-2-
BASED ON INCOMPLETE INFORMATION ALMOST ENTIRELY DERIVED FROM CHINESE
SOURCES: AS AN EXPERIENCED OBSERVER, WOULD HE NOT THINK IT RIGHT BEFORE
REACHING A FINAL VIEW AND BEFORE COMMITTING HIMSELF IN PUBLIC, TO LOOK
AT ALL ASPECTS OF THE CASE AND IN PARTICULAR TO DISCUSS THE HATTER FULLY
IN LONDON WITH THOSE IN REUTERS AND ELSEWHERE WHO WERE INVOLVED.
3. THIS SEEMS TO US A USEFUL APPROACH; AND, IF GREY IS DISPOSED TO BE
CRITICAL, WE SEE ADVANTAGE IN YOUR TAKING THE SAME LINE.
4. REUTERS ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE DANGER THAT, IF GREY WERE TO EXPRESS
THE VIEW PUBLICLY THAT COMMUNIST PRISONERS SHOULD BE PREMATURELY
RELEASED IN HONG KONG TO BRING ABOUT THE RELEASE OF OTHER BRITISH
SUBJECTS IN CHINA, THE CHINESE MIGHT WELL SEE THIS AS ENCOURAGEMENT TO
APPLY PRESSURE ON US ALONG THESE LINES. REUTERS RECOGNISE THAT THIS
WOULD NOT BE HELPFUL AND HAVE PROMISED TO
DO THEIR BEST TO ENSURE THAT GREY AVOIDS COMMENT, IN DISCUSSING
THE OTHER BRITISH SUBJECTS WITH GREY, WE THINK THAT YOU MIGHT
SAY THAT THE CHINESE HAVE NEVER LINKED THEM WITH HONG KONG BUT THAT,
WERE THE CHINESE TO RECEIVE ANY ENCOURAGEMENT THAT THEY COULD
USE THESE BRITISH SUBJECTS TO BARGAIN THE RELEASE OF COMMUNIST
PRISONERS IN HONG KONG, THIS COULD HARDLY FAIL TO LEAD TO FURTHER DELAY
IN SETTLING THEIR CASES: AND YOU HOPE THEREFORE THAT HE WILL
AVOID COMMENT ON THIS DELICATE MATTER.
5. YOUR PARAGRAPH 2. WE APPROVE WHAT YOU YOURSELF PROPOSE TO SAY TO THE
PRESS.
STEWART
FILES
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
NEWS DEPT CONSULAR DEPT MR.WILFORD
CONFIDENTIAL
хх
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No. FED
DEPARTMENT
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secree 1/10
Secret
Confidential
Restrict
Uncalled
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Clair Lode Cypher
Draft Telegram to:-
PRIORITY MARKINGS\(Date).....
Plash
Priority Rogethe
• Date and tinza (G.M.T.) telegram should
Mespatched
reach addressee(s)...
-----------|
it sofe
-----
드
CYPHER
Security classification]
-if any
[Secur
[
Privacy marking -if any
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
telegram No....
DERING
No.
344
And to
(Date)
And to:-
Repeat to:-
יזו---Iו וויזזיי
JULILL
]
محمد
11 repeated for information to
Hong Kong
Saving to:-
Distribution:-
II FILES
PED HKD
NEWS DEPT.
CONSULAR DEPT.
Copies to:-
18757. 181571/162
Saving to.....
CONFIDENTIAL
LL-
AMING
(date)
HONG KONG
1116.7
L
Your telegram No. 562 of 29 September 7: Grey.
We have been considering what advice you might
give to Grey about his contact with the press
outside China. We think that it would not be
smai fiesty
appropriate to ask him to refrain from public
criticism of HIG; but that it would be right for
you to impress on him the importance of not saying
anything which might make things even more
difficult for the other British subjects remaining
in detention in China.
