TNAG-0027-FCO40-63-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 168

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Mr. de la Mare.

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CONFIDENTIAL

REUTERS AND THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY

Mr. Graymiana

ብ..

R. 328.

1.57

Fa relations

with China file

ARG

25.8-5

H.M. Chargé d'Affaires in Peking reports in his telegram

no. 1116 that he was summoned to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign

Affairs on 20 August to be given a note demanding that all Chinese journalists arrested in Hong Kong should be declared

innocent and set free, that the ban recently put on the three

Communist newspapers should be lifted and that law suits against

Communist papers should be called off. If these demands were

not met within 48 hours, H.M. Government would be "held responsible

for all consequences". He learned on the same day (Peking telegram no. 1114) that a group of Chinese demonstrators had

broken into the house of Mr. Grey, the Reuters correspondent who

has been under house arrest since 21 July, and that telephonic

communication between Mr. Grey's house and our Office had ceased.

The official at the Chinese Foreign Ministry indicated that if

the ultimatum was not complied with, further measures against Mr. Grey were to be expected. Mr. Hopson rejected the Chinese

note. He has reported that in addition to action against

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Mr. Grey we may expect action against his own Mission, probably including violence (Peking telegram no. 1118). Mr. Hopson has

asked for severe pressure to be exerted on the New China News

Agency in London and recommended that the Chinese be warned that

if anything further is done to Mr. Grey or to his Mission

N.C.N.A. operations in London will be suspended.

24.8.47

CONFIDENTIAL

/Recommendation

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 83 23 AUĢIYU/

MLA 1/2