CYPHER/CAT A
ROUTINE FOREIGN OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 859
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PEKING
2 OCTOBER 1968.
(F)
859
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 859 OF 2 OCTOBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION
TO HONG KONG.
YOUR TELNO 888: GREY.
1842
THE STATEMENT, THOUGH FULLY REPORTED BY THE NEWS AGENCIES, RECEIVED LITTLE COVERAGE IN THE PRESS, IN PART NO DOUBT BECAUSE OF PUBLIC PREOCCUPATION WITH OTHER ISSUES, IN PART PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE COMPARATIVELY SHORT LAPSE OF TIME SINCE THE VERY WIDE COVERAGE OF THE CASE WHEN HOPSON RETURNED. ADMITTEDLY IT WOULD HAVE RECEIVED WIDER ATTENTION HAD WE IMPLIED THAT WE HAD SERIOUS MISGIVINGS ABOUT GREY'S HEALTH. BUT WE SHOULD UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE BEEN CROSS-EXAMINED ABOUT THE REASONS FOR OUR ANXIETY. THERE WAS RELUCTANCE TO REFER PUBLICLY TO GREY'S LETTERS LEST THIS MIGHT RESULT IN THE CHINESE WITHDRAWING THE FACILITY. IN ANY CASE HIS LATEST LETTER GAVE LESS GROUNDS FOR ANXIETY. MOREOVER IF WE HAD ENCOURAGED PUBLICITY ALONG THE LINES THAT WE WERE OBLIGED TO CONCLUDE THAT THE CHINESE HAD SOMETHING TO HIDE, GREY'S MOTHER DESPITE ALL THE ASSURANCES WE MIGHT HAVE GIVEN HER WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE CONCLUDED THAT WE WERE HOLDING SOMETHING BACK FROM HER. ACCORDINGLY WE THOUGHT IT WOULD NOT BE PRUDENT TO GO BEYOND COMMENT WHICH UNDERLINED CHINESE EVASIVENESS AND OUR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GREY'S HEALTH.
T
2. MEANWHILE THE ARTICLE IN THE 'ECONOMIST** (MY TELNO 853) HAS KEPT THE MATTER IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
EYE.
SOSFA
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
NEWS DEPT.
C.O. H.K.D.
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TAST
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEN
842
No. 63
40011963
HWA 3/2.
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