2. We have discussed the whole matter with Reuters,
who have been giving thɗought to what their ow
representative should say to Grey. (They point out
that our interests are comparable to the extent that
cise
if Grey is địaposed to critig HMG for refusing the
premature release of the newsworkers, he will also
be critical of Reuters for not applying more
pressure
CONFIDENTIAL
pressure on us.
Their own major concern is that
Grey should not behave in such a way as to
restrict his possibilities in future employment
with them.)
They think that, since Grey had the
reputation as a journalist of being a fairly
detached and objective observer, the following
line might appeal to him. They would propose to
say that he has no doubt formed a view about how
his case has been handled and the duration of his
detention; that the view may be correct but is
necessarily based on incomplete information
almost entirely derived from Chinese sources;
an experienced observer, would he not think it
right before reaching a final view and before
committing himself in public, to look at all
aspects of the case and in particular to discuss
the matter fully in London with those in Reuters
und elsewhere who were involved.
3.
28
This seeme to us a useful approach;
and, if
Grey is disposed to be critical, we see advantage
in your taking the same line.
4.
Reuters are fully aware of the danger that,
if Grey were to express the view publicly that
communist prisoners should be prematurely released
in Hong Kong to bring about the release of other
tatjet
+
British rivenere in China, the Chinese might well
see this as encouragement to apply pressure on us
along these lines. Reuters recognise that this
would not be hel, ful and have promised to do their
coment
best to ensure that Grey avoids tie. In
discussing the other British subjects with Grey,
we think that you might say that the Chinese
0327 17 E W.& S., Ltd. (64m 3/67.
/have never
+
CONFIDENTIAL
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
WEEL S1-2466
+
CONFIDENTIAL
have never linked them with Hong Kong but that,
were the Chinese to receive any encouragement
that they could use these British subjects to
bargain the release of communist prisonera in
Hong Kong, this could hardly fail to lead to
further delay in settling their cases; and
you hope therefore that he will avoid comment
on this delicate matter.
5. Your paragraph 2. fe approve what you
yourself propose to say to the press.
Mr.%
CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PAWALPINDI
TOP COPY
PRIORITY DACCA
TO
TELEGRAM NUMBER $32
2 CCTOBER 1969
BEGINS
ADDRESSED TO PINDI TEL NO 532 OF 1 OCTOBER.
CONFIDENTIAL
DAVID LOSHAK FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT OF THE LONDON DAILY
TELEGRAPH ARRIVED IN DACCA FROM DELHI THIS MORNING. HE SAYS
HE IS HERE BECAUSE OF THE RECENT REUTERS REPORTS OF GROWING
TENSION IN E PAKISTAN. HE HAS NOT MENTIONED ANTHONY GREY
RELEASE STORY BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THIS IS THE REAL REASON
FOR HIS ARRIVAL.
ENDS.
MR. BAXTER
FILES
F.E.D.
S.ASIAN DEPT.
NEWS DEPT.
NNNNN
CONFIDENTIAL
1.2. 1971
995
CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY RAWALPINDI TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
UNNUMBERED
2 OCTOBER 1969
[RECEIVED UNDER RAWALPINDI TEL NO.532).
CONFIDENTIAL
FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM DACCA.
BEGINS.
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO RAWALPINDI TELEGRAM NO.527 OF 30 SEPTEMBER, REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO KARACHI.
DONALD SEAMAN, A SENIOR FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT WITH THE DAILY EXPRESS,
HAS ARRIVED IN DACCA. HE IS HERE TO COVER EVENTUALITY OF ANTHONY GREY
PASSING THROUGH THIS CITY AFTER HIS RELEASE
SEAMAN IS AND ACCOMPANYING HIM FOR REST OF JOURNEY HOME.
IN EVENT OF GREY BEING HANDED
ANXIOUS THAT CORRESPONDENTS OF OTHER NEWSPAPERS ARE NOT AWARE OF HIS
PURPOSE IN DACCA. HE SAYS MOST PAPERS ARE CONGRE- GATING THEIR REPORTERS
IN HONG KONG IN BELIEF THAT GREY WILL
BE TAKEN TO BORDER BY CHINESE. OVER TO OUR MISSION AND THEN BEING BOOKED
ON PIA AIRCRAFT, WE PRESUME PEKING WILL COPY ANY IMMEDIATE TELEGRAM TO
DACCA.
