TNAG-0031-FCO40-67-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 82

CONFIDENTIAL

1606A,

R/CAT A

FOREIGN OFFICE/COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO BERNE AND TO CERTAIN OTHER MISSIONS

TELAO. 358

CONFIDENTIAL

F

Xi

REF.

JULY 1968

(F.E.D.)

618, 614 620, 623, 24, 625, 6260.

627, 628, 629, 601,601,633,634,638, 642

644 6x6 648

ADDRESSED TO BERNE TELEGRAM NO 358 OF 1 JULY AND TO COPENHAGEN THE HAGUE HELSINKI OSLO PARIS STOCKHOLM BELGRADE CAIRO COLOMBO KABUL KATHMANDU DELHI RAWALPINDI KAMPALA NAIROBI LUSAKA RABAT VI ENTJ ANE ALGIERS BAGHDAD KHARTOUM AND MOGADI SHU REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING HONG KONG AND WASHINGTON.

عاملها افادها

66816069 674 677 6867 609

THE FAILURE OF THE CHINESE TO GRANT EXIT VISAS TO SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH MISSION IN PEKING (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TWO FIRST SECRETARIES ALLOWED TO LEAVE FOR MEDICAL REASONS) HAS BEEN CAUSING US GROWING CONCERN. DESPITE REPEATED REQUESTS FOR VISAS NONE (OTHER THAN THESE TWO) HAS BEEN ISSUED TO SENIOR STAFF SINCE BEFORE THE MISSION WAS BURNED IN AUGUST LAST YEAR. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION SIR D. HOPSON HAS NOW BEEN INSTRUCTED TO APPLY FOR AN EXIT VISA FOR HIMSELF TO ENABLE HIM TO LEAVE ON 1 JULY. THIS IS INTENDED TO BRING MATTERS TO A HEAD. IF THE VISA IS NOT GRANTED AND NO ACCEPTABLE EXPLANATION IS GIVEN WE PROPOSE TO SUMMON THE CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN LONDON AND DELIVER A VERY STRONG PROTEST. THEREAFTER, SUBJECT TO ANY FURTHER VIEWS OF SIR D. HOP SON WE SHALL CONSIDER AN APPROACH TO CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS ACCREDITED TO PEKING URGING THEM TO INTERVENE WITH THE CHINESE TO SECURE A RETURN TO NORMAL TREATMENT OF OUR MISSION IN PARTICULAR TO ISSUE OF EXIT VISAS. WE REALISE THAT SOME GOVERNMENTS MAY BE DISINCLINED TO HELP AND THAT IN ANY CASE THERE CAN BE NO GUARANTEE THAT DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE OF THIS SORT WOULD INFLUENCE THE CHINESE. BUT WE THINK SOME SUCH ATTEMPT MUST BE MADE. 2. WE MAY THEREFORE WISH TO INSTRUCT YOU ON OR ABOUT 15 JULY TO APPROACH THE GOVERNMENT TO WHICH YOU ARE ACCREDITED AT A SUITABLY HIGH LEVEL. NO DECISION HAS YET BEEN MADE WHICH GOVERNMENTS WE SHOULD APPROACH: BUT WE WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO CONVEY AN EXPRESSION OF CONCERN TO THE CHINESE AT THE SITUATION OF OUR MISSION IN PEKING IN PARTICULAR THE FAILURE TO GRANT EXIT VISAS TO STAFF AND THE ATTEMPT TO MAKE POLITICAL PRE-CONDITIONS FOR RELEASE. THE TREATMENT OF OUR MISSION VIOLATES LONG-ACCEPTED

703

704

718

723

729

CONFIDENTIAL

/DIPLOMATIC