the "trial" in fact took place.
D. David Vesnon Fones
9. We learned from Hong Kong on 1 April that Kr. Jones, the Chief
Officer, of the motor vessel
"Nancy Dee" had been arrested on the previous day
/at
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. Sirkang.
No reason for his arrest was
then given nor has any been given since.
mbe
ZAİPXĚ.xxxed ship