fco-21-144-letters-and-pqs-about-anthony-grey — Page 3

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203 FC13/13

Foreign Office

London SW1

(77

A

From The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

29 April, 1968.

J

Jm

Ma Bradley

·

You will recall that, when I wrote to you on 11 April about Mr. Anthony
Grey, I said that I would let you know of any progress.

You will know that since I wrote we have in the

You

event made a little progress. The Chargé d'Affaires in Peking, Sir
Donald Hopson, was able to visit Mr. Grey for twenty minutes on the
afternoon of 23 April. will have seen in the press the accounts of the
visit that were relayed by correspondents in Peking whom Sir Donald
Hopson briefed. There is nothing further of substance I can add. I need
hardly say we were immensely relieved to learn that Mr. Grey was in good
health and bearing up very well under his ordeal. You may have seen my
statement in the House of Commons on 25 April in which I said that we
shall continue to do all we can to secure an improvement in Mr. Grey's
conditions and his early release.

n Sübsch

Julia Rodgers

William Rodgers

H.J. Bradley, Esq.,

General Secretary,

National Union of Journalists,

Acom House,

314/20 Gray's Inn Road,

LONDON, W.0.1.

Ра

P.a sex fo

176

Foreign Office

SW.1

From the Parliamentary

Under-Secretary

F213/13.

11 April, 1968.

RECEIVED IN

ES No.31

Jo8

L

Thank you for your letter of 28 March.

I have delayed replying in the hope that I should have some definite
news for you. We have continued to apply all possible pressure to the
Chinese to obtain access to Mr. Grey as a prelude to his release. I
summoned the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires to the Foreign Office on 5 April
to protest about the treatment of British subjects in China, in
particular the Chinese failure to give us information about and access
to them. I made particular reference to Mr. Grey and stressed that the
British Government had always regarded the case with the utmost gravity.
We have reason to think that our representations are having an effect,
and I hope to be able to report to you very soon that progress has been
made. In the meantime, may I once again ask for your forbearance on the
question of publicity.

H.J. Bradley, Esq.,

General' Secretary,

Acorn House.

William Rodgers

National Union of Journalists,

314/320 Gray's Inn Road,

LONDON, W.0.1.

мны pa

18/4

י

60/4

Mr. Sander

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN

IVES N. 31

F213/13

Flag A

1

Mr. Anthony Grey

I attach a draft reply to the letter of 28 March from

Mr. Bradley, General Secretary of the National Union of

Journalists.

Flag By 2. When Mr. George Brown received a deputation from the

National Union of Journalists on 21 February he said that

he would like to be given a further three or four weeks to

try and make progress over the case. If this was not possible

there might be no alternative to publicity. Mr. Bradley agreed

to discuss the matter further before launching any public

campaign.

3. Since additional visits have been made by N.C.N.A. in

Hong Kong to their colleagues and to other "patriotic"

journalists in prison, we have every hope that access will

be granted soon to Mr. Grey. Publicity at this stage might

prejudice our chance of obtaining success, particularly since

New China News Agency agreed with the Hong Kong authorities

to respect the confidential nature of the talks. (If the

question of the connexion with Mr. Grey is raised by the press

in Hong Kong, the authorities intend to say that the case was

not considered there, but that the visits reflect the improved

atmosphere in Sino-Hong Kong relations.) I had hoped to delay

a reply to Mr. Bradley until we had confirmation that we would

/get

CONFIDENT IAL

CONFIDENTIAL

2

get access to Mr. Grey, but since this has not been possible,

we shall have to stall.

4. We have been in touch with Mr. Gerald Long of Reuters

who has also agreed that they will say nothing for the

moment and do what they can to discourage any journalist

who wished to publicise the case.

Your Munny

(James Murray) 10 April, 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

WAEL SI 2421

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry 13/13.

No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret Secret.

Confidential,

Restricted.

Unclasified.

PRIVACY MARKING

Copy to:

In Confidence

Mr. J. Murray

p... Man

1/4

DRAFT

Letter

To:-

K. Ames, Esq.,

(and others),

Inter hotel, Aleron,

Prague.

55

Type 1 +

From

Mr. Haydon

68

Telephone No. & Ext.

Department

News (PC)

Thank you for your letter of 17 March

about Mr. Anthony Grey.

The Foreign Secretary, is greatly

concerned about Kr. Grey as was his

predece. sor. We have made strenuous efforts

to obtain both his release and consular access

to hims so far, unfortunately, without

8136668. On the day on which Mr. Grey was

detained (21 July 1967), Mr. Rodgers,

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the

Foreign Offios, lodged a strong protest with

the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires in London, and

demanded his immediate release and immedia te

consular s00888, A parallel protest was n de

by the British Chargé d'Affaires in Peking.

Both protests were rejected. Apart from this

over a dozen formal approaches hurve been made

to the Chinese with a view either to release or

consular access, Besides these formal

representations, there have been repeated

telephone calls to the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs in Peking none of which has produced a

favourable response from the Chinese.

