RECEIVED IN
Fec 14/1
Dear Captain Kerby,
As a nephew of Mrs. Constance Martin, aged 72, arrested in Shanghai last
October I am writing to you personally for assistance. Other members of
the family, as well as myself, have kept in constant touch with the
Foreign Office, who have been most helpful. Attempts have been made by
senior officials, including Lord Shepherd, to obtain information from
the Chinese Legation but to no avail. Whilst, as you will obviously
understand, the Foreign Office do not wish to be named they have been
asking relatives to obtain as much publicity as possible regarding this
inexplicable arrest. It is agreed that the Chinese still have some
respect for
old age and they will not wish to have adverse publicity regarding
either my aunt or Mr. William McBain, 82, arrested at the same time.
Mr. Clinton Jansen, also a nephew, joined me in a visit to the Chinese
Legation on Monday, 12th January.
We decided, as a beginning, to be courteous and polite, merely enquiring
why my aunt had been arrested and other obvious questions. The response
was a complete blank but we maintained courtesies throughout. Late the
same day a further visit was made to the Foreign Office and we agreed to
maximum publicity.
I made a statement to the Press Association, which appeared in the Times
and the Guardian. The B.B.C. interviewed ms and This war keinolaat Hi
Tukey Herities THIN&THINH HHUN
the Nagorian War. Wo lava La been too occupied with the end of
ไทย koop the 'pot boiling' and I am appealing to you to say some- thing
in public which the press can roport.
·
Continued.......
..
2
1
I wrote to Sir Alec Douglas-Home, for personal reasons, but he was just
leaving for United States. He said he would try to say something.
I have spoken to the press on several occasions but they are obviously
not sufficiently interested to give any publicity to the detention of
these elderly British subjects beyond minor reports.
Should anything happen to either of them the press would make headline
news of it. This knowledge makes one feel very opposed to current
attitudes of journalists and for that matter the B.B.C. and Independent
T.V.
Can you help?
Yours sincerely,
thanthi tepp
M. Kepple
I
ᅥ
I
L
(FSC 14/1)
CONFIDENTIAL
Far Eastern Department
28 January, 1970
حداد
6
Mr. William McBain
Please refer to Arthur Maddooks' letter BCR/1/1167/55 of 13 January to
James Murray warning us that Bill Mobain's brother Ted was paying a
short visit to the UK from Hong Kong and intended to call on the
Chinese, Ted McBain duly came to see us last week and we gave him a very
full briefing on how to go about approaching the Chinese Mission here
and on how to gain publicity for his action. To begin with, he had
reservations about the publicity and believed that his own knowledge of
China and the Chinese would enable him to squeeze some information out
of the Mission. We overcame his reservations about publicity and NewB
Tepartment helped with arrangements to inform the press in advanos of
his intention to call on Mr. Ya. The Chinese soon clouded his optimism
about getting information from then,
2.
Mr, MoBain has just been in to report on his call on
26 January which followed the usual pattern except that he was allowed
no further than the entrance hall of the Mission. Here he was received
by the interpreter who usually receives relatives of detainees, MoBain
asked four questions:-
(a) Could the Mission give any information about his brother's health or
say how information could be obtained?
(b) Could medicine, slothing and food be sent to his
brother?
(c) Could the Chinese give any indication of when his
case was to be reviewed?
(d) Could they indicate when he was likely to be
released since he wished to accommodate his
brother and make other arrangements in Hong Kong?
He of course drew a blank on all counts. Like his predecessors, Mr.
McBain expressed surprise that such an old and sick man should be
detained in this way and his relatives deprived of information when the
Chinese had such a reputation for respecting old age,
/The
7. N. Allan, Baq.
PRKING.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
The Chinese replied, as usual, that the Chinese people take good onre of
old people so long as they do not break the law,
3. Mr. McBain was photographed twice outside the Mission and was
interviewed by the Daily Mirror. The Associated Press spoke to him on
the telephone. Unfortunately, this activity has produced no results
whatsoever and the Press remains silent about the British subjects. Our
efforts are not exactly aided by the McBain family's suspicion of the
Press which leads them to enjoin reporters not to publish "any silly
stories about me". (McBain on 26 January to the Daily Mirror.) In the
light of our failure
to arouse Press interest we must consider other moves to help the
detainees. We shall be writing further about this very soon.
