TNAG-0028-FCO40-64-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 204

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

EDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

TEL NO.49 12 JANUARY 1968

(F.E.D.)

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 49 OF 12 JANUARY REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

234A)

MY TELEGRAM NO 27.

249

SUN DAY TIMES ARTICLE HAS AROUSED LITTLE INTEREST, AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE AND/OR QUESTIONS ARE HOWEVER LIKELY AFTER PARLIAMENT REASSEMBLES ON 16 JANUARY AND THIS WILL PROBABLY INCREASE PUBLIC INTEREST.

2. WE SHALL BE CONSIDERING EARLY NEXT WEEK WHETHER WE SHOULD OURSELVES GIVE PUBLICITY TO GREY'S CASE IN THIS COUNTRY. (1.R.D.

ARE ALREADY PUBLICISING THE STORY ABROAD IN THI GENERAL CONTEXT

OF CHINESE TREATMENT OF FOREIGN JOURNALISTS BUT THIS IS UNLIKELY TO BE PLAYED BACK HERE.) THE ADVANTAGE OF TAKING THE INITIATIVE WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD BE BETTER PLACED TO SEE THAT THE STORY WAS PUT ACROSS IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY. WE WOULD NOT SEE THIS AS NECESSARILY CONFLICTING WITH SEPARATE ATTEMPTS BY MEANS OF ADMINISTRATIVE RELAXATIONS TO IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS FOR YOU AND FOR THE CHINESE MISSION HERE.

3.

PUBLICITY, WHETHER INSPIRED OR NOT, IS HOWEVER LIKELY TO LEAD TO PRESSURE FOR ACTION AGAINST NCNA IN LONDON IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY MOVE BY THE CHINESE. LAST YEAR WE ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES IN SECURING INTERDEPARTMENTAL AGREEMENT TO CLOSE NCNA IN RETALIATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF GREY. SUBJECT TO THE VIEWS OF OUR OWN MINISTERS, WE MAY RETURN TO THE CHARGE AND TRY TO OBTAIN AGREEMENT TO THREATEN THE CHINESE WITH CLOSURE UNLESS THEY RELEASE GREY, BEING READY IF NEED BE TO CARRY OUT THE THREAT.

4.

It s

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS BY A.M. MONDAY, 15 JANUARY ON WHETHER YOU STILL SEE VALUE IN PUBLICITY OF GREY'S CASE EVEN IF IT LEADS

TO THE CONSEQUENCES REFERRED TO IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH,

SOSF A

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:

FO: F.E.D.

NEWS DEPT

CONSULAR DEPT

LASY

234A

CO: HONG KONG DEPT

CONFIDENTIAL

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