File No.
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PART
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FOREIGN OFFICE
SECRET
DEPT.
PRESS:
JOURNALIST
TITLE: CHINA!
DETENTION OF
MR. NORMAN BARRYMAINE
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OPENED
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FILE No.
"FC-13/17
SECRET
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Dawning Street,
PART
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Note No. 141
CAST PAPER
Jsport/5
VED IN
ES No.31
· 468
*
F2 13/12
The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires prcecnt their compliments to
the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
People's Republic of China, and have the honour to refer to their Fotes
numbered 76, 81 and 123 of the 24th of June, 4th of July and 17th of
August, 1968 which requested confirmation of the reported arrest of Mr.
Korman Barrymaine, details of any charges brought against him and
immediate consular access to him.
The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires have so far received no
reply to the above mentioned Noten. They again urgently request the
Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to furnish the
information requested on the above British subject and to pernit
izmediate consular access to his.
The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires avail themselves of this
opportunity to renew to the Consular Department of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China the assurance of their
highest consideration,
office of the British Chargé d'Affaires, FAKING
14 September, 1968
;
23
lete No. 123.
FC13/121
22
The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires present their compliments to
the Consular Department of the Xinistry of Foreign Affairs of the
People's Republic of China, and have the honour to refer to their Hetes
mubered 76 and 81 of the 24th of June, 1968 and the 4th of July, 1968
which requested confirmation of the reported arrest of Ir. Herman
Barrymaine, details of any charges brought against his and insediate
consular access to him.
so0085
The Office of
British Chargé d'Affaires have so
far received no reply to the above mentioned Notes. They again urgently
request the Consular Department of the Kinistry of Foreign Affairs te
furnish the informatien requested en the above British subject and to
permit inmediate consular
te
access to him.
The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires avail themselves of this
sppertunity to renew to the Consular Department of the Ministry of
Foreign Affaira of the People's Republic of China the assurance of their
highest consideration.
se of the British Chargé d'Affaires,
ра
17 August, 1968
UNCLASSIFIED
Boyd, Esol,
Eastern Department.
·
ན་སྐབས་
ات
تابت
177th the compliments of
THE OFFICE OF
IS LAITISH CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES
(A. J. HUNTER)
PEING
16 May, 1968
pay
تنمية
2
Ko. 52
RECEIVED IN
21
Fa13/17
The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires present
their compliments to the Consular Department of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of
China and have the honour to refer to their Note No. 29
of the 2nd of April about Mr. Norman Barrymaine, to which
they have not yet received a reply.
Bar Kajesty's Government are still very concerned at
the absence of information about Mr. Barrysa ina's
whereabouts and condition, in view of his age and state
of health. The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires
therefore request Consular Department to let them know urgently
whether Er. Barrysaine is in fact detained in China, and if
so, the reasons for his detention, may repeat their
request for urgent consular access to him.
The office of the British Chargé d'Affaires avail).
themselves of this opportunity to renew to the Consular
Department of the Hinistry of Foreign Affairs of the
People's Republic of China the assurance of their
highest consideration,
office of the British Chargé d'Affaires,
PEKING.
16 Bay, 1968.
WWW. Den to me 0.2
By Notes t'fe.
CONFIDENTIAL
Fe13/17
Dear John,
Mr. Demon
ि
in Shaman
Enter
This was merged to the view that.
Me fun
the thinon may skyte for the dilutin
Love a wrong haven the human sadjesta office of the British Chargé
d'Affaires,
aecypli for
Peking.
21 May, 1968.
Not Read
Hong Kong telegram No. 564 of 6 Hay to the Commonwealth Office gave some
account of the interrogation of Kurek, the Polish steward from the
"Hanoi", who was deported to Hong Kong in connection with the arrest in
Shanghai of Norman Barrymaine. I have since had an opportunity of
gleaning a few more facts from the Polish Chargé d'Affaires, which I
give below.
