put to them on 7 February about their future intent-
ions towards Mr. Grey and their reactions to the
official suggestion of an exchange.
Via
/3.
3. We have been discussing with the Chinese author-
ities their demands for special visits to Communist
prisoners in Hong Kong, which they link to consular
visits to Mr. Grey. But in view of the present state
of negotiations it would be helpful not to mention
this in the House.
4. It is quite clear that Mr. Royle will continue to
ask questions and seek publicity about Mr. Grey until
the latter is released. Since such questioning could
produce a situation in which it became hrder to work
for Mr. Grey's release, I think there would be much
advantage in Mr. Royle being seen privately by a
Minister so that he could be told in confidence what
we are trying to do for Mr. Grey and what difficulties
were being met.
5.
I attach a draft reply and draft supplementaries.
I do not know M: Royle,
but provided he to
Jama Umy.
reasonably discret
//
(James Murrey)
21 Feoru ry,1968
/ Su
much advantage and for risks
in speaking to homin
m
as recommended.
#
and when the time
Comas
for publicity
hr
could entit his help in this abso.
Philkerson
#hwary 21. 1968.
PREVIOUS REFERENCES
Flag A
Flag B
Flag C
Flag D
· E
P.Q. by Mr. Royle, 20 December, 1957
P.Q. by Mr. Royle, 21 December, 1967
P.. by Mr. Royle, 22 Janu.ry, 1968
P.2. by Mr. Whitaker, 16 Feoru ry,1968
-Thr. Rayle 21 February, 1968
NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES
Retaliation against NCNA in London
My sr. Lon. Friend is
→ prepared to consider any action which would
help Mr. Grey's position. He downot at this stage wish to commit him
action might take.
about the precise form such
2.
Exchange of Mr. Grey for the NCNA prisoners Hon; Kong.
I hope that Hon. Members will remember that
NONA reporters imprisoned in Hong Kong were sentenced
by due process of law. Mr. Grey has been held under house arrest as an
arbitrary act of political retalia-
tion. Since, however, the Chinese have chosen to link
the case of lir. Grey with that of NCNA reporters in
Hong Kong, I do not exclude the possibility of some
arrangement, such as an exchange, being arrived at.
I
IT
I
}
Fe13/13
Mr J. Murray
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
11 March, 1968.
11 Manute.
37
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
1 5 MAR 1968
F213/13
Mr Mr Hall
I am writing to confirm the arrangements
we made for Mr. Royle to call at the Foreign Office at 4.50 p.m. on
Wednesday, 13 March to see Mr. James Murray, the Head of our Far Eastern
Department, and then to have a further word with Mr. Rodgers.
(D.B. Merry)
Assistant Private Secretary
to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary
+
:
Private Secretary to
Anthony Royle, Esq., M.P., House of Commons.
pa.
MAM
1/iii
+
2
+
+
t
Reference.
RESTRICTED
SO
(ARV: 5 No.3 .
14 MAR 1968
F43/13
MR, J, MURRAY
Detentions in China
Mr. Rodgers had a word in the House of Commons yesterday evening about
Mr. Grey after your session with him. Mr. Royle had found his discussion
with you very useful and was impressed by the extent of our efforts on
Mr. Grey's behalf. He said he could understand that publicity at this
stage would not help and proposed to take his Parliamentary Question off
the Order Paper.
2. Mr. Rodgers thanked him for his understanding; he assured him that we
would keep him informed of any new developments so that Mr. Royle could
take any Parliamentary initiative in the future which the circumstances
justified.
3. They also discussed Mr. Watt.
Mr. Royle said he would put a Question down for oral Answer on Monday,
18 March in order to get the matter on to the Order Paper. The Question
will not in fact be reached and the Answer will go written.
Copy to Sir D. ALLEN
Mr. Grubb
Richard Camme
News Department
(R.C. Samuel) 14 March, 1968.
-
Mc 12/14/3 Ms Shayland.
Manda
11.3
Mr James Murray CMG Far Eastern Department The Foreign Office Downing
Street
SW1
REUTERS
Mr Grey of hunters
KECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
8 March 1968
Mr Rodgers may
be put.
see the Round's fettet.