Copy to
Maddocks, Esq.,
A. F. HONG KONG,
(R. N. Dales)
CONFIDENTIAL
CS. 41A
2500077
10,000-5/69-570149
REF.
SCR 1/1167/55
Dear James
RECI
REGIST
سایدرام
I
14/1
McBain
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
13 January, 1970.
Ane 16 Jam.
نکار
Mr Daker.
136
Mr Appley A
/long
aber.
Bill McBain's brother, Ted, is paying a short visit to London. He is due
to arrive on 19 January and will leave about 10 days later. I have given
him your name and as an alternative Colin Wilson. He is likely to ring
you on 20 January to fix an appointment to see you later in the week.
2.
He is determined to call himself on the Chinese Mission in London. He is
convinced that with his/knowledge of China and his ability to speak
Chinese he will be able to
I get much more out of the Mission than did his sister. did not try to
discourage him from calling on the Mission though I did tell him frankly
that he should not put his hopes too high. I also let him read your
telegram No.13 to Peking of 9 January. I urged him strongly to take your
advice before he made his call.
3.
We also had a brief discussion about talking to the press and I urged
him to take your advice on this point also.
4.
Ted McBain is an elderly and somewhat eccentric gentleman. His nephew,
George, tells me that he has not spoken to his sister for 20 years and
does not want to see her again. I might add that when he first called on
me in connection with Bill McBain's arrest he stayed only about 10
minutes, of which about 2 minutes vere concerned with brother Bill and 8
with Ted's geological explorations in the Red River valley. I think
however that he is prepared to accept advice about the best method of
approaching the Chinese Mission and talking to the press. He will be
staying in London at the Junior Carlton Club.
5.
I am sending a copy of this letter to John Denson (under confidential
cover).
under
J. Murray, Esq., CMG,
Far Eastern Department,
ever
yo
Arthu
(A.F. Maddocks)
Foreign & Commonwealth Office, LONDON, S.W.1.
CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
ROY UNE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TUPA PAM NUMBER 13
CONFIDENTIAL.
TO PEKING
9 JANUARY 1970(F3C 14C/¿
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 13 OF 9 JANUARY REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG,
OUR TELEGRAM 441: MRS MARTIN AND MR MCBAIN.
Free cl 91
MISS MCBAIN CALLED ON CHINESE MISSION ON 6 JANUARY. SHE WAS NOT
ALLOWED TO SEE THE CHARGE' D'AFFAIRES BUT WAS RECEIVED BY A JUNIOR
OFFICIAL. HE TOLD HER IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS THAT HER BROTHER
HAD VIOLATED CHINESE LAWS. HE COULD NOT SAY WHAT LAWS THESE WERE
BUT SAID HER BROTHER WOULD KNOW. MISS MCBAIN THEN ASKED HOW SHE
MIGHT FIND OUT FROM HER BROTHER WHAT HE HAD DONE BUT THE CHINESE REPLIES
WERE EVASIVE. MISS MCBAIN TOLD US THAT WHEN SHE EMPHASIZED THAT HER
BROTHER WAS OLD AND IN VERY POOR HEALTH AND PRESSED THE CHINESE FOR SOME
SORT OF CONFIRMATION THAT HE WAS STILL ALIVE, THE CHINESE DESCRIBED HER
AS QUOTE ARROGANT UNQUOTE AND REMARKED THAT THE CHINESE PEOPLES'
REPUBLIC WOULD NOT BE BEATEN INTO SUBMISSION. THE INTERVIEW LASTED ABOUT
FORTY MINUTES, AND WAS COMPARATIVELY HEATED.