SMALLWOOD HAS MET EVERY PLANE FROM CHINA SINCE PEKINGS ALERT LAST MONTH
BUT AS PASSENGER LIST IS NEVER AVAILABLE WE CAN
ONLY SCRUT IN ISE PEOPLE WHO LEAVE PLANE DURING REFUELLING IT WOULD
GBVIOUSLY BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD BE FOREWARNED
THAT GREY IS ON AIRCRAFT.
ENDS,
Lu
UR. TWIST
FILE S:
F.E.D.
S. ASIAN DEPT
NEWS DEPT
&&&&
CONFIDENTIAL
p.c
994
+
CONFIDENTIAL
10% o
+
1993)
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
'ELEGRAM NUMBER 340
TO PEKING
1 OCTOBER 1969.
139/1.
(F.E.D.) FEC 13c1.
CONFIDENTIAL,
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 340 OF 1 OCTOBER REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO HONG KONG RAWALPINDI AND KARACHI
MY TELEGRAM NO 339 OF 30 SEPTEMBER: GREY.
११२
LONG SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE SUGGESTED THAT GREY
WAS IN REASONABLE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL SHAPE WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR THE
EVENTUALITY, ALBEIT REMOTE, THAT ON RELEASE HE MIGHT IN FACT BE IN A
STATE TO REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION.
2. MURRAY EXPLAINED THAT YOU WOULD BE ARRANGING FOR HIM TO BE EXAMINED
EXPERTLY, CERTAINLY BY THE MISSION NURSE AND POSSIBLY BY A LOCAL
(NON-CHINESE) DOCTOR. IF HE REQUIRED TREATMENT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE
WHETHER IT WAS BEST TO KEEP HIM IN THE MISSION IN PEKING FOR A FEW DAYS
OR TRY TO GET HIM OUT OF CHINA FOR TREATMENT ELSEWHERE. LONG WAS DULY
GRATEFUL FOR THIS. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD WELCOME OUR ADVICE ON WHERE
GREY COULD CONVENIENTLY RECUPERATE UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION, IF IT
SEEMED DESIRABLE THAT HE SHOULD DO SO BEFORE HIS ARRIVAL IN THE U.K.
WITH ALL THE STRAINS THAT THAT WOULD IMPOSE. THE NECESSARY MEDICAL
FACILITIES WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG. BUT GREY WOULD ATTRACT MUCH
ATTENTION THERE, AND TO KEEP HIM FROM BEING PESTERED BY THE PRESS WOULD
IMPOSE A BURDEN ON ALL CONCERNED. ACCORDINGLY LONG THOUGHT THERE MIGHT
BE SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR KARACHI AS A SUITABLE QUOTE NEUTRAL UNQUOTE
PLACE WHERE GREY MIGHT IF NECESSARY RECUPERATE FOR A FEW DAYS: BUT HE
WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE ADVICE OF OUR PEOPLE IN KARACHI ON THIS.
13. IT WOULD
P
CONFIDENTIAL
р.а
CONFIDENTIAL
2
3. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL THEREFORE IF THE DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER,
KARACHI, COULD DISCREETLY LOOK INTO THE QUESTION OF AVAILABLE FACILITIES
FOR MEDICAL CARE OF THIS KIND IN KARACHI, LEAST WE ARE ASKED URGENTLY BY
REUTERS FOR HELP IN ARRANGING THIS.
STEWART,
FILES
F.E.DEPT.
HONG KONG DEPT.
SOUTH ASIAN DEPT.
NNNNN
CONFIDENTIAL
+
XX
B
r
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No. FED
DEPARTMENT
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
JM 30/9
لجConfidenti
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Clair. Lode
Cyther
Drafy Telegram to:-
PEKING
340
No.