2. The Polish Chargé said that the main subjects on which both Kurek and
the Polish Master of the "Hanoi" were interrogated were the
circumstances under which Barrymaine embarked in Japan, what happened
when the ship called at a North Korean port and the suitcase which
Barrymaine had given in to Kurek's safe- keeping and the three suits
which he had asked the Master to look after for him.
3. On the first subject, apparently Barrymaine had booked a passage on
the "Hañol" from Japan via Korea, Shanghai and Hong Kong, but when he
arrived in Japan, he was told that no separate cabin would be available
for him from Shanghai to Hong Kong as this had already been booked for a
Chilean family. After some negotiation with the Master, it was agreed
that he could still make the journey, but share a cabin from Shanghai to
Hong Kong. He therefore moved into Neroni's cabin shortly before arrival
at Shanghai.
4. The Chinese seemed very interested in what Barrymaine did in North
Korea and, according to Kurek, asked him whether Barrymaine had passed
any messages. Kurek claimed ignorance before the Chinese, but told the
Polish Chargé that he had in fact seen Barrymaine hand an envelope or
package to a worker in the North Korean port. After this, Korean
officials had searched Barrymaine'a luggage, but apparently gave him a
clean bill and he left with the ship without further trouble. In the
suitcase which Barrymaine had lodged with Kurek, the Chinese found some
exposed film which included some photographs of foreign ships, e.g. an
American aircraft carrier, but not, apparently, of any Chinese ships.
They also found some Western newspapers and some notes made by
Barrymaine, the content of which Kurek did not know. Barrymaine
apparently also asked the Captain to look
/after
J. B. Denson, Esq., O.B.E.,
Far Eastern Department,
Foreign Office,
London 8.W.1.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
after three suits of his as he said there was no room for these or the
suitcase in the cabin he was sharing with Neroni. (Kurek said, in fact,
that there would have been plenty of room). The Chinese found some film
in one of the suits and also some film hidden behind the picture or
mirror in the Captain's cabin. Kurek did not know whether this file was
exposed or unexposed.
5. The persistence of the Chinese in interrogating the Poles on the
particular subjects would seem to show their desire to try
The and implicate the Poles in the case as collaborators. information
they had got clearly derived from the interrogation of Barrymaine.
6. The Polish Master of the "Hanoi" arrived recently in Gdynia and the
Polish Chargé has promised to let me know the results of his
interrogation.
I am sending a copy of this to Anthony Elliott in Hong Kong.
your
exter omand
Donald
(D. C. Hopson)
CONFIDENTIALT
Kr. Wilkinson
Private Secretary
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31 21 MAY 1968
FC13/12
5pm.
Fmo
(18
pują 21/5
SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH MR. MAURICE
GREEN: 16 MAY
Mr. Green, editor of the Daily Telegraph, is to call
on the Secretary of State on Thursday, 16 May. He has expressed an
interest in internal developments in China and the fate of British
subjects, particularly Mr. Norman Barrymaine. Mr. Barrymaine has written
on occasion for the Sunday Telegraph.
2. I attach talking points and background notes.
James Murray.
(James Burray) 10 May, 1968
Copy to News Department
Philkuisen
May 10
The 5.15. duly somew
My Sueran
16 Tony.
Nothing autorand came of.
Salman
20
Поту
ECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH MR. MAURICE GREEN
16 MAY
TALKING POINTS
We continue to receive reports of disruption in some
Chinese provinces.
Nevertheless we believe that the Cultural
Revolution as a whole is on the wane. Revolutionary Committees
(the new administrative bodies) have been set up in most provinces,
and there is evidence of a return to normality in a number of
fields. However, this process can be expected to take some time;
longer than the Chinese leaders appear to have hoped.
Difficulties of British Subjects
2. The Cultural Revolution seems to have generated a "spy-
mania" which probably explains many of the difficulties experienced
by foreign residents in and visitors to China; these difficulties
have affected not only British subjects but also, to our knowledge,
Japanese, Italians, Foles and most recently the resident French
correspondent in Peking (expelled on 8 May).
3. We have made representations to the Chinese on many
occasions about British subjects in difficulties in China.
