CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
Cypher/Cat A
INNED LATE FOREIGN OFFICE
TO
PEKING
lno 71
19 January 1968 (F)
CONFIDENTIAL
20
pe
Your telegram No. 58: Grey.
Following is text of draft reply:
"We are trying in a number of ways to secure Hr. Grey's release and, as
a first step, consular access to him. although Her Majesty's Chargé
d'Affaires has made numerous representations to the Chinese authorities,
I regret that none has so far proved successful. I can assure Members of
the House that we remain extremely concerned about the treatment of Mr.
Grey and will continue to do everything possible to help him."
SOSFA
FILES
F.E.D.
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+
CONFIDENTIAL
221
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
FC13183
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS (Date).
Confidential Kelicted
Immediate Apterity
Koutina
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressee(s)
1971
Cont
22
ER
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Slair. Code Cypher
Draft Telegram 6:
PEKING. 71
No....
(Date)
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-if any
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if any
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HAYTHANK da ma
Pelenty
191 repeated for information to
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PARANDALIMANTAN SENTENTIAN
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GREY.
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12.19/1
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We are
Distributio
Although Her Majesty's
trying in a number of ways to secure Kr. Òray'
release and, as a first step, consular acosas to him.
Representative has made numerous
Chargé d'Affa..
Blai
representations to the
Chinese authorities, I regret
Re
Copies to:
dstalled statuent
that mons of these has so far proved successful.
hopes of suceer right, iSHIRE,
vere-made-at this stage. I can assure
we
Kambers of the House that remain extremely concerned
(will
about the treatment of Mr. Grey and I spall continue to
do everything possible to help him.
B
JB
MIKE, be prejudie
rejudiced if
+
■
[Signature]
[Date]
T
KEL.
DISTRIBUTION
ADVANCE
COPIES TO:-
(9782), 032641, 1.200 pads. 1/67. P. & 3. Op.999/167. (9866). 391958.
1,000 jadi. 6747. 7. & 1. 00.999/167,
Gede or Code R
GRAMT
INWARD TELEGRAM
REGENED IN ¡ARCHIVES No.31
Cypher/OP CAT
FROM
19 JAN 1968
Perine 13/13.0
Her Hopson
1 55
No.
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1972 January
Immedia
Lite
[Priority).
20
Confidential
27
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TOP COPY
[Distribution
Heading]
16 Foreign Office
D. 03122 hrs 19 January R0701 hrs. 19 January
Your Telegram No 58:
Tom on GREY.
Question
Parliamentary
No doubt you will be telegraphing
text of reply.
The text has already
been sent
par
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1. Mr Bates 11. R.129
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Reking. No. 58 (Date) 1511
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ask SOSFA what action he is now taking to obtain the release from house
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will make
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Following Parliamentary Quation is down for answer
22 August.
How
"Mr Huthony Royle: To
jask SOSFA. What action he is
taking to obtain the release from house delenton
of The Authong Grey Reuters correspondent in Acking; and if he will make
a statement.
Le Disturbation
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Fa13/13.
Foreign Office
S.W.1
From the Parliamentary
Under-Secretary
9 January, 1968.
li
Der Bart.
As George Brown is in Japan, I am writing to thank you for your letter
of 29 December, with which you enclosed a letter from a group of your
constituents enquiring about Mr. Anthony Grey, Reuters' correspondent in
Peking.
On 23 July Mr. Grey was placed under house arrest in Peking apparently
in retaliation for the arrest and imprisonment of a New China News
Agency reporter,
Hsueh P'ing, in Hong Kong. I should add that Mr. Hsueh P'ing is not a
Chinese citizen. He was tried for involvement
in anti-police riots and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. On 18
August Mr. Grey's telephone was cut off. Since then strenuous efforts
have been made both in Peking and London to obtain consular access to
Mr. Grey. None of these requests has been granted. However, we believe
that he is unharmed, and still living in his own house. Mr. Grey was
allowed to receive a parcel of foodstuffs and other items in early
December, He was also able to send telegrams to his mother and to
Reuters reporting that he was in good health.
I very much share the concern of your constituents for Mr. Grey. I have
seen his mother and the Department keep her closely informed about
developments in Peking affecting her son. Unfortunately his case is more
complicated than merely securing the release of a British subject
irregularly detained in China. Since the detention as in retaliation for
action in Hong Kong it is involved with the general question of
Sino-British relations and the maintenance of our authority in the
Colony. When considering the advisability of widespread publicity about
the case, or
Bert Hazell, Esq., C.B.E., J.P., M.P.,
House of Com.nons.