Fund 49
trusted to
Dear Mr Murray
; 12 MAR 1968
James
Hurray
10 Touch.
M. Mamy
Thank you
B
F<13/13
Thank you for your letter. Since receiving it we have had a further
report from Mr Round who has replaced Mr Casey as our Chief
Representative in Hongkong. I enclose a copy of Mr Round's letter.
Yours sincerely
2
Gold Lay.
11 Haula.
Mr Shaifanel F. 1/3
MJ
R
13
73
Gerald Long General Manager Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4
Telephone Fleet Street 6060
P
ཚནཡ
CONFIDENTIAL
The General Manager LONDON
REUTERS
HONGKONG
February 28, 1968
Cone's sand to DAC
& Music Al
ack 5-3-68 NSW
Reuters Limited, 7th Floor, Gloucester Building P. O. Box 430 Hongkong.
Tel: 225928, 236693. Telex 310
Dear Sir:
MM
I L
off them.
I serviced Mr. Underhill yesterday advising that Mr. David Oancia, of
the Toronto Globe and Mail, told me Tony Grey was reported to be eating
well and putting on weight.
This information came from the A.F.P. driver who, as you know, is the
son of Mr. Grey's cook.
Mr. Dancia, who is here on leave, said milk and coal was being delivered
regularly to the house, smoke was coming out of the chimney regularly
and the lights were on most nights in the downstairs rooms. The curtains
in the upstairs rooms remain drawn and the rooms appear to be unused. Mr
Cancia said the regular delivery of coal and milk and the regular
appearance of smoke and lights had occurred only since Christmas.
MI.
A British diplomat told Mr. Dancia that Mr. Grey had signed cheque's
recently, but he does not know how the diplomat got this information.
You may already know that Peking correspondents and diplomats made up a
Christmas box for Mr. Grey. So many contributed that it came to an
embarrassingly large three crates and the Foreign Ministry declined to
deliver it. The Foreign Ministry was asked in January if it would
deliver letters and cards which accompanied the gifts. The ministry said
it would but
Mr. Oencia had not heard whether, in fact, these had been delivered.
+
The General Manager London
t
N
February 28, 1968
We play col this down.
1
I am afraid Mr. Oancia was unable to give me much additional information
and I appreciate that what he did tell me you may already have beard'
from the Foreign Office.
He said Chinese officials were generally more cordial to correspondents
since the New Year, but they had been unable to get any information from
the officials about Mr. Grey.
Mr. Chipp may be interested to know, in the context of his discussions
with the Pakistanie, that Mr. Oancia told me, in confidence, that Mr.
Hopson himself had asked the Pakistan Ambassador in Feking for assistanc
in getting exit permits for his own staff.
Mr. Cancia said Pakistan was concerned about its own relations with
China and the ambassador was obviously reluctant to push too hard on
behalf of the British.
Many of the British diplomats and their families are now clearly showing
the strain of their ordeal. Mr. Dancia said some of the British women
had their pants taken off by Red Guards during the attack on the mission
and some were superficially sexually assaulted. I mention this because I
do not recall having seen it reported at the time.
I am arranging to send a monthly parcel to Mr. Grey as you suggested and
I would welcome any suggestions Mrs. Grey might have for items to
include in this.
I hope to see Mr. Anthony Elliot, the Hong Kong political adviser, again
soon and hope I may get something further from him.
Yours faithfully,
Back Hound
Derek Round
Chief Representative
DLR:ey
+
Pa
82 273
RXX
to confinem reley home convert ettim.
Faves
B/s ; ARCHIVES No 31
RECEIVED IN
1 1 MAR 1968
F2+3/13
78
From HONG KONG 27.2.68,
TY LED
2137 SERVICE REUTER LONDON
32130 prounderhill exround.
oancia says has reliable report
since new year
grey eating well and putting on weight, milk and coal delivered
regularly, smoke seen regularly and lights on regularly downstairs
rooms.
these not regular
prior new year.
lettering. REUTER
Noter Above message passed to DAG in New York via talk wire
(47)
From: Anthony Royle, M. P.
Аса
Bill
Recd.8/3.
FED
ato com H&M S
HOUSE OF COMMONS LONDON, SWI
RE.
Y
ARCHIVEɔ No 31
+
: 1 MAR 1968
F2-18/13
7th March, 1968-
Thank you for your letter about Anthony Grey.
