CONFIDENTIAL
Peking telegram No. 112 to Foreign Office
2
MARY
5.
Cradock continued that what he had just said on NCNA was not a refusal of NCNA visas. It was a frank explanation of our problem coupled with suggestions for a solution. He would like to have Kao's reply to our proposals on this aspect though he understood this might not be possible at once.
6. In conclusion, Cradock said that above measures, i.e. the lifting of exit visa requirement, normal treatment of entry visas, granting of entry visas for Bank of China, would come into effect immediately if we could have an assurance of reciprocity, i.e. that British officials could come and go without impediment. Would Kao confirm his statement of 24 January that the Chinese Government would certainly make reciprocal gesture?
7. In reply Kao said that he had listened closely to what Cradock had said and would pass on his proposals to higher authorities. A reply would be given later. On the question of Grey, Kao reemphasized what he had said on 24 January that this was not a visa case. The situation which had produced this problem was created by the British not the Chinese, but he had no wish to go into details. He made no other substantive comment except to clarify that removal of restrictions was not yet effective and to ascertain that NCNA were not included in offer of normal issue of entry visas. On this point Cradock replied that we were suspending judgement on NCNA entry visas until we had a chance to discuss further with the Chinese the difficult Grey problem.
8.
Since Kao did not there and then confirm that Chinese Government would take reciprocal action if we put our proposed measures into effect, Cradock was not able to declare them effective.
Foreign Office pass Hong Kong 68.
Sir D. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
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