forple

be attaing

the Chinese

possessions,

their

for the return of all her

in the event of

rejecting this proposal

on the grounds that all had bee

tat

anted her if

banced

narrowing down

to our

She lagree

request to

those items (eg. the English paintings)

in which the Chinese could have

Sedin

She agreed,

When

no pas

interent?

которо

to we took her

asked whether,

stage Iother and

if need be and

if the

The cloice arose

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

TAH GRZ MODS'I GASTGE "PO (1120)

Registry

No.

IRITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret,

Secre

Confidential.

DRAFT

To:-

Type 1 +

From

Telephone No. & Ext.

Restricted.

Unelassified,

PRIVACY MARKING

LJL--.LI..

..In Confidence

she named be prepared to

us puit

pulting more

Department

emphasis

to see

the

he personal jewellery,

we that taken from her on

retrieval

+

трак

ürparticular

arvest,

eva "if

if this were

to detrac

atute expense

fo from

бы

more general apporrach

артам

Again

the agreed.

3. We moved therefore add the following gloss to para. If a

telegram no. 253.

It seems matt

unlikely

their

tur Martin

that the Chinese will rescind verbal sentence of

Lanfiscation

profety (the confined yesterday that the

had been

can fold that all he possessions

& that he Chinese

were confiscated used this satence

her jewels

jewels)

to justify their retention of and that when the subject

and

is next raised the Commmen Department

formally

may confirm that

passed according

Although, then,

1

Дерамин

a contence

to hire

the legal forcess.

would doodly

like

to

get our word in

before

this happens

it

be that we shall

may

be dated back to

for

a

the

more limited defective on

less solid grounds of

•humanitarion

know!

crysiderdia. You shack to

The tat/ forced to adopt the there took

more defensive apprrace from grounds of "humanitation consideration "

thred putting

por

Mus Morlin's mase

with a McBaina of

were imenitalde, Mrs. Martin

this

would

not find it

hro

Whilst

We

woned

играватки, frid regard it

a torns (and I said as much to

Jansen, MA Marlin's repres) if the

Chinate wee

prepared

a simple store.

to

part with

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

1

30 14/1)

COERIDENTI

Far Eastern Departaent

2 July, 1970

NoBain and Joellers

In your telegram No. 330 on 9 May you asked for the lekground on the
Chinese dispute with Hoellers. Tony Lambert (who has just come into the
Department) has done some research and I enclose a copy of his mimte.
When you have seen it you will realise that we are far from being able
to indicate what MMG's attitude (if any) to the dispute might bei I send
you this for the meantime simply as an indication that in our opinion
Moellers can have not the slightest justification for alleging that
McBain was not their agent.

2. Connie Martin came in to see us yesterday and confirmed this quite
categorically. She said that up to the very time of their arrest
Moellers paid Mobain's salary through the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank
every month, and had also put at the disposal of his wife a Moellers
flat in Hong Kong.

(P. J. Roberts)

po

J. N. Allan, Esq.,

PEKING.

Cory to:

C. J. Nowells, Esq.. HoLa Toni

OR. 87

75,

(HDI) DA. 301999- 1,500 249 Be.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Type 1 +

From

PEC 14/1

Registry No.

PRITY CLASSIFICATION

Fog Secret.

Sepat

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unalteified.

PRIVACY MARKING

L

In Confidence

DRAFT

To:-

James Allan

PEKING

Howels H.K.

P

McBain & Movers

Telephone No. & Ext.

Department

the Mo

with Firers.

ha's just come

quan tel: wo. 330

|

your

you asked

for

не

On

& Ma

he background on

Chinese dispute

Lamber (who

Terny

ühe

te

Departas)

has done

and I

sone

refea_ch

enclose

copy of & his minute. When

性し

you

name

Sean

it

You will redite for from being able

that we are no sost

forside ma

tapositio

на

to

indicate what

H.M.G's attitud

(it an

1

might be to the dripparte

I send

sough

रु

as

ཚིད་ ལྷག དག་ཅེས་

tus

for

the meantine

+

indicati's That

Xumers

not the slightest judification

ما

for alleging that Mebain was not

their agent.

