TNAG-0032-FCO40-68-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 57

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Cypher/Cat A

IMMEDIATE

PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

LAST

Telno 765

21 August 1968

REF.

TEXT

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f

1

788.

294

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 765 of 21 August. Repeated for information to Hong Kong

Hong kong telegram No. 1007: Grey.

The telegram under reference considers three possible courses · of action:

2.

(a)

a publicity campaign until November and then, if Hsueh's release does not produce results, secret aiscussions with the Chinese on the release of Lo in return for Grey;

(b) secret discussions with the Chinese now, bargaining the

release of Hsueh, and if necessary Lo, in return for urey;

(c) unconditional release of Hsueh and Lo now.

To take these in order. On course (a), a publicity campaign unaccompanied by any concession in Hong Kong is most unlikely to procure Grey's release. we must distinguish his case from that of the staff of this Mission. On the latter the Chinese were to some extent on the defensive as a result of removals of restrictions on the movement of their officials in London and the imminent diplomatic campaign. we had made the relevant concessions. Grey on the other hand has been explicitly linked by the Chinese with the Hong Kong prisoners and we cannot expect progress until we have made some move in that sector. By waiting until November for any such move we would deprive ourselves of the chance of making a gesture over Hsueh since he would be released then in any event. We would add. another three months to Grey's solitary confinement. I am not convinced by the argument in paragraph 3 of telegram under reference that by waiting until 16 November we would give a greater impression of strength. Acting now fifteen months after the trouble began and eight months after the violence ended we would not be seen to pe acting from weakness. If the earlier release of NCHA men at this stage is, however, to be equated with weakness we would still incur the charge in November as a result of our readiness to release Lo.

5.

Un course (b), we face the problem we have encountered repeatedly over the last year: how to assure ourselves in advance the concession we contemplate will produce the desired result. The short answer is we cannot. I greatly doubt whether we shall get any reliable prior undertaking from the Chinese on the release of Grey. Something cryptic after a long delay, or no answer at all, is more likely. The delay involved is important both for humanitarian reasons and since the longer we wait the less of a concession we have to offer over Hsueh. We must assume that some months would be taken up by this probe, particularly if we use the channel referred to in paragraph 6 of the telegram under reference. There is also the danger that by putting this proposal beforehand

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/we shall1