COPY NO...!
13.
TOP SECRET
43)
Cypher/Cat A
PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 891 26 September, 1968
TOP SECRET
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 891 of 26 September Repeated for information to: Hong Kong (8832)
Hong Kong telegram Nos. 2007 and 2008:
Grey.
We seem to be getting rather bogged down in these exchanges. 4 days after original meeting with Cater contact had still not sent letter to Chinese although on 17 September he promised a reply within a week or at most 10 days. now does as he says, he will write to Chinese "Without suggesting that there would be any counterpart".
If he
2. However we must assume that a second message will be sent to Chinese by Li. Li seems to have been interested in idea of some kind of exchange. His message will almost certainly refer to suggestion of Hsueh as a possible counter- part.
3. I do not know what Chinese Government will think of all this, but they will certainly get the idea that they can obtain something for Grey. Meanwhile time runs on; it is 7 weeks since idea of releases was launched in its latest form in your telegram No. 1375.
4. We cannot altogether rule out the possibility of a quick and helpful reply from Chinese. But the danger is growing that we shall be conveying to them our readiness to give something for Grey at a moment when Hsueh is so near end of his sentence that his release will have lost almost all value as a concession. Exchanges with Chinese will further use up short time remaining. If faced by actual release of Hsueh now Chinese may well let Grey out. But the present approach and delay it involves may mean that when Chinese finally make up their minds on an exchange Hsueh will have no value; they will ask for more; and Grey's detention will thus be prolonged.
5.
The damage [grp undec] done. But in view of way situation is developing I recommend we seriously consider. releasing Hsueh forthwith if we have no real positive response... from Chinese by say 5 October. This would of course be an act of faith but it would greatly increase Chinese embarrassment
Premature over Grey, to which both contact and Li testify.
release by a few weeks would hardly be a major bending of principle on our side, (as we have already intimated to Chinese). It would on the other hand offer them a small face-saving concession of the sort they may need in order to effect Grey's release.
RECEIVED IN
HWAN
TOP SECRET
/6. The
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.