TNAG-0077-FCO40-113-Action-against-Communist-press-1967 — Page 94

Cypher

SECRET

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

(The Secretary of State)

TO HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

HWB 14/32

IMMEDIATE

SECRET No. 1582

Sent 1 August, 1967. 22592

Addressed to 0.A.G., Hong Kong. Repeated IMMEDIATE to Peking.

" POLAD Singapore.

о

(4)

Following from Galsworthy.

Your telegram No. 1112.

Communist Press

LAST

REF.

BEX

REF.

127-60

22

We have been considering this urgently with Foreign Office, and are about to submit to Ministers. There are however two points on which we would first welcome your further views.

2. We entirely understand arguments in favour of action against Communist press now, and we accept that if action is to be taken it would be wise to move first against selected independently-owned papers. We are however very doubtful whether such action would curb activities of leading Communist papers (especially the two mainland-owned ones). It seems to us almost inevitable that any measures taken against former would lead very quickly to need to consider similar measures against the latter, particularly if material which had resulted in action against independent newspapers appeared in identical or similar form in the leading Communist press. As we see things from here, a dangerous situation would arise if the leading Communist press (especially the two mainland-owned papers) were to contime to publish virulent and inflammatory material with apparent impunity. It would give the impression that we were afraid to tackle that section of the press, no doubt lead to even greater excesses on their part, and boost Communist morale.

0

3. We believe therefore that if we start action against the Communist press now we shall almost certainly have to be prepared to act equally firmly, and soon, against C.P.G.-owned press, or face possibly humiliating setback.

SECRET

140