CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT -A-
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NUMBER 180
TO PEKING
20 MAY 1969
(FE)
241
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 189 OF 20 MAY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG, WASHINGTON, POLAD SINGAPORE, BANGKOK (FOR GODDEN).
MY 1.P.T. CALL OF CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES.
THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE INTERVIEW WAS FAIRLY RELAXED, IN GENERAL MA WAS LESS NEGATIVE THAN HIS PREDECESSOR SHEN PING. AFTER REJECTING OUR PROTEST HE OFFERED WITHOUT FURTHER PRODDING TO PASS ON OUR REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION AND CONSULAR ACCESS.
2. MA'S STATEMENT ON THE PRICE FOR GREY WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PART OF HIS REMARKS. THE OFFER TO RELEASE GREY IN RETURN FOR THE RELEASE OF THE NEWSWORKERS WAS STATED IN UNEQUIVOCAL TERMS AND GOES FURTHER THAN THE N C N A STATEMENT OF 28 DECEMBER. ALTHOUGH CHINESE MOTIVE IN MAKING THIS OFFER IS UNDOUBTEDLY TO ENCOURAGE -US TO RELEASE THE NEWSWORKERS PREMATURELY, STATEMENT WAS IN SUCH
TERMS THAT WE CAN REASONABLY CONCLUDE
(A) THAT IT IS INTENDED TO APPLY IRRESPECTIVE OF THE ACTUAL
TIMING OF THE RELEASE OF THE NEWSWORKERS
(B) THAT THE CHINESE WILL NOT RELEASE GREY BEFORE ALL ELEVEN
ARE RELEASED.
THE PHRASE ''GREY'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WOULD BE RESTORED'' IS SOMEWHAT VAGUE, BUT WE ASSUME THAT THE CHINESE WOULD NOT WITHHOLD AN EXIT VISA AETER GREY HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM HOUSE ARREST.
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