{
(C.R.Dear). John Gorge
would you like to reply
John Morgan, Esa.,
yourself? Óv
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, wo Lear
(Far Eastern Department) ou prefe: me Downing Street,
R.M. Evans
12/4.
enuwe
You
behalf?
CYPHER CAT A
RECEIVERĀNI DENTIAL
REGISTRY No. 52
FM PEKING 1843252
10 APR 1972
E
1413
CONFIDENTIAL
18
TOP COPY
22
TO ROUTINE FCO TELEGRAM NO. 2910F 19 APRIL.
MY TELNO 259: GLADYS YANG,
1. MRS YANG CAME BACK TO THE EMBASSY ON AFTERNOON OF 7 APRIL TO COLLECT
HER PASSPORT. ROTH CONSUL AND I WERE OUT OF THE OFFICE AT THE TIME BUT
HEAD OF CHANCERY WHO SAW HER THOUGHT SHE LOOKED WELL. SHE SEEMED TO HAVE
RECOVERED FROM HER ORDEAL REMARKABLY QUICKLY, SHE WAS RATHER HOARSE,
BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE HAD BEEN TALKING NON-STOP FOR THE PAST WEEK:
OTHERWISE HER
SPEECH WAS NORMAL.
2. SHE SAID THAT ALL HER CHILDREN HAD PEEN HOPE TO SEE HER AND THAT THEY
WERE WELL AND HAPPY, HER 2 SONS ARE WORKING IN FACTORIES: HER DAUGHTER,
THE YOUNGEST, IS HOPING TO GO TO UNIVERSITY IN THE AUTUMN
SHE HAD BEEN TOLD SHE COULD REST FOR
AS LONG AS SHE WANTED BEFORE PESUMING HER JOB AT THE PRESS RUT SAID SHE
INTENDED TO GO BACK SOON. SHE HAD WRITTEN TO HER SISTER AND BELIEVED THE
CHINESE WOULD NOT OBJECT TO HER COMING CUT TO PEKING TO STAY FOR A
WHILE, SHE SAID SHE WOULD PURSUE THIS POSSIBILITY BY CORRESPONDENCE AND
DID NOT EXPECT TO NEED ANY ASSISTANCE FROM US. SAMUEL ASSURED HER
NEVERTHELESS THAT WE WOULD GIVE ANY HELP IF SHE OR HER SISTER WANTED. IT
AND PROMISED TO CONTACT HER SISTER WHEN HE RETURNED HOME ON LEAVE IN
MAY,
ADDIS
FILES
FED
CONS D
NEWS D
MR WILFORD
CONTIDENTIAL
A.3,
Hayy
с
Covering CONFIDENT RAGE
Commo
борт
Drawing
258
Так
M
erence
-long
prepare
you
pl
Ł
Muli brown
Putting
тель
259
, emphasising
спростивиту ч
ke
با ما
لسمعان
The Hervey,
My Evans,
ze
17
Sh
te
with
Comme Depo
ростих
من
bonit
Pra
3573
2.
Draft
as
requested. I apstogose for the delay.
I have deliberately rephrased much of the contents If Peking tel No 258
to avoid any compromise I
exphers procedure.
Communications Dept. are
because there
annver questions
content witte their
If
N°259
I have not added anything from Peking tel N° 259
withe point in
reduty
This Brown how we shall
desto tis
6/4
вот
714.
DO 9946439 140609 500M 7/71 GM 36432
2
IN CONFIDENCE
Mrs H G Brown 7 Sunnydale Gardens London NW7
7 April 1972
I am writing to confirm what John Morgan, who has now left Far Eastern
Department, told you on the telephone before Easter about your sister
Mrs Gladys Yang's release from detention.
When Kra Yang called on the British Consul in Peking on 30 March to
renew her passport which had expired in 1968, she was able to give him
some information about the conditions of her detention and her release,
She said in partfèular that she wanted her relatives and friends in
Britain to be reassured about her health, and the conditions of her
detention, and how happy she was at being able to resume her former
work. anxious not to have details of the case made public.
She emphasised, however, that she was most specifically warned against
this by the Chinese authorities.
She had been therefore ask you to regard the following as being for the
information of your family and your sister's close friends only.
May I
When Mrs Yang called on the Consul she looked in good health although
she spoke slowly and seened slightly dazed. her release she had
obviously found difficulty in taking in the
In the two days since great changes in China and the world outside since
her detention nearly 4 years ago. She was very surprised at the amount
of public interest in her case in this country when the Consul
informed:.her of this.