I had understood from our talk last week that you would definitely know
one way or the other whether or not we were going to obtain access to
Anthony Grey this week,
I will, of course, be glad to meet your officials, but I must stress
that I cannot consider myself in any way tied as a result of talking to
them, regarding action which I may wish to take in the House of Commons.
I have therefore deferred my Question for a further week until Monday,
18th March.
I will get my Private Secretary to arrange a
time with yours.
い
You
A
し
William Rodgers, Esq., M. P.,
Foreign Office,
Downing Street,
S. W. 1.
GM
CONFIDENTIAL
The General Manager LONDON
REUTERS
46)
HONGKONG
February 28, 1968
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.5! :
1 1 MAR 1968
चिउ
13/13
C
-41005
ach 5-3-68 Hsw
Reuters Limited, 7th Floor, Gloucester Building P. O. Box 430 Hongkong.
Tel: 225928, 236693. Telex 310
Dear Sir:
IRH
I serviced Mr. Underhill yesterday advising that Mr. David Dancia, of
the Toronto Globe and Mail, told me Tony Grey was reported to be eating
well and putting on weight.
This information came from the A.F.P. driver who, as you know, is the
son of Mr. Grey's cook.
Mr. Oancia, who is here on leave, said milk and coal was being delivered
regularly to the house, smoke was coming out of the chimney regularly
and the lights were on most nights in the downstairs rooms, The curtains
in the upstairs rooms remain drawn and the rooms appear to be unused.
Cancia said the regular delivery of coal and milk and the regular
appearance of smoke and lights had occurred only since Christmas.
Mr.
A British diplomat told Mr. Gancia that Mr. Grey had signed cheques
recently, but he does not know how the diplomat got this information.
You may already know that Peking correspondents and diplomats made up a
Christmas box for Mr. Grey. So many contributed that it came to an
embarrassingly large three crates and the Foreign Ministry declined to
deliver it. The Foreign Ministry was asked in January if it would
deliver letters and carde which accompanied the gifta. The ministry said
it would but Mr. Dancia had not heard whether, in fact, these had been
delivered.
The General Manager London
- 2
February 28, 1968
+
I am afraid Mr. Oancia was unable to give me much additional informatio
and I appreciate that what he did tell me you may already have heard
from the Foreign Office.
He said Chinese officials were generally more cordial to correspondents
since the New Year, but they had been unable to get any information from
the officials about Mr. Grey.
1
F
·
From the Parliamentary
Under-Secretary
45
Foreign Office
S.W.1
5 March, 1968.
I see that your Question about Anthony Grey is now down at No. 57 for
Oral Answer on Monday next, 11 March.
I expect that this means that it will in fact receive a Written Answer,
but in any case at the moment it looks as if we shall be unable to say
more than I told you when we discussed the matter the other day. In
particular, although some progress has been made, I think it would be
optimistic to assume that access to him will be arranged within the next
few days.
In the circumstances I think it would be helpful if we went into the
matter further at some convenient time next week. In particular you
might find it an advantage to go through the course of events with
officials who have been dealing with the problem from here. You and I
could then have a further word about the Parliamentary possibilities and
the desirability or otherwise of further publicity.
If you think this is a good idea, perhaps you could telephone my Private
Office within the next few days and suggest a time next week, say on
Tuesday or Wednesday, which would be convénient for you.
I
Anthony Royle, Esq., M.P.,
House of Commons.
William Rodgers
:
B4 (4206)
43
Mr. Densex
Mr. J. Murray
Reference ..
+
10 30
Mr. 1/ an H. Why "/" (44)
он
News Jeppy
RECEIVELY IN
ARCHIVES No.31
- C MAR 1508
Mr. Anthony Royle F2137/13
Please see
Mr. Sanneet's
account
of Mr. Rodgers' meeting with Mr. Rogle
1.
We nunt act
خورد
we
early next week Pebling, but failing that,
that Mr. Lodgers should
pen. 3 hear from
I recommend
par Mr. Royle
again
and enunciate as poition
in defil.
I should have thought though that if
he then saw the
the you
we should
Youry Times), confidential information
be lucky. if no confidential
backed out. On balance it is probably worth
the risk.
MAY
Tak. 73 folis 37
Nobut
e
my
Jan. 6
работват
3. It is hard to take No. Royles. post
scrinesty.
to live proposed any
HIS MAY
на
By
He des not.
