TNAG-0113-FCO40-149-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 128

SECRET.

SECRET

prisoner until October

which means the

continued confinement of Mr. Grey- we might

be confronted with press and parliamentary

clamour. So far we have been able to hold

this within limits. It may however become so

great that the Chinese might either feel that

they could not be seen to be releasing Mr.

Grey as a consequence of public criticism, as

I suspect might have been the case in 1968,

or they may feel that the pressure on us is

such that the original price for Mr. Grey is

too low and make more difficult demands as the

price for his release. One does not wish to

exaggerate this risk. I am however especially

conscious of the proposed petition to be

delivered by Mr. Grey's family. If, as is

likely, this is delivered in the glare of T.V.

and the press, it could well spark off the

pressures which we know to be there but which

have been deliberately restrained in the

interests of Mr. Grey.

SECRET.

6./