She told him that she returned home to her old flat at the Foreign
Languages Institute on 28 March. She received a welcome, warz beyond her
expectations, from her colleagues and friends. flat was filled with
flowers and had been repainted.
The that this was a bourgeois way to welcome someone home but was told
She commented that the Farty had ordered it. Her husband had been
released a week earlier. They were both to resume their old jobs and her
husband had been told that he would receive his old salary. was told
that this too was arty policy. of their children had already joined then
on their way to Peking from Manchuria and Hupei.
He
and the other two ware
Mrs Tang said that one
/Mrs Yang
IN CONFIDENCE
י
IN CONFIDENCE
L
Her standarda
Mrs Yang said that the reason for her detention had been "passing
information to an enemy". The case rested on the letters she wrote home
during the height of the Cultural Revolution, particularly when her
husband was under attack. included information "not published in the
People's Daily".
These lettera conditions of imprisonment were, she said, very good; of
food and hygiene were high. She was held in solitary confinement at a
location in Peking which she was unable to identify. Apparently the
Chinese regard this as better treatment than imprisonment in the company
of others. her gaolers had intimated to her on several occasions that
she
During recent months would soon be released.
Mrs Tang said that she had been informed in the Spring of 1971 of the
death of your mother. received from the outside world during her
imprisonment.
This was the only message she will recall that our mission in Feking
first asked the Chinese You authorities to pass this news to Mrs Yang in
November 1970, shortly after your mother's death. The Chinese did not,
however, confirm that they had done so until November 1971. kowever that
the news was passed to her in April as foreshadowed
It seems probable in Mr Denson's letter of 8 April 1971 to you.
-
Mrs Yang said that she intended to revert to her former pattern of life
in Peking. She would prefer, for understandable reasons, not to be seen
to be in close contact with our Embassy.
2
IN CONFIDENCE
RBR HervRY
Far Eastern Department
1995 100 M000'1 609968 PC (EDESBR)
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top-Secret.
Secret.
-Confidential,
Restricted.-
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
DRAFT LETTER
To:-
H
in Capitone Type 1 +
Сардана
Mrs, frown,
7 Sunnydale Gardens,
Loudon N. 10.7.
From
Mr-Evans
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
------------
In Confidence
rr
Refem
CC [silent] THE EM
Peking.
to
onfirm what
confion
I have just taken over as Head of Far Eastern
هد
Morar,
Department in Так телера
двата
sure you will
has
My John
you
I al
now Lift FED, TOW suscession se John Morgan's-
that before Eenw stow your sites wish to know that your sister
relcam fromée dutertestin
детет
Mrs Gladys Yang called on the British Consul
No Ma
Yong
in Peking on 30 March to renew her passport which
had expired in 1968, he was able to give him
some information about the conditions of her
detention and her release. She said in particular
that she wanted her relatives and friends in
Britain to be reassured about her health, and the
conditions of her detention, and how happy she
She
is at being able to resume her former work.
emphasised, however, that she anxious not
to have details of the case made public. She
had been specifically warned against this by the
afe May 1
wok you
Chinese court I must ask you therefore, for your
to
gister's gaket
intomatini
regard the following as
Efor the
confidential to your family and your sister's
close friends,mly.
When Mrs Yang called on the Consul she looked in
good health although she spoke slowly and seemed
slightly dazed. In the two days since her
release she had obviously found difficulty in
taking in the great changes in China and the
world outside since her detention nearly 4 years
/ago
ago.
She was very surprised at the amount
of public interest in her case in this country
when the Consul informed her of this.
She told him that she returned home to her old
flat at the Foreign Languages Institute on
28 March. She received a welcome, warm beyond
her expectations, from her husband, her colleagues
and friends. The flat was filled with flowers
and had been repainted. She commented that
this was a bourgeois way to welcome someone home
but was told that the Party had ordered it.
husband had been released a week earlier.
Her
They
are both to resume their old jobs and her husband
had been told that he would receive full back pay
and that he would continue to receive his old
salary, which was very
He was told that this
too was Party policy. Mrs Yang said that one
of their children had already joined them and the
other two were on their way to Peking from
respectively Manchuria and Hupei.
Mrs Yang said that the reason for her detention
had been "passing information to an enemy"
home
The case rested on the letters she wrote to her
family during the height of the Cultural
Revolution, particularly when her husband was
under attack. These letters included
information "not/published in the People's Daily".
Her conditions of imprisonment were, she said,
very good; standards of food and hygiene were
/high
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
high. She was held in solitary confinement at a
location in Peking which she was unable to identify.
Apparently the Chinese regard this as better treatment than imprisonment
in the company of others. During
recent months her gaolers had intimated to her on
several occasions that she would soon be released.