<
altorative section.
Mark A. Hall
4/3
| 9 thank
I think there would be advantage in Mr. Rodge's seeing Mr. Royle again
whether We have anything to report of not. I
agree
mat Mr. Royles' line is not very
constructive. If he dow su Mr. Rev. Mogg (me editor of The Twins) and
wige pribricity,
presumator we cont
Yackle min also and
in disadvantages.
Чи
explansi the positim
M
SUM
abro mis approam
We shouw teview
Su. D. Hops reports prism visita.
John Denson
1|3.
I shankel libe to dis was this will
¡
¡ Mr Rodgers
Mr Sammel.
4 or 5 Rawk.
Мал
Прив
Yes, Forrow.
4.768
1
1
Far Eastern Department.
East
RESTRICTED
RECEIVED k
ARCHIVES No 5!
- G MAR 1968
FL13//13
Mr. Royle called on Mr. Rodgers this morning as arranged.
2. Mr. Rodgers explained the situation as it stands at present though
without going into the finer points of detail. Mr. Royle said he could
understand our own position but was becoming increasingly impatient with
the lack of progress; unless there were some results soon he felt he
would have no alternative but to promote publicity about the case.
3. He said he would defer his Question for one week and would hope to
hear from Mr. Rodgers early in the week beginning 3 March what response
there had been to our latest initiative in Peking. If the outcome was
not satisfactory he thought he might have to see Mr. William
Rees-Mogg_and discuss the case with him. If Mr. Röyle is to be stopped
Mr. Rodgers thinks he will need to go through the case with him in
considerable detail to make clear exactly what all the elements in the
situation have been.
4. Mr. Royle expressed dissatisfaction with the attitude of Reuters: he
felt that they were trying to keep the case quiet in their own wider
interests rather than in those of Mr. Grey.
Ruching Sammel
(R.C. Samuel) 29 February, 1968
RESTRICTED
3
2-3
28/2
Mr. Samuel
RESTRICTED
RECEIVED IN ¡ARCHIVES No.31
| -C MAR 1368
E13/13.
42)
է
CALL OF MR. ANTHONY ROYLE, M.P., ON MR. ROLGERS
Mr. Anthony Royle, M.P., is to call on Mr. Rodgers at
11.30 a.m. on Thursday, 29 February to discuss the case of
Mr. Anthony Grey, Reuters' correspondent in Peking.
2. It was agreed after Mr. Royle's fourth Parliamentary
Question about Mr. Grey that he should call on a Minister for
confidential briefing.
3. While we cannot directly ask Mr. Royle to stop asking
questions for the time being, we would hope that when the
position has been explained to him, he may decide that Mr. Grey's
position will not be helped by further intervention by
himself at this stage. A major publicity campaign about Mr.
Grey would undoubtedly increase pressure for action against
the New China News Agency in London, which in our view would
not help towards breaking the deadlock over exit visas for the
Mission or, indeed, help Mr. Grey himself.
4. I attach talking points and a background note.
Jame Humany
(James Kurray)
28 February, 1968
+
RESTRICTED
ра
на ман
73
Fe13/13 (1.4+3)
RESTRICTED
CALL OF MR. ANTHONY ROYLE, M.P., ON MR. RODGERS
MR. ANTHONY GREY
Background
Mr. Grey was placed under house arrest in Peking on
23 July in retaliation for the arrest and imprisonment in
Hong Kong of a New China News Agency (N.C.N.A.) journalist
called Hsueh P'ing. Since 18 August telephone communication
with Kr. Grey's house has been cut off by the Chinese and no
member of our Mission in Peking has been allowed to see him.
Mr. Grey was, however, allowed to receive one parcel from our
Mission in early December and to send telegrams to his mother,
girl friend and Reuters just before Christmas. His girl
friend in England has informed Reuters that she received a
further telegram from Mr. Grey about a month ago in which he
said that he was receiving her letters and telegrams.
2. Our Mission in Peking have made repeated attempts to
secure consular access to Mr. Grey but all, so far, without
success. We have also tried in various ways to secure Mr. Grey's
release. In the letter which the Secretary of State sent to
the Chinese Foreign Minister, Ch'en Yi, on 31 August, he
suggested that it might be possible to arrange for the release
from Hong Kong of the Chinese "newspaper men and news agency
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.