TNAG-0029-FCO40-65-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 190

CONFITEJAT,

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(d) these actions have been taken on the under

standing of reciprocal treatment by the

Chinese.

A draft telegram to Poking is attached, in which Faraonnol

Department concur. If the recommendation is accepted, D-

Note in appropriate tema will be sent to the Office of the

Chinese Chargé d'Affaires in Rendon.

Hackeraand

3. We previously instructed Sir Donald Hopson (Foreign office telegram Ko. 132) to inform the Chinese that we were

prepared, on the understanding that there would be rooiprocity, to suspend the exit peruit requirement for Chinese officiels

and also to deal with entry viens "in the normal woy" with the

exception of entry visas for N.C.H.A., which would only bo

granted if tho Chinese made it clear that they intended to

release fr. Grey. The background to these instructions is

contained in my cubmission of 31 January. Sir D. Hopson wes

given wide tactical discretion to present our offer in whatever

way he thought most likely to to muccessful. We suggested that

he should first explain our difficulties about lir. Grey, make

formally the previous informal offer to exchange Br. Gray for

N.C.#.A. prisoners in Hong Kong and oak the Chinese to let us

have an answer about Hr. Grey within, say, 48 hours. If after

this the Chinese were still unwilling to make any commitment

about Mr. Grey, he could nonetheless, put forward our proposals

about the relaxation of visa requirements for the two diplomatio

/ainsions.

CONFIDENTIAL