C
1
You will no doubt be particularly interested to
Mrs Yong said in at the hand beag hear that your sister was informed in
the Spring
was/Informed
of 1971 of the death of your mother.
This was the
only message she received from the outside world
during her imprisonment. You will recall that
our mission in Peking first asked the Chinese authorities to pass this
news to Mrs Yang in November. 1970, shortly after your mother's death.
The Chinese did not, however, confirm that they had
was passed to
that the news Fruste to join
Pod Danson's
+9715 you
done so until November 1971. It seems probable
ker in April 1 cp the Damon kepest when
an Loveshadowed in
8 AM wf. Mrs Yang has said that she does not wish to have
to
too-muck confact with too much contact with the British Embassy in
future,
She intends to revert to her former pattern of
She
This
life in Peking.
*
prefer
*
for
undergrond the
آمد
七
вил
Fea
+
Է
be
ственну
close
своб
FE
THE TIMES
29 MAR 1972
Cha
PER
H
Mrs Gladys Yang, now aged 53, British molher of three, who was freed by
the Chinese yesterday. The picture dates from before her detcution in
1968.
Mrs Yang free and home again in Peking
Peking. March 28-Mrs Gladys Yang returned to her home in Peking today
after being detained for almost four years by the Chinese authorities.
Mo Yang, an Englishwoman married to a Chinese school teacher, was
arrested during the Cultural Revolution in 1968, sines when she has been
held incomunicado. It is not known where she was dotripod.
The British Embassy said today that it was not planning to sond anyone
to visit or see Mrs Yang unless she made contact and asked il to do so.
Three other British subjects arrested during the Cultural Rev. olution
are still being hell. They dire Mir Elsie Epstein, Mỹ Michael Shapiro
and Mr David Crook. They worked as translators 10 Peking
The Chinese have so far refused to allow British diplomats to see them,
but Mrs Yang's relossa is soon as a further stop forward in
the improvement of Sino-British relations after the decision two weeks
ago to exchange ambassa dors.
It follows the freeing of two American prisoners_lasi Decem- Britons,
two ber. The three Americans and several other for eigners are still
being held by the Chinese bat the number of people in juls has dropped
sharply since the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1969.
Mr John Addis, Britain's new his 粥道 present
A Canton Ambassador,
letters of credence
either tomorrow or Thursday, the British Embassy disclosed inday. The
louers will be accepted by Me Tung
Pi-wu. the 86-year-old acting Chairman of the People's Republic, who is
spending the winter in the soubern city.
Mr Addis will be the only Western ambassador accredited to Peking who
speaks Chinese and i
served
China twice has before. Reuter.
Кир
& Enter
HF Tayler, Esq., 19 Clarence Road, Wroxall,
Ventnor,
Isle of Wight.
5 April, 1972.
It was most kind of you to write your letter of 31 March about your
sister, Gladys Yang.
I was also delighted to hear of her release, particularly as the news
came through during my last few days as Head of Far Eastern Department.
(по Потдам
teleplumed This Brown on 27/3 to inform her).
(J A L Morgan)
(=)
Jorn.
You wil
yourself
Richero.
414.
garciyacive
سين
Telephone
jentnor 974 852874
J. Morgan Esq. Foreign Office.
Dear Mr. Morgan,
19 Clarence Road,
Wroxall,
Ventnor,
10 (19)
Isle of Wight.
31st March 72
enth FEa per
Gladys Yang.
ack sert
Rejoicing in the good
news
n
بدی
5.4
that she is " Happily home & all is well aher which she cabled, I wish
to express the deep gratitude the family for your good offices securing
her release. It is
how thankful we
of
hard to
to you ;
say
we are
After her long residence with the Chinese I suspect they felt
that her detention was an
was an internal
2
Telephone
entnor 874
19 Clarence Road,
Wroxall,
Ventnor,
Isle of Wight.
matter. Some people here might forgive you for sharing this
I greatly appreciate your
view.
sustained efforts on her behalf, a feeling which extends to Mr. John
Denson and others if you can
blease extend
to pass
my
thanks to them.
as
It had very kind of you on news as quickly you did. We are all very
grateful.
My sister Hilda Brown tells
me
that
you
are
moving to another
Department. May I wish,
success in it.
Yours sincerely, HF Tayler.
you
all
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT. A
FM PEKING 322712Z
PESTRICTED
I
RESTRICTED
AP GOPY
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NO. 259 OF 30 MARCH INFO
ROUTINE HONG KONG
MIPT
GLADYS YANG
+
MRS YANG HAS CALLED AT THE EMBASSY TO RENEW HER PASSPORT AND WAS IN GOOD
HEALTH. SHE TOLD US THAT SHE HAD BEEN WELL TREATED WHILE IN DETENTION.