As the

Chinese arrested his in retaliation for the

arrest and imprisonment of Heush P*ing, a

journalist employed by the New Chinu News Agency

in Hong Kong, his case is closely connected wit

wider issues of Bino-British relations which we

are pursuing with the Ghiness, In the meantime

we shall continue to press for consular sc0988

/to

to Er, Gray and for his release.

On 21 February, Ir. George Brown vent

over the case in detail with a deputɛtion from

the Comell of the Nutional Union of

Journalista..

As you will realise, publicity is e

double-edged weapon in our relations with

the Chinese.

So far both Reuters and

ourselves have felt that publicity would be

more likely to harm Mr. Grey than to persunde

the Chinese to release him. However, if our

efforts to help him continue to yield no

results, publicity may become inevitable,

and we should certainly do not rule it out as

a line of action,

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

E13/13,

67

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.I

10 April, 1968

66

Thank you for your letter of

8 April enclosing messages for delivery to Mr. Anthony Grey in Peking.
These have now been despatched to the Chargé d'Affaires.

LAST

KEF

NEX1

나.

66

(J. B. Denson)

Far Eastern Department

Gerald Long, Esq.,

General Hangesht

Reuters

85 Fleet Street,

London, I.C.4.

pr.

E

VEEL SI-ZON

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

G

67

Registry 3/13

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret.

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted. Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

DRAFT

To:

Geraw Long Esq,

Reux

Type 1 +

From

No. & Ext.

Departme

Thank you for your

letter of 8 Apus enclosing

mi.

messages for delivers Ms. Anthony Grey in

in Petry,

There have now bun Suparmer to the Chango

*Affario

Mr John Boyd Denson OBE

Far Eastern Department

The Foreign Office

Downing Street

SW1

REUTERS

8 April 1968

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

1 1 APR 368

FC13/13

to

Dear Mr Denson

I was most grateful to you for your telephone call this morning and for
the news that you might possibly be on the point of obtaining consular
access to Mr Anthony Grey in Peking.

I enclose herewith three messages: one from Mr Grey's mother, one from
Mr Grey's colleagues on Reuters staff in London and the third from
myself and the Reuter management. If it is possible I would be most
grateful if these messages could be passed to Mr Grey.

Yours sincerely

Geold Lay.

LAT

KEF.

NEZI

67

Ha.

$47.

Mr

Myshim the ope

I win acknowlige after the despai

The Pelegloom

John Jensen ไม่ Ju pm 16/4

Gerald Long General Manager Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4
Telephone Fleet Street 6060

Ed (166)

·

Tel & the

Mr. Murray /r

CONFIDENTIAL*

Reference.

Mr. Anthony Grey

IVED IN WES N..

1 | APR 1500

F213/13

F21319/173)

On receiving aking telegram No. 289 I #elephoned Mr. Gerald Long of
Reuters, in the absence of Kr. Chipp. I told him that it now seemed
possible that consular access would be granted to Mr. Grey fairly soon
as satisfactory arrangements had been made for additional visits to be
paid to N.C.N.A. representatives and "patriotic journalists" in Hong
Kong. It would however be dangerous to count our chickens before they
are hatched. I suggested that he might like to consider messages from
Reuters and from Mr. Grey's mother and indicated that we would be
willing to transmit them. Mr. Long said he would be in touch with me
again very

goon.

2. Mr. Long also raised the question of publicity about Mr. Grey and
said he was still not convinced that the best course was to keep quiet.
He agreed however that we should wait until it had been possible to
visit Mr. Grey and then review the matter again. I undertook to ask Mr.
Rodgers to arrange a meeting with Mr. Long in the fairly near future.

Copies to:

Mr. Samuel

Mr. Smart

Mr. Boyd

Jam Jenson

(J. B. Denson) 8 April, 1968

Jaz pa 14/4

CONFIDENTIAL

F13/13

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING

TELNO 349

9 APRIL 1968 (FED)

64

Jumpa mpy

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 349 OF 9 APRIL

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG,

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 289.

FOLLOWING ARE TEXTS OF MESSAGES FROM MR GREY'S MOTHER,

MR. GERALD LONG AND REUTERS' LONDON STAFF TO BE DELIVERED IF A VISIT IS
POSSIBLE.

HELLO, MY DARLING TONY, IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH
YOU AFTER ALL THESE MONTHS, WE ARE SO PLEASED THAT THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN
ALLOWED TO REACH YOU. WE ARE ENJOYING OUR FIRST EFFORT IN THE HOTEL
TRADE IN PERTHSHIRE. JUNE AND THE BOYS ALL SEND THEIR LOVE. I HOPE YOU
ARE RECEIVING MY PARCELS WITH A FEW PERSONAL ITEMS WHICH I KNOW YOU WILL
ENJOY.

WE ALL HOPE THE AUTHORITIES WILL LOOK KINDLY ON YOUR CASE AND LET YOU
REJOIN YOUR FAMILY WHO ARE MISSING YOU SO TERRIBLY.

