOBER 1969
UNCLASSIFIED
EC 174.
ADDRESSED PEKING TELEGRAM 169 OF 7 OCTOBER RFI FCO. FOLLOWING FOR
ANTHONY GREY FROM CAMPBELL, REUTERS, BEGINS 1- TONY, IT WOULD HELP OUR
PLANNING TO KNOW IN ADVANCE IF YOU HAVE VIEWS ABOUT STOPPING OVER IN
KARACHI OR GOING STRAIGHT THROUGH TO LONDON, PERSONALLY I FEEL A BREAK
AT KARACHI IS DESIRABLE AS IT IS A LONG AND TIRING FLIGHT AND BESIDES IT
WOULD GIVE US A CHANCE TO DISCUSS SEVERAL MATTERS OF PRIME INTEREST TO
YOU IN MORE RELAXED CONDITIONS. IT WOULD ALSO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO MAKE
PERSONAL TELEPHONE CALLS TO ENGLAND. WHAT I HAD IN MIND WAS A 24 OR 48
HOURS STOPOVER DURING WHICH YOU WOULD BE AS EFFECTIVELY QUARANTINED FROM
NEWSMEN AND CAMERA CREWS AS REUTER COLLEAGUES AND I COULD MANAGE. WE
COULD THEN FLY ON TO LONDON EITHER DIRECT OR BY SOME OTHER ROUTE ON
SATURDAY OR SUNDAY. ALTERNATIVELY IF YOU WANT TO GO STRAIGHT THROUGH TO
LONDON ON THE PIA FLIGHT I PLAN TO JOIN YOU. PROVISIONAL ARRANGEMENT IS
THAT NICHOLAS MOORE KARACHI STAFFER WILL MEET YOU AT DACCA AND FLY ON TO
KARACHI, IN LONDON A CONCENTRATION OF PRESS AT THE AIRPORT IS INEVITABLE
AND FEEL TOO YOU BETTER PREPARED FOR THAT AFTER SUGGESTED KARACHI
SESSION. BESTEST, DOON,
ENDS.
SIR D. TRENCH
FILES
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
CONLUL. D.
NEWS D.
MR. WILFORD
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
:
TOP COPY
EN CLAIR
IMMEDIATE PEKING
ELKO.601
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
7 OCTOBER, 1969
UNCLASSIFIED
ADDRESSED TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO.601 OF 7 OCTOBER RFI
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, KARACHI AND DACCA.
MY TEL NO.598.
(14)
A F.V
***
R
- 8 OCT 1969
長
Ee 13611
EXIT VISAS RECEIVED AND BOOKINGS HAVE NOW BEEN MADE.
WE ARE STILL ONLY TELLING PRESS ENQUIRERS (APART FROM REUTERS)
THAT WE EXPECT MR GREY TO LEAVE SOMETIME THIS WEEK.
MR. DENSON
FILES
F. EASTERN DEPT.
NEWS DEPT.
HONG KONG DEPT. CONS. DEPT.
GGGGG
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
EN CLAIR
INMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO 599 7 OCTOBER, 1969
UNCLASSIFIED
ADDRESSED TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO,599 OF 7 OCTOBER
TOP COPY
RI
Гризра
- 8 OCT 1969
FEC 130/1k
PLEASE PASS FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM GREY TO BRIAN HORTON, REUTERS.
BEGINS.
THANKS YOUR MESSAGE WHICH GIVES JUST KIND OF GUIDANCE REQUIRED
ON HOUSE STAFF ETC. I SHALL PAY WAGES FOR OCTOBER TO THREE
STAFF TELLING THEM THEY REMAIN EMPLOYED UNTIL THEY HEAR
OTHERWISE. REGULAR RENT DEMAND FOR FINAL QUARTER THIS YEAR
HAS ARRIVED AND WILL PAY THIS LEAVING REUTERS IN POSSESSION
OF HOUSE AND ITS CONTENTS UNTIL YEAR END. THUS I LEAVE PEKING
WITH ALL OPTIONS OPEN.
I SHALL ASK CHINESE AUTHORITIES IN WRITING TO ALLOW BRITISH
MISSION TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY PAYMENTS ETC ON OUR BEHALF IN
ABSENCE OF A CORRESPONDENT MEANWHILE ARRANGEMENTS PROCEEDING
FOR DEPARTURE THURSDAY FROM SHANGHAI TO DACCA KARACHI ETC.