Where we know definitely that British subjects have been detained
we have instructed Sir D. Hopson in Peking to demand consular
access and details of charges; and he has followed up these
demande with regular reminders. Where we know of the unexplained
disappearance of British subjects we have made formal requests
for information. In addition the Parliamentary Under-Secretary
has taken the question up with the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires,
ad interim, and spoke to him last, in vigorous terms, on 5 April.
The
- 2 -
The Chinese have given us no satisfaction on any of these
representations, but we intend to go on pressing them.
Efforts to get back to "Nomal Relations"
4. We see no advantage in trying to put pressure on the
Chinese by taking unpleasant measures against Chinese nationals
in the United Kingdom. The Chinese give every appearance of
regarding their nationale as expendable and would certainly win
any competition in nastiness. Such small progress as we have
made towards improving the circumstances of our Mission in
Peking has come about only because we ourselves have been
prepared to take steps towards getting relations back to normal.
On 4 April we raised the restrictions on the movement of staff
of the Chinese Mission in and out of the United Kingdom.
Chinese have responded in some measure:
The
visas both for entry
to and exit from China have now been granted to a small number
of the staff of our Mission in Peking and we expect more to
follow. The Chinese response has been slow and reluctant, but it
represents progress when compared to the previous stalemate. 5. Though
the Chinese undoubtedly would like to wring con-
cessions out of us in Hong Kong, it is not really true to say
that the staff of the British Mission in Peking are being held
as hostages for our administration of Hong Kong to Chinese
satisfaction. Progress towards the normalization of movements
of diplomatic staff has been achieved on a purely reciprocal
basis.
/tir. Grev
- 3 -
Mr. Grey
7. Mr. Grey, the Reuters correspondent, is being held by
the Chinese in Peking in reprisal for the trial and imprison-
ment of Hsueh P'ing, a correspondent in Hong Kong of the New
Another correspondent was subsequently arrested also. China News
Agency./ For your own information we have offered
to exchange Mr. Grey for Hsueh P'ing and possibly others,
but the Chinese have shown no interest so far. We fear their
price for the release of Mr. Grey may be higher. There is a
limit to which concessions to Chinese desiderata are compatible
with the maintenance of our authority in Hong Kong. We must
therefore consider very carefully before taking the next step
with Mr. Grey. Meanwhile we are pressing the Chinese to improve
the conditions under which he is held and in particular to
permit him visits by non-diplomatic persons and access to books
and other amenities; this would be in reciprocity for the more
lenient treatment of left-wing prisoners in Hong Kong.
Mr. Barrymaine
8. We are very concerned about Mr. Barrymaine. We are aware
of his weak health and have mentioned this to the Chinese in
the strong representations we have made in Peking and London.
9. The steward of the Polish ship on which Mr. Barrymaine
entered China has informed us that Mr. Barrymaine was arrested
for taking photographs.
10.
We do not think that Mr. Barrymaine's articles on China
in the Sunday Telegraph had anything to do with his arrest;
they were published after his detention.
/11.
- 4
11.
We shall continue to press the Chinese for access to
Mr. Barrymaine and for an explanation of the charges.
12.
(Defensive) I am aware that Mr. Barrymaine once worked
for an information department of the Foreign Office. This
was a number of years ago and I am sure there is no connexion
between this fact and his detention in China.
Background
13. Mr. Barrymaine worked for the Information Research
Department at one time but his services were terminated in
There has been an element of self-glamorization in
1954.
Mr. Barrymaine's reporting, but there is no question whatsoever
of his having been sent on an intelligence mission. It is not
recommended that the Secretary of State become involved in
discussion of this question.
14. I attach as background
Flag A Feili /558 (a) my submission of 26 April on "Recent Events in
China"; Flowy B
att. (b) a note on "British Subjects Detained in China";
Flag CF23/3/306(0) Foreign Office telegram No. 338 to Peking reporting
Mr. Rodgers' meeting with the Chinese Chargé
d'Affaires on 5 April;
Flag ADRAO (SoC)(d) Foreign Office telegram No. 268 to Peking about
laze!
