752)
Cypher/Cat A
IMMEDIATE
Telno 718
CONFIDENTIAL
PEKING ΤΟ FOREIGN OFFICE
5 August 1968
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 718 of 5 August. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.
My telegram No. 691.
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No further exit visas were issued last week despite several telephone reminders to Consular Department. In response to Consular Departments request on 29 July I submitted on 30 July a further note giving details of my visa application in it Í asked for issue not later than 2 August of an exit visa valid for one month.
2. Since this date passed without result Counsellor has asked for urgent interview with Consular Department. Meanwhile I have indicated to Mr. Hsueh on 3 August that I wish to leave here on 10 August and have since confirmed this by Note.
3.
or
It seems that either the Chinese will issue all or some of the visas (Mr. Hsueh said he knew mine was being "dealt with") that they will merely repeat their statement of 27 July without giving any indication of when they will issue them. They possibly calculate that their assurance of 27 July plus issue of 4 visas on 29 July has been sufficient to fend off further pressure for the time being (which to a considerable extent it has).
4. I do not think we can afford to let them get away indefinitely with this continued flagrant breach of diplomatic practice. Foreign Governments will be already reluctant to bring diplomatic pressure on Chinese until interval of perhaps some weeks has past after the 27 July assurance without significant results in the shape of further visas for senior staff. But 1 do not think we should wait too long before reactivating the diplomatic campaign, and in the meantime we should initiate further publicity. Experience over the last weeks has indicated that the Chinese are more sensitive to diplomatic and publicity pressure on subject of detained diplomats than we at first thought. Having found a nerve we must press hard.
5. I therefore propose that if Counsellor's interview proves unfruitful News Department should immediately issue a statement (which I hope the B.B.C. Overseas News would carry) saying that the Chinese on 27 July promised to issue the outstanding 18 visas. On 29 July they issued four but there have been no more since then, although repeated requests have been made. Despite the assurance therefore the 14 staff including myself are still unable to leave China.
I would circulate a copy of this statement amongst diplomatic colleagues here. If timing allows it would be useful if this statement (if it is made) could coincide with Pakistan Foreign Minister's presence in Peking i.e. be made not later than 6 August. This would not preclude a further statement if and when the Chinese have failed to issue my exit
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