TODAY I RECEIVED MESSAGE FROM DOON CAMPBELL ABOUT PLANNING
HOMEWARD JOURNEY, STOPPING OVER IN KARACHI, TELL HIM, SEEMS
GOOD IDEA TO ME. I FAVOUR ANYTHING THAT SOFTENS THE FINAL
CRUNCH AT LONDON AIRPORT.
/AY
-2-
**
MY DECISION TO DELAY DEPARTURE FROM TUESDAY TO THURSDAY IS
PROVING TO BE GOOD ONE AS I AM FEELING MORE MY NORMAL SELF
WITH EACH PASSING DAY, IT IS PROVISIONALLY PLANNED THAT MEMBER
OF MISSION HERE WILL ACCOMPANY ME AS FAR AS KARACHI BUT CAMPBELLS
SUGGESTION THAT NICHOLAS MOORE MEETS ME IN DACCA IS ALSO GOOD
ONE.
FRUST YOU WILL KEEP MOTHER CLOSELY INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS
AND ASSURE HER THE DELAY IN DEPARTURE IS MY IDEA AND IS HELPING
MY READJUSTMENT GREATLY.
! AMIN GOOD SPIRITS AND HEALTH. THANKS FOR ALL THE CONSIDERATION
AND SYMPATHETIC PLANNING, REGARDS TO ALL.
ENDS.
MR. DENSON
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.EAST. DEPT.
NEWS DEPT.
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
RE E
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE PEKING
IN
TO FOREIGN AND CORMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 598
7 OCTOBER 1969.
- 8 OCT 1969
FEC 13C
NFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO. 598 OF 7 OCTOBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION
IMMEDIATE TO HONG KONG KARACHI AND DACCA.
MY TELNO. 593.
1024
CZECH DOCTOR HAS NOW SEEN GREY. HE SAYS HE IS PHYSICALLY NORMAL AND
PHSYCHOLOGICALLY BETTER THAN HE IMAGINED HE WOULD BE. HE NEVERTHELESS
BELIEVES IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO COMPLETE PROCESS OF HIS RETURN TO
NORMAL LIFE. MEANWHILE HE NEEDS QUIET, SLEEP AND GOOD FOOD. IT WOULD BE
BEST IF HE WAS NOT CONFRONTED BY TOO MANY PEOPLE BUT DESIRABLE FOR HIM
TO HAVE SOMEONE WITH HIM.
2. OUR NURSE WAS PRESENT WITH THE DOCTOR AND HAS GIVEN GREY AND WALDEN
FIRST CHOLERA INJECTIONS. BOTH GREY AND WALDEN HAVE HAD SMALLPOX
VACCINATIONS WITHIN LAST THREE YEARS.
3. REUTERS FROM TOKYO HAVE JUST TELEPHONED A MESSAGE FROM DON CAMBELL TO
GREY SUGGESTING THAT IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE FOR HIM TO STOP OVER IN
KARACHI. GREY HAS READILY AGREED TO THIS AND WILL (GP OMITTED ? KEEP) IN
TOUCH WITH HORTON AND TOKYO. I AM SURE THIS IS THE RIGHT DECISION AND
WILL ENABLE REUTERS AND THEIR MEDICAL ADVISERS THERE TO ASSESS HOW GREY
IS STANDING UP TO THE JOURNEY
AND IN PARTICULAR WHETHER THEY REALLY WISH TO SUBMIT HIM TO A
PRESS CONFERENCE ON ARRIVAL IN LONDON.
4. MFA HAVE GRANTED VISA AND WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE GREY'S FROM
PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU THIS AFTERNOON. I SHALL TELEGRAPH AS SOON
AS FIRM BOOKINGS HAVE BEEN MADE.
FCO PASS IMMEDIATE KARACHI AND DACCA,
MR. DENSON.
/REPEATED AS REQUESTED ALSO REPEATED PRIORITY TO
FILES
F. EASTERN D.
H.K.D.
NEWS D.
CONS. D.
MR. WILFORD
WASHINGTON FOR MURRAY/
CONFIDENTIAL
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
E
EN CLAIR
PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TOP COPY
Je pa 13410
ALNO 597
7 OCTOBER, 1969
UNCLASSIFIED
- 8 OCT 1969
FEAR. 134.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 347.
GREY HAS ASKED ME TO PASS YOU THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE.
BEGINS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND MESSAGE.
EVERYBODY AT MISSION HERE BEING ENORMOUSLY KIND, SMOOTHING THE
WAY BACK TO NORMALITY FOR ME.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
ENDS.