2. MISS MCBAIN INFORMED THE PRESS IN ADVANCE OF HER CALL AND HER
ENTRY AND EXIT WERE FILMED BY I.T.N. WHO INTERVIEWED HER
AFTERWARDS. NOTHING ABOUT THE CALL HAS HOWEVER APPEARED ON
TELEVISION OR IN THE PRESS.
3. MR JANSEN, NEPHEW OF MRS MARTIN WILL BE CALLING ON THE CHINESE
ON 12 JANUARY. HE WILL SIMILARLY INFORM THE PRESS IN ADVANCE.
WE SHALL CONSIDER WHAT FURTHER ACTION WE MIGHT TAKE IN THE LIGHT
OF THE RESULTS OF HIS CALL.
[
STEWART
DEPARTMANAL DIS PRIBUTION F.E.D.
CONS DEPT.
H.K.D.
NEWS DEPT.
I.R.D.
I.P.D.
CONFIDENTIAL
Registry No. FEC 140
DEPARTMENT
146/8
Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressed(s)
NOTHING TO BE Written in THIS MARGIN
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret
Confidential
Restricted
Ungfassified
PRIVACY MARKING
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En Clair
Code
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Draft Telegram to:-
No
Peking
(Date)
LIINILLOS
And to:-
Repeat to:-
PRIORITY MARKINGS
Flash Irpefiedista Priority Routine
}
(Date)
Despatched
[Security_classification
any
[
Privacy marking -if any
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
telegram No.
MITI.
13
And to
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13
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Confidential
Peking
(date)...
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Our Telegram 441: MIS MARTIN
Mr McBain. [McBAIN]
A m
Miss
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Distribution:-JH. FE.D
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January. She
allowed to see the charge d'Affaires but was received by a junior
spiccal.
He Mod
her in
reply
Fins de
to questions
her brother had violated chinese laws.
what laws then were
He could not say but said her brother would know. Miss McBain tasked how
she might find out from her britter what he had done the chinese repte's
wee
Mc Bain toch us
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rom
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༧༥ ༤༨༧༨,
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for
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still alive, it Chinese
described her
an
quacks arrogant дисва
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and
・Demarked
that the
3.
2.
Chinese Peoples Repuller would not be beaten into submission. The
intervien lasted about forty minutes, and was wond
informed the
Mric The Brain informed
achranu t
entry and exit
puss
her the date call and
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wen filmed
who interviewed her
by
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afterwards. Nothing about the act has
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that Mais McBain, was
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Mr JANSEN, rephew of
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He will scimitarly tign off the press January. we itell consider what
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(1514) LA 102077
Видта
DEAR GW Bid Op 141
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advance.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
FEC inti
Far Eastern Department
12 January, 1970
(3
Mrs. Martin
Thank you for your letter of 7 January about Mrs. Martin.
I am extremely sorry to have to tell you that we have still had no newe
from the Chinese authorities about Mrs. Martin despite the repeated
formal representations which we have made to the Chinese Government both
here in London and in Peking.
You will recall that we first heard about Mrs. Martin's arrest on 23
October, 1969 through her friends and colleagues in Shanghai,
Immediately on receipt of this information, we asked the Chinese Office
in London for details of the charges laid against her and news about her
state of health. This was followed up by representa- tions in Paking and
in London, the last occasions being 19 December when Lord Shepherd
summoned the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires and 22 December when our Chargé
in Peking, Mr. Denson, obtained an interview with Consular Department of
the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On each occasion the Chinese
officials concerned declined to give any information of any kind about
the charges made against her, her present whereabouts or the state of
her health. We have made clear to the Chinese authorities that we regard
this behaviour as wholly deplorable and unjustifiable, and we shall
continue to make every effort to obtain information about Mrs. Martin.