/retaliation
cater gun
i
DA
·
NO
retaliation against the Chinese, we have to bear in mind that these
could cause Mr. Grey's position to become still more unpleasant. The
Chinese might, for example, prefer specific charges against him which up
to now they have not done and possibly put him on trial. This would
certainly make matters worse and put back the eventual day of his
release. I can assure you, however, that all possible courses of action
are being constantly examined and the British Chargé d'Affaires in
Peking, despite the handicaps under which he himself works, losês no
opportunity to represent to the Chinese on Mr. Grey's behalf.
+
Please assure your constituents that, in co-operation with Reuters, we
are doing everything possible to help Mr. Grey. I am returning their
letter.
m
سلام
William Rodgers
=
(635) D4033274 300m 10/66 G.W.R.Lad Gp.863
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry
No.
長引
F13/13 DRAFT
Letter
Type 1 +
To:-
From
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
Staff in Confidence.
Bert Hazell, Esq., C.B.E.,
J.P., M.P.,
Mr. Rodgers
Telephone No. & Ext.
House of Commone
Department
Enclosuter
Letter av Thay
B
As George Brown is in Japan, I am writing
to thank you for your letter of 29 December,
with which you enclosed a letter from a group
of your constituenta enquiring about Mr.
Anthony Grey, Reuters correspondent in
Peking.
On 23 July Mr. Grey was placed under
house arrest in Peking apparently in retalia-
tion for the arrest and imprisonment of a
New China News Agency reporter, Hsueh P'ing,
in Hong Kong. I should add that Mr. Haueh
Ping is not a Chinese citizen.
He was
tried for involvement in anti-police riots
and sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
On 18 August Mr. Grey's telephone was cut
off. Since then strenuous efforts have
been made both in Peking and London to obtain
consular access to Mr. Grey. None of these
requests has been granted.
However, we
believe that he is unharmed, and still living
in his own house. Mr. Grey was allowed to
receive a parcel of foodstuffs and other
items in early December, He was also able
to send telegrams to his mother and to
Reuters reporting that he was in good health,
/I.
son.
Vany manda
I share the concern of your constituents
for Mr. Grey. I have seen his mother and
the Department keep her closely informed
about developmente in Peking affecting her
Unfortunately his case is more com-
plicated than merely securing the release
of a British subject irregularly detained
in China. Since the detention was in
retaliation for action in Hong Kong it is
involved with the general question of Sino-
British relations and the maintenance of our
authority in the Colony. When considering
the advisability of widespread publicity
about the case, or retaliation against the
Chinese, we have to bear in mind that these
could cause Mr. Grey's position to become
still more unpleasant. The Chinese might,
for example, prefer specific charges against
him which up to now they have not done and
possibly put him ăn trial. This would
certainly make matters worse and put back
the eventual day of his release.
assure you, however, that all possible courses
مار
I can
of action are kept under constant review and
the British Chargé d'Affaires in Peking,
despite the handicaps under which he met hi
works, loses no opportunity to represent to
the Chinese on Mr. Grey's behalf.
Please assure your constituents that, in
co-operation with Reuters,
with Reuters, we are doing every- thing possible to help Mr. Grey. J
returning that lake.
ولة
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
..
Flage A (17) and B
Flags and D
Mr. Samuel
در
Mr. Hazell's Letter about
Mr. Anthony Gray
RECEIVED IN 'ARCHIVES Na.31;
1 1 JAN 1968
FC13/13
I attach a draft reply to Mr. Hazell's letter of
18
29 December which covered a letter from a group of his con-
stituents.
2.
Following the article in the Sunday Times on 7 January,
we shall be making a submission about the question of fur-
ther publicity for Mr. Grey. This will include consideration
of possible retaliation against the New China News Agency
in London if there is no progress over the case. In the
meantime, I think we shall have to be fairly cautious in
replying to letters of this kind. For this reason, I have
followed the general line adopted in answers to lettere
from other Members of Parliament, e.g. Mr. Judd and Mr.
Lipton.
Am Denson
(J.B. Densen) 8 January, 1968
*་
MAH
From Bert Hazell, C.B.E., J.P., M.P.,
Azk
S..
F.E.
Десь дейде
+
ทา
House of Commons,
cn
London, S.W.1
M. Rrifes, 2(th. December 1967
g= 1/1
I am attaching hereto, a letter I have received from
the Holt & District Round Table which is in my constituency.
I would be grateful for any information you can give
concerning this man, and if you could let me know whether any
efforts are being made to locate his whereabouts, and possible
release. I assume Reuter's will have approached you in the matter, as
Gray appears to be a member of their staff.
Best wishes for 1968
Rt. Hon.G.Brown, M.P.,
Yours sincerely But
Sec. of State for Foreign Affairs
Foreign Office
Downing Street
London, S.W.1.,
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