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH SHE WAS HELD WERE GOOD AND STANDARDS OF FOOD AND
HYGIENE HIGH.
SHE HAD NOW RETURNED TO HER OLD FLAT AND AFTER A SHORT REST
WOULD RESUME HER PREVIOUS JOB AS TRANSLATOR AT THE FOREIGN LANGUAGES
PRESS. SHE HAD BEEN RECEIVED BY HER FRIENDS AND
COLLEAGUES WITH A WARMTH WHICH WAS FAR BEYOND HER EXPECTATIONS,
HER HUSBAND HAD FEEN RELEASED AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME AND HAD RESUMED HIS
FORMER JOB IN THE FOREIGN LANGUAGES PRESS. SHE WAS EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT
EVERYTHING HAD TURNED OUT THE WAY IT HAD AND THAT SHE COULD LEAD HER
ORDINARY LIFE AGAIN. SHE WAS MOST GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO HAD TAKEN AND
INTEREST. IN HER WELL BEING.
ADDIS
FILES
F.E.D.
CONSULAR DEPT
NEWS DEPT
MR WILFORD
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
RESTRICTED
18
LATIEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
FM PEKING 3826302
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RE Seven RA
الله
Enter
17
X.C
Mr
良
@
Mr Bat
30/3
TO INMEDIATE FCO TELEGRAM NO. 25" OF 30 MARCH INFO ROUTINE see.
TO HONG KONG.
MY TELEGRAM NO 212:
GLADYS YANG,
FEC 14/3
ARS YANG CALLED ON CONSUL AT-THE EMBASSY THIS MORNING.
SHE LOOKED IN GOOD HEALTH, SPOKE SLOWLY, AND SEEMED A LITTLE
PAZEG.
3.
SHE SAID SHE HAD RETURNED HOME ON TUESDAY TO HER FLAT AT THE FOREIGN
LANGUAGES PRESS WHERE SHE HAD BEEN WARMLY WELCOMED FEYOND HER
EXPECTATIONS BY HER FRIENDS AND COLLEACUES.
THE FLAT
*A PEEN PALUTED AND WAS FILLED WITH FLOWERS. WHEN SHE COMMENTED THAT
THIS WAS A BOURGEOIS WAY TO WELCOME SOMEONE HOME THE ANSWER CAME BACK
THAT IT WAS DONE ON THE ORDERS OF THE PARTY, HER HUSBAND WAS THERE TO
GREET HER. HE HAD REEN RELEASED A WEEK EARLIER. BOTH WERE TO HAVE THEIR
OLD JOBS BACK AND HER HUSBAND HAD ALREADY BEEN TOLD THAT HE WOULD BE
PAID THE SAME SALARY AS BEFORE (WHICH WAS VERY HIGH) AND WOULD RECEIVE
FULL BACK PAY. WHEN HE DEMURRED AT THIS HE WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PARTY
POLICY. ONE OF MRS YANG'S CHILDREIFAS ALREADY JOINED THE FAMILY, THE
OTHER TWO (OKE IN MANCHURIA AND ONE IN HUPEI) ARE ON THEIR
WAY TO PEKING.
·
3. MRS YANG TOLD US THAT SHE HAD BEEN DETAINED FOR ''PASSING INFORMATION
TO AN ENEMY''. THIS CONSISTED OF THE CONTENTS OF LETTERS SHE HAD WRITTEN
TO HER FAMILY DURING THE TURMOIL OF THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION,
PARTICULARLY WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS UNDER ATTACK WHICH INCLUDED MATTERS
'NOT PUPLISHED IN THE PEOPLE'S DAILY''. SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN KEPT
IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT SOMEWHERE IN PEKING (SHE DID NOT KNOW WHERE): IN
CHINESE EYES THIS AMOUNTED TO BETTER TREATMENT THAN BEING IMPRISONED IN
THE CCMPANY OF OTHERS. SHE SAID THAT HER CONDITIONS OF IMPRISONMENT WERE
VERY GOOD. STANDARDS OF FOOD AND HYGIENE WERE HIGH
4.
THE MAIN REASON FOR MRS YANG'S VISIT WAS TO RENEW HER
ALTHOUGH PASSPORT (C 171112) WHICH EXPIRED ON 19 SEPTEMBER 1968. SHE
SAID THAT SHE WOULD BE HAPPY TO GREET THE AMBASSADOR (WHO
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.