The only piece of news we have had about her since her arrest comes from
the Shanghai branch of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank. The branch
received a letter from her on about 15 December giving certain
instructions about the running of her house in her absence and peasing
on Christmas greetings. The letter was perfectly lucid and written in a
fair hand and the people concerned have no doubt that it came from Mrs.
Martin. From this we deduce that Mrs. Martin is in reasonably good
health and spirits despite her detention. But the refusal of the Chinese
authorities to give any information about Mrs. Martin in the two latest
interviews (both of which took place after she had sent her letter,
presumably with the full knowledge and consent of the Chinese
authorities) seems to us all the more incomprehensible and inexcusable.
W. 0. Barrington, Eaq,
Falcon Square,
Castle Hedingham,
Basex.
/I am
I am sorry that I have to pass on such gloomy news to you. I served in
Peking from 1966-68 inclusive and Met Kre. Martin when I visited
Shanghai in 1966. I can only say that I am personally distressed at the
deplorable treatment of Mrs. Martin a feeling which is shared generally
by everyone who is connected with her case.
(L. V. Appleyard)
(HAN). DE 391599 1,300w 2/69 Hw.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry
No.
"CURITY CLASSIFICATION
Secret
Confidential. Restricted:"
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
DRAFT
To:-
W. 2. Barrington
Falcon Square,
Castle Hedingham,
Asex
6
Miss. Martin
Type 1 +
From
Untoneay
Telephone No. & ETC,
Department
Thank you for your liter of 7 January
about this. Martijn.
I am
Axtremely sorry to have to
му
tell you that we have stall had no
the
news from the Chimere auch hinlits about Mrs. Martin despite repeated
formal
un now
representatio is which we
have made
to the Chimere hovemment both here in London and in being.
2.
You will recall that we first
heard about Mrs. Marthi's awet an
1969
23 "crater, though her friends and
Commedanimely alterafices in Shanghai. tore in receipt
of this information, we asked the Chiene
office
and in London,
Mice in Lamar for details of the chaye, laid afanuther and the news
about her State of health. This was follared uphy representations in
Pening the last occasions being 19 Accuber ten card Shepherd summined
the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires and 22 december when
our Charge
Charge in Runing, hur sauson, obtained an intermen with Consular
department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On each occasion the Chiere officials
informantering cancered declined to give any of any kind about And
Martin, bes the
суатт
Charges made found her, her present Whereabouts of the state of her
healed. The
have made clear to the Uniere austavite
that we we
Army
regard this behaviour as queste deplorable and
and we shall carture to
myle
inginstifiable, wound make every effort to obtain information about My
Martin.
The
only piece of news we have had about her since her cure or comes from
the Shayhaf brance of the Hay Kay and Shaughan Bank. The brance received
a letter from her about 15 Accubed giving
Certain
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
(118281) DE 391599 1,500 269 Bw.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
*CURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential
Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
DRAFT
To:
Type 1 +
From
Telephone No. & Ext,
Department
certain
instructions about the ramming of
her house in her absence and passing
The letter was perfectly
thinkman greetings.
lucid and written in a fair hand and the people cancered have no doubt
that it came from then Martin. From this we
Heduce that thin-Martin is in the
food
маханец
ney
health and Spirits despite her detention. Put the refusal of the Chimera
autarties to give any information about
Ms. Martin in the two later intensiews (bust of which took place after
the had pent her letter, presumably with the fact
and consent of the Chimera
knowledge
гледа
anstanties) seems to us all the move incomprehensible and in excusable.
1
Our
sorry
that I have to pass to you
on such gloomy news
/I
[
I served in Puing from 1966-68 inclusiva and not her. Martin when
(cinted Shayhai
in 1966. I canonly say that I am persually
distressed at the deplorance treatment
of Mrs. Martin
A
feeling
which is Shared
Severally by everyone who is connected
with her case. As soon as we have any more definite information about
her, I will get in Whath wit your gases.__
Int
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
7th Jan. 197
The secretary 11 Charge of Chinese Affairs
Foreign Ofiice
London 4.1.
Dear Sir,