(Date) 1/10
And to:-
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date)...
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
Despatched
reach addressce(s).
------‒‒‒ -‒‒PI-IIIU IL
1324
1/70
Post------------+kt+ture-pure genike------------
CYBER
• Security if any [Secu
'Security classification"
ion]
[ Privacy marking ]
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
telegram No. 340
And to...
T
IT T‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒ILLII--- ---- FILILI-IL-----
CONFIDENTIAL
ATTA‒‒‒‒‒-----
PEXING
Thumppaakkkkan masalHobook---------lead
DIPLOJJLIIL L.
(date)
1 Oct
repeated for information to
HONG KONG,
RAWALPINDI
and
KARACHI
Repeat to:- HONG KONG 1 RAWALPINDI
KARACHI
Saving to:-
Distribution:- Fu
fa.D. H.M.D. S.A.D.
Copies to:-
Saving to.....
PILLA TOYOTA COROATIA
My telegram No. 339 of 30 September: Grey
Long said that although the available evidence
suggested that Grey was in reasonable physical and
mental shape we must be prepared for the eventuality,
albeit remote, that on release he might in fact be in
a state to require medical attention.
2.
Murray explained that you would be arranging for
him to be examined expertly, certainly by the mission
nurse and possibly by a local (non-Chinese) doctor.
If he required treatment, you would have to decide
whether it was best to keep him in the Mission in
Peking for a few days or try to get him out of China
for treatment elsewhere. Long was duly grateful for
this. He said that he would welcome our advice on
where Grey could conveniently recuperate under medical
supervision, if it seemed desirable that he should do a
before his arrival in the U.K. with all the strains
/ that
+
CONFIDENTIAL
that that would impose.
The necessary medical
facilities would be available in Hong Kong.
But Grey would attract much attention there, and
to keep him from being pestered by the press would
impose a burden on all concerned. Accordingly
Long thought there might be something to be said
for Karachi as a suitable "neutral" place where
of necessary Grey might recuperate for a few days; but he would
be grateful for the advice of our people in
Karachi on this.
3. It would be helpful therefore if the Deputy-
High Commissioner, Karachi, could discreetly look
into the question of available facilities for
medical care of this kind in Karachi, lest we are
asked urgently by Reuters for help in arranging
this.
decan
032717 E.W.65..Lx. 164m 3/67.
CONED ENTI AL
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER CAT A
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE,
TELEGRAM NUMBER 339.
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PEKING.
30 SEPTEMBER 1969.
(FE)
TOP COPY
993
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 339 OF 30 SEPTEMBER REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO HONG KONG RAWALPINDI KARACHI DACCA AND PHNOM PENH. HONG
KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 764 : GREY,
983!
IN DISCUSSION WITH MURRAY THIS MORNING LONG, GENERAL MANAGER OF REUTERS,
AGREED THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE DISCRETION TO ADVISE GREY ABOUT HIS RETURN,
BEARING IN MIND THE FOLLOWING:
(A) GREY'S HEALTH AND WISHES MUST BE THE PARAMOUNT CONSIDERATIONS.
(B) IF HIS HEALTH IS UP TO IT REUTERS NOW AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO
GET HIM BACK TO LONDON BY THE FASTEST AVAILABLE ROUTE OTHER THAN THROUGH
HONG KONG (OR MOSCOW).