MR. DENS ON
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
CONS DEPT.
(1027
EN CLAIR
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO 595
UNCLASSIFIED
7 OCTOBER, 1969
RECE'V
IN
RC
ว
- 8 OCT 1969
TEC 120/2
1
работно
TOT COPY
A. GREY, 16 MALVERN
PLEASE PASS FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO MRS. A. GREY,
ROAD, NORWICH, AND TO MISS SHIRLEY MCGUINN, 57 YORK STREET
LONDON W.1.
1026
TAKING THINGS EASY WITH GOOD FRIENDS WHILE PREPARATIONS GO
-
AHEAD FOR MY DEPARTURE LATER IN THE WEEK, WILL LET YOU KNOW
EXACT TIME WHEN BOOKINGS ETC. ARE COMPLETED.
WITH LOVE, TONY.
MR. DENSON
PILES
F.E.D.
CONS DEPT.
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 357
Ad0
Maja 14,o jozs
d0
· TO PEKING
7 OCTOBER 1969. (F.E.D.) FEC
neli
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 357 OF 7 OCTOBER REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO KARACHI.
PLEASE PASS FOLLOWING TO GREY FROM HORTON, REUTERS. BEGINS.
UNDERSTAND YOU GOT CAMPBELL'S MESSAGE ABOUT KARACHI STOP-OVER
AND THAT YOU HAVE AGREED. PERSONALLY THINK THIS IS VERY WISE
DECISION. ALSO FULLY SUPPORT YOUR VIEW NOT REPEAT HOT TO SAY ANYTHING
ABOUT CONFINEMENT PERIOD AT THIS STAGE. AS CAMPBELL STATED THERE IS
BOUND TO BE CONSIDERABLE PRESS ATTENTION AT DACCA STOP-OVER AND KARACHI
AND WE HOPE TO HAVE COLLEAGUE, PROBABLY NICHOLAS MOORE, JOINING PLANE AT
DACCA TO HELP CONTROL SITUATION, MISS MCGUINN HAS OFFERED TO COME OUT TO
KARACHI DURING STOP-OVER
THERE AND FLY BACK WITH YOU TO LONDON. IF YOU THINK THIS GOOD IDEA
WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS THIS END. GRATEFUL LET
ME KNOW SOONEST. AT KARACHI DOON CAMPBELL AND IAN MACDOWALL WILL
MAKE ARRANGEMENTS AND WHILE IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO AVOID ANY PRESS
COVERAGE WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO KEEP THIS TO ABSOLUTE MINIMUM AND
SUGGEST QUOTE HELLO-GOODBYE UNQUOTE TECHNIQUE YOU USED WITH AFP
IN PEKING MAY BE BEST SOLUTION. BEST REGARDS, ENDS,
STEWART
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
4
NEWS DEPT.
CONFIDENTIAL
4
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressco{s}.
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
EFFE
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS
Top Secret
Sacass-
Confidential
Restricte
Unchastfed
(Date)......
Despatched
stef
-Routing-
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"
·
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Confidential
------------‒‒‒JILIZIJI----
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Code Cypher
PRIVACY MARKING
[Sect
"Security classification"
In Confidence
-En-Clair.
[
Privacy marking -if any
]
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
HA+Mattiunturod
Peking
Studiorun-divincita pampapa---------relate
7 Octatre
(date)
And to
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TOTIČurd|--Þ
Praft Telegram to:-
XX PEISING
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
No. 357
telegram No. 3.57
(Date) 7 October repeated for information to
And to:-
Repeat to:-
Kangelin
Saving to
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Plexes
pass flowing
Beguin.
to Grey from
Horton, Reuters.
you got Campbell's
Understand
about
Karschi
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message
have
agreed.
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and
that
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think
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Distribution:-
to
Dept-
say any ming
about confinement
F.E. News
period
ar
this stage.
As Campbell
म्ह
7/10
14252 21101691
Copies to:-
stated
there
is
borimal
to be
at
Dacea
attention
Considerable
press
Karachi
Oval
We
stop-
And
hope
to
have
colleague,
probably
Nicholas
Nich das
Moore, joining plane
at Dasca
to
help control
citatioú.
Min McGuinn has
Karmalin during
offered
to
Come
out
to
stop-
there
and
fly
back with
to
London.
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If you
Minch this
good
idea
evonhar
to make
arrangements
know
Guareful
Karachi
Doon Campbell
MacDowall
And
avoid any