ALL MY LOVE DARLING, MUM,

I AND MY COLLEAGUES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF REUTERS SEND YOU WARMEST
GREETINGS ON THE OCCASION OF THIS FIRST CONTACT THROUGH CONSULAR
CHANNELS. WE REALISE THAT TO OUTWARD APPEARANCE LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE BUT
ASSURE YOU THAT AND MY COLLEAGUES CONSIDER YOUR SITUATION DAILY AND HAVE
BEEN SATISFIED SO FAR THAT THE CONSTANT CONTACTS WHICH WERE TAKING PLACE
OFFERED THE BEST HOPE OF IMPROVING YOUR SITUATION, WE EAGERLY AWAIT
FIRSTHAND NEWS OF YOU. MEANWHILE WE CAN ONLY WISH YOU STEADFAST COURAGE
AND ASSURE YOU THAT WE WILL ACT IN ANY WAY TO SECURE YOUR RELEASE WHICH
REMAINS OUR SOLE OBJECT.

WARMEST GREETINGS FROM ALL YOUR COLLEAGUES IN LONDON EDITORIAL. YOU ARE
CONSTANTLY IN OUR THOUGHTS AND THE NEWS TE ARE ALL WAITING FOR IS THE
APPEARANCE OF THE TONY GREY BYLINE AGAIN. IN THE MEANTIME, KEEP YOUR
CHIN UP AND LETS HOPE IT WON'T BE LONG NOW.

SOSFA

FILES

F.E.D.

CONFIDENTIAL

8

9/44

tu༢!༣H

2.

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

F213/13

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should reach addressee(s)

(Date) ate);

Despatched...

12

TTT

Top-Secret Secret Confidential

Emergency Immediate

Unclassified

En Clair. Code- Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

Pexing

No........

(Date)

And to:-

349

+ LLAFALL‒‒‒‒

9/4

[ Security_classification

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

Confientid

PATIENTS su madr

--------‒‒‒‒‒‒÷-euteun-➖➖➖

Peking

telegram No.....

349

(date) 9 Aflic

+idator--------- BLAGADENOMINA++|+|----------------------------muurst

Hong Kong

And to

repeated for information to

➖➖ ➖➖➖ ➖➖ ➖ITEITEN +

PHILHAR

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Repeat to:-

Hong Kong

Saving to:-

642.

Saving to

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖---------

Your

relegram

No. 289

HEYS.

Following are fears of med

from A Catin's

[C] REUTERS

mother,

मिन

Mit Grove

Distribution:

Files

Long

and Renters' Loquent

Im

tim dekvaard of

a

visiti

75

F.ED

розо

possion.

Copies to:-

[HERE HiSET TEXTS / of 3 MESRATES ATTACHED

M

Masque

Tony Grey:

REUTERS

8 April 1968

с

Fe13/13 63

आउ

..ED IN "VES No 31

11 APRI008

Fe13/13

Warmest greetings from all your colleagues in London Editorial. You are

constantly in our thoughts and the news we are all waiting for is the
appearance of the Tony Grey byline again. In the meantime, keep your
chin up and lets hope it won't be long now,

Jesper 16/4

при

Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4 Telephone Fleet Street 6060
Telex 21638

Mr Anthony Grey Peking

B

REUTERS

8 April 1968

F12/13 (62)

FIVED IN

-

HIVES N■.31 1 1 APR 1968

F=13/13

I and my colleagues in the management of Reuters send you warmest
greetings on the occasion of this first contact through consular
channels. We realise that to outward appearance little has been done but
assure you that I and my colleagues consider your situation daily and
have been satisfied so far that the constant contacts which were taking
place offered the best hope of improving your situation. We eagerly
await firsthand news of you. Meanwhile we can only wish you steadfast
courage and assure you that we will act in any way to secure your
release which remains our sole object. ect

Build

!

lierald

Long

پال

Ja pm 16/4

ры

Gerald Long General Manager Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4
Telephone Fleet Street 6060

F=13/13 161

8 April 1968

MESSAGE FROM MRS GREY TO ANTHONY GREY

A

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

Îi muli wood

F213/13

We

Hello, my darling Tony. It is wonderful to be

able to make contact with you after all these months.

are so pleased that this message has been allowed to

reach you.

We are enjoying our first effort in the hotel

trade in Perthshire. June and the boys all send their

love. I hope you are receiving my parcels with a few

personal items which I know you will enjoy.

We all hope the Authorities will look kindly on your

case and let you rejoin your family who are missing you

so terribly.

All my love darling, Mum

Jor. fm. 16/14

UNCLASSIFIED

(PEK/2)

1

..Ar..

F413/13.

Dear James;

60,

Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires,

PEKING.

25 March, 1968.

I see in the parliamentary report of the Times for Thursday 21 March an
answer by the Secretary of State to questions from Anthony Royle and
others on the Watt and Grey question. It would be very helpful

if you could telegraph to us en clair the text of similar questions and
answers in future. We would not normally want to be consulted about the
draft reply but we should like to know as soon as possible what
Ministers say on these questions.

Your

шел

Ласи валом

James Murray, Esq., C.M.G.,

Far Eastern Department.

Noted.

развити

(P. CRADOCK)

Mr Dejene in synimi op рия

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productive

Mr. Samuel

RESTRICTED

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