Mr. Barrymaine.、.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
r
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Sores.
Secret.
Confidential,
Restricad Unclassifed.
PRIVACY MARKING
DRAFT Note
Type 1 +
To:
From
618
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
t....
Aromer N.C.N.A! ccassiondent was Subsequently auíested.
mà reprismYahu
Lerum wwel
minispaßen.
British Subjects Detained in China
A. Mr. Anthony Grev Kr. Gray was detained
under house arrest on 21 July in retaliation
for the arrest and imprisonment on a two year
sentence of Haueh P'ing, a New China News
Agency (NCNA) Journalist in Hong Kong. On the
same day r. Rodgers summoned the Chinese
Chargé d'Affaires to lodge a protest about Ur.
Grey's detention. Repeated representations
failed to secure either access to Er. Grey or
His release until a twenty minute visit by
Sir Donald Hopson and Kr. Weston of our Mission
in Peking was arranged on 23 April.
2. Lir. Grey's case is unique in that the
Chinese have specifically linked his detention
with events in Hong Kong. No charges of any
sort have been made against him. The consular
visit was arranged only after speciel visits
had been allowed to journaliste imprisoned in
Hong Kong by representatives of the NONA-there-
3. We are still considering ways in which
progress may be made on kr. Grey's case. Such progress will be extremely
difficult since the
Chinese are determined to extract from us in
return for concessions to Yr. Grey reciprocal
૨૨૭નાઓ
haver
concessions in Hong Kong which would-be-likely
The Mount at the leva A Elevating at-boat -to-elevate/ the NCNA there
into a
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quasi consular body or at worst to severely
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undermine British authority in the Colony.
4.
Er. Norman Barzyna ine
On 14 Karch we received a report from the "Daily Telegraph" that they
had heard
that Er. Barrymaine who had been a passenger
aboard the Polish ship "Hanoi" had been
detained by the Chinese authorities in Shanghai.
On 16 Karch our Mission in Peking addressed a
note to the Chinese authorities asking for
information a bout Er. Barryanine and for
consular access if he was detained.
5. Later information has indicated that a
r. Peroni an Italian National and a
passenger aboard the same ship, and a Mr.
Kurek, one of the ship's stewards, were also
detained in Shanghai together with Mr.
Barvynaine, Mr. Kurek, however, was deported
He from China through Hong Kong on 3 Hay.
reported that Mr. Barrymaine was accused by
the Chinese of taking photographs of Chinese
vassels, and that a similar charge had been
nade against Hr. Heroni. According to Kr.
Kurek, however, the Chinese regard Mr.
Barrymaine as the chief offender.
6.
e have izango learned from Mr.
Barrymaine's family that he is aged 68 and
that his health is not robust. He has
previously undergone a number of operations
for a brain tumour. A formal note was
addressed to the Chinese authorities on 2
April pointing out Er. Barrymaine's weak
This and, Rose6.XUÑ health but despite sit our Anquiries the
Chinese havé failed to make any reply.
/c.
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7.
Mr. George Watt
The NONA announced on 16 March that Er. #att had on the previous day
been sentenced to three years imprisonment for alleged spying. He had
previously been detained incommunicado. in his hotel in Lanchow since
September last. Despite repeated attempts both by our Hission and by Hr.
Watt's employera, Vickers-Zimmer Ltd., the Chinese have given no
information about the charges against Mr. Watt, nor have they allowed
access to him.
8. The Chinese have, however, begun to take
direct action against the company.
Á summons
returnable in Peking on 25 April, was issued
against the company alleging fraud.
No furtier
details were given and Vickers-Zimmer declined
to send a representative to attend the court hearing. They also irformed
Mr. Fischer, their
senior engineer in Larchow, that he was specifically not authorized to
represent the
company at the court hearing.
They issued a
press release on 24 April explaining their position and pointing out
that their contract
specifies arbitration in Sweden in the case of any disputes arising from
it.
Neither we or
the company have a received any report that
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.