CONFIDENTIAL
Note of a meeting between the Chinese Charge d'Affaires, Shen P'ing at 11.30 am
on Thursday. 9 January
193
Lord Shepherd
Mr. C. Wilson
Mr. C. H. Godden
Present:
Shen P'ing
Interpreter
After courtesies, Lord Shepherd emphasised the
wish of HMG to have normal diplomatic relations with
China and expressed the hope that the Chinese would
co-operate in this respect. He then went on to draw
attention to the serious problem of the treatment of
British subjects in China, and, in particular, stressed
that the failure of the Chinese to release Mr. Grey
was a major stumbling block to good relations. In
speaking Lord Shepherd followed closely the speaking
notes prepared by the Department. The only deviations
were personal; that he had some 15 years' commercial
experience in the Far East where he had attracted a
Chinese nick-name meaning "Good Luck" and that he hoped that this would be a significant omen in his dealing with
representatives of China; and that from his own experience
of the Chinese he knew how much importance they attach to
families and to family life.
2. In reply Shen P'ing, speaking from a prepared note, said that the Chinese Government were fully justified in restricting the freedom of movement of Mr. Grey. As his
CONFIDENTIAL
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