(C) IF HOWEVER HE EXPRESSED A STRONG DESIRE TO COME THROUGH HONG KONG OR
IF THIS SEEMED TO YOU THE BEST WAY OF PROVIDING HIM WITH URGENTLY NEEDED
MEDICAL ATTENTION, HE SHOULD COME THROUGH HONG KONG. (D) IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT A SENIOR REUTERS REPRESENTATIVE (DOON CAMPBELL) SHOULD HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR A THOROUGH TALK WITH GREY
BEFORE HIS FIRST MEETING WITH THE PRESS AND SHOULD BE WITH HIM ON
HIS ARRIVAL IN LONDON, TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE SUCH AS TO ENSURE
THIS. REUTERS FEEL THAT ADVICE FROM CAMPBELL IS LIKELY TO BE
PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE WITH GREY,
2. CAMPBELL IS LEAVING TODAY FOR HONG KONG, WHICH IS IN ANY CASE THE
MOST CONVENIENT TRAVEL CENTRE. HE WILL WAIT THERE FOR YOUR REPORT ON
GREY'S MEDICAL CONDITION AND THE DECISION ON THE ROUTE, MEANTIME HE WILL
MAKE THE NECESSARY CONTINGENCY ARRANGEMENTS FOR JOINING UP WITH GREY IN
PAKISTAN. IF GREY COMES BY THE PAKISTAN ROUTE, REUTERS WOULD BE GRATEFUL
IF THE MEMBER OF YOUR STAFF COULD ARRANGE TO ACCOMPANY GREY AS FAR AS
KARACHI, EVEN IF CAMPBELL DOES IN THE EVENT DECIDE TO TRY TO COME TO
DACCA.
CONFIDENTIAL
13.
15/2
CONFIDENTIAL
-2-
3. REUTERS ARE NOW FIRMLY OF THE VIEW THAT YOU SHOULD ADVISE GREY NOT
REPEAT NOT TO SEE THE PRESS IN PEKING EVEN ON THE BASIS (PARAGRAPH 3 OF
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 562) THAT THEY DO NOT QUOTE ANY REMARKS HE MAKES
SEMICOLON AND THEY HAVE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT YOU CAN PREVAIL UPON THE
LOCAL PRESS CORPS TO LEAVE HIM IN PEACE, AND CAN ARRANGE THE NECESSARY
PROTECTION FOR HIM. THOUGH WE SYMPATHISE WITH YOUR DIFFICULTIES WE SHARE
THIS VIEW, AS LONG AS GREY REMAINS IN CHINA THERE IS ALWAYS THE RISK
THAT REMARKS ATTRIBUTED TO HIM BY THE PRESS MIGHT GIVE OFFENCE TO THE
CHINESE AND JEOPARDISE HIS EXIT VISA, YOU MIGHT IMPRESS ON HIM THAT THE
ONLY WAY TO ENSURE AGAINST THIS RISK IS TO AVOID ANY CONTACT WITH THE
LOCAL PRESS AND TO REFUSE PRESS TELEPHONE CALLS.
4. WE ARE REPLYING SEPARATELY TO PARAGRAPHS 4 AND 5 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO.
562.
STEWART
FILES
FAR EASTERN DEPT
HONG KONG DEPT CONSULAR DEPT NEWS DEPT
SIR S. TOMLINSON MR. WILFORD
CONFIDENTIAL
+
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
FE
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
* Date and tima (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressee(s)
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date)
JI
Top Secret
30/9
Despatched.
Confidential
Restricted Ungh
Fash Immediate
Fork Routine
}
Unclassified
30 531
-
+
----------|-|
!
-----------------LODIIL
ХХ
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Clair. Code Cypher
Draft Telegram to
PEKING рек No. 339
(Date) 30 Sept.
30.4
And to:-
Repeat to:-
HỒNG TRONG 18 Rawalpindi Kailchi - Dacka
Panga Pant
Saving to:-
[Security classification"]
-if any
[
Privacy marking -if any
1
[Codeword-if any].
Addressed to
CONFIDENTIAL
EEKING
(date) 30 chr
telegram No...
339
And to
repeated for information to
Rabalfundi Karachi, Daren
HONG KONG
Saving to
Grey.
IMMEDIATE)
and Place Reali
Hong Kong telegram No. 764 of 27 September 7:
In discussion with Murry this morning Long,
General Manager of Reuters, agreed that you should
have discretion to advise Grey about his return,
bearing in mind the following:
(a) Grey's health and wishes must be the paramount
consideration
(b)
If his health up to it
that
Distribution:-
Kilan
FE.S. 4.K. Consulat
Name
St. S. Tomlinson
Copies to:-