2.

to see

Connie Thantin

came in

yesterday & confined

this quite categorically. She

said that up

to he

of their arrest

rem

tive

umers paid

the

Mobain's salary through Hung Kay Shaugh. But

every

worth

, and h

had

в

also

disposal of his wife a

in tung krig.

Put at the

rivers flat

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

FRC="14/1

I

C

.].

handed to PED

Mrs. Martin's lift of possessions left. in Shanghai

Sirly 1970.

pm. pr.

14

Jewellery

1 Diamond of falarining wordding

| Sougeurs diamant co

I fade & gold bangle

معلمة

Engageque

Schon oth

one at the

promenil to be ruture of

(inshouan at Lane 1522 Foux 20 Hankins, Rood Lead)

Godiamond patarinum barbrooch

-

I diamond & platerum dorist watch I fair diamond cluster wearing. I
faile & gold foundland on gold chains 2 Cultured fecal mecklaecro I got
a game dragonfly breach I prain special to gola cavings

<}etnཕcvt+nག

I gold wedding ring (ony amrithan's)

(in wardrobe in any

bedrooms a înuciille droux's of draug Clothes (write cummy's)

(right side)

1 I'm Lund box in abdic containing

Hord

scenter

Clothes

Summer Clothes in wardrobe in my bedroom

Eat

I tong Silver fox for cont

1(3/4 length) Squish for cont

|

·

I

+

1

:

U

1

/ Blackwood øcreen inlaut with blue wokita

porcsiain falaques (packed up in shanting in cistic box noom)

Living Room (ground floor)

2 blackwood long converans I ret

of 3 blackwood tea poys

1 Grandmaster clock in mahogany came

I amat blockwered folding to the

! All pictures including 2 English writer colours of

sacking shipers

of one of

a duck (ou). There fuctures. as well as several oners with broken Glass
& frances

2 in 3 without frames

spations in athic box room f

Qui Klass va

w box in aman's room in attic. qood & were

left by my father to all our family. All blur white vasers, 2 coul?
carved beutelhac an

i blackwoord band's, 2 redt omali plaser

on blushwood, ribands

2 small blues, white Oning pancitum plates

affands (There in brandnote on 120

a and

búchwood

^ with other small orna flow right bedroom) I long will glows case of
commil and glass verses' a susit All brongę renaments

4

washers

dishers

I

Cutlerst

of eclver in blachusood, glass cobenet.

обал All good beci a Fathe linen, some mayud "C.M"

соби

:

Blue

Polux blankets blum servered feather pillows,

Live set of good. Surtim ruzə

Sumath Furton

Even with

king.

I langs

22

small in art

my mother's Puthern niches Jakso Rothers I of hyp feren Pryding which I
would like to be put in the Tripps Ramos crum we than of Rh fhewan
velonging to a found in houston.

& wontollak

:

F

I

t

י

.†

N

small Tientsin ruga

Urn with my Mother's and Father's ashes

-

also 2 Others, 1 of

Mrs. Jessie Bryden which I would like to be put in the Tsingpao

Crematorium and one of Mr. Thomson belonging to a friend in London.

JEWELLERY

1

Diamond and platinum wedding ring

Taken off ne at the

1

Solitaire diamond and platinum engagement ring) prison and

1

Jade and gold bangle

promised to be returned

(in house at Lane 1522, House 20, Nanking Road West)

+

1

9-diamond and platinum bar brooch

1

diamond and platinum wrist watch

1

pair diamond cluster earrings

1 jade and gold pendant on gold chain

2

cultured pearl necklaces

gold and jade dragonfly brooch

1 pair pearl and gold earrings

1

gold wedding ring (my mother's)

(in wardrobe in my bedroom and middle drawer of dressing-table in

(in wardrob

bathroom)

Clothes (winter and summer)

↑ tin-lined box in attic (right side) containing winter

clothes

Summer clothes in wardrobe in my bedroom

1

long Silver fox fur coat and hat

Three-quarter length Squirrel fur coat

1

MRS. MARTIN'S PROPERTY

Blackwood screen inlaid with blue and white porcelain plaques (packed up
in sheeting in attic boxroom).

Living Room (ground floor)

2 blackwood long mirrors

1

set of 3 blackwood tea poys

1

Grandmother clock in mahogony case

1

small blackwood folding table.

All pictures including 2 English water colours of sailing ships

and one of a duck (shot). These pictures as well as several more

with broken glass and frames upstairs in attic boxroom and 2 or

3 without frames in box in amah's room in attic. All these are

good and were left by my father to all our family.

All blue and white vases

2 coral (?) carved buddhas on blackwood stands

i

2

red small plates on blackwood stands

2 small blue and white Ming porcelain plates on blackwood

stands (these latter in wardrobe on 1st floor right

bedroom with other small ornaments)

long cut glass vase and small cut glass vases and sweet

dishes

All bronze ornaments

Cutlery and silver in blackwood glass cabinet

All good bed and table linen, some marked "C.V."

Blue blankets and blue covered feather pillow

Two sets of good Tientsin rugs 1 large and 2 small in a set

/over

+

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

73

PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 432

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 2 JULY 1970

CONFIDENTIAL ADDRESSED F C O TELNO 432 OF 2 JULY R FI PEKING

22

YOUR TELEGRAM 253 TO PEKING.

FC

MRS.CONSTANCE MARTIN.

THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK WOULD PREFER TO DISENGAGE THEMSELVES AND
SUGGEST THAT THE CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE MIGHT BE PROPOSED AS MRS.MARTIN'S
AGENTS IN THIS MATTER,

(F CO PS PASS PRIORITY TO PEKING)

Late to Xv. Jane an

SIR D. TRENCH

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

317

DEPARIMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.E.D.

CONS. DEFT.

CLAINS DEPT

HONG KONG DEFT.

GGGGG

CONFIDENTIAL

1

Γ

CYPER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELFORAM NUMBER 253

TO PEKING

30 JUNE. 1970 (FED)

FEC 4/1

(12)

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 253 OF 33 JUNE REPEATED

FOR INFORMATION TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG.

LS

5

YOUR TELEGRAMS NO. 330 AND 444.

64

میبرم

P8.47

WE SEE LITTLE POINT IN REITERATING DAVIES'S PROTEST AT THE

CONFISCATION OF MCBAIN'S PROPERTY, BUT WHILE AWAITING A CHINESE
EXPLANATION REGARDING THAT OF MRS. MARTIN, WE SHOULD LIKE TO TAKE

OUR ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN THEIR PERSONAL JEWELLERY A STAGE FURTHER.

WE THINK IT POSSIBLE TO DRAW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE ALLEGEDLY

LEGAL CONFISCATION OF HOUSEHOLD CHATTELS, AND THE CARELESS OR VIN-
DICTIVE RETENTION OF PERSONAL TRINKETS, SUBJECT TO YOUR AGREEMENT,
THEREFORE, WE SHOULD LIKE YOU TO MAKE THE MFA AWARE, IN THE COURSE OF
OTHER BUSINESS (SEE PARA 2.) AND IN LOW-KEY BUT EXPLICIT TERMS,

THAT WE ARE SURPRISED AT THE SHANGHAI AUTHORITIES' FAILURE TO

RETURN THE PERSONAL JEWELLERY TAKEN FROM MRS. MARTIN AND MCBAIN, IN
SPITE OF PROMISES MADE AT THE TIME OF REMOVAL. ON ARREST, MRS. MARTIN
WAS WEARING A PLATINUM WEDDING RING WITH DIAMONDS, A BLUE-WHITE
SOLITAIRE DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING, AND A JADE AND GOLD BRACELET, WHILST
MCBAIN HAD ON A SIGNET RING AND A WATCH. YOU COULD ADD THAT WE RESERVE
ENTIRELY OUR POSITION ON THE

CONFISCATION OF MCBAIN'S OTHER POSSESSIONS BUT THAT IN THE MEANTIME

WE FEEL OBLIGED TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES

TO AN UNTYPICAL INSTANCE OF APPARENT THEFT OR NEGLIGENCE WHICH WAS

NOT TO OUR KNOWLEDGE RELATED TO THE CONFISCATION, AND TO EXPRESS

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