214
CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
TELNO 1123
22 DECEMBER, 1967 (F)
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 1123 OF 22 DECEMBER REPEATED FOR INFOR- MATION TO HONG KONG AND RAWALPINDI.
(212)
YOUR TELNO 358: GREY.
WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH CHIPP OF REUTERS, HE IS CONCERNED AT YOUR REPORT OF THE IMPRESSION IN PEKING THAT REUTERS ARE DOING NOTHING TO HELP GREY IN THE INTERESTS OF MAINTAINING THEIR ''POSITION'' IN CHINA. IN HIS VIEW REUTERS HAVE NO POSITION'' TO MAINTAIN, AS HE DOUBTS WHETHER THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SEND ANY OTHER CORRESPONDENTS TO PEKING IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. THEIR PRESENT CONCERN IS ONLY FOR GREY. CHIPP DOES NOT KNOW WHAT FURTHER ACTION THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN APART FROM PUBLICISING THE CASE - AND UP TO NOW WE HAVE ALL CONSIDERED THIS THE WRONG COURSE. THE PURPOSE OF REUTERS' MESSAGES TO THE CHINESE AND ATTEMPTED CONTACTS THROUGH THE PAKISTANIS AND IN HONG KONG WAS TO KEEP AS MANY LINES AS POSSIBLE OPEN IN ORDER THAT THE CHINESE WOULD HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND IF THEY SO WISHED. WE SYMPATHISE WITH REUTERS AND HOPE YOU WILL DO WHAT YOU CAN TO DISPEL ANY MISTAK EN IMPRESSION ABOUT THEIR ATTITUDE. WE HAVE ASSURED CHIPP THAT IF DIRECT CONTACT IS MADE WITH GREY, YOU WILL TELL HIM THAT REUTERS ARE IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH HIS MOTHER AND ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN ON HIS BEHALF.
/ F.N. 2.
11+ W03/2_
CONFIDENTIAL
LAST
REF
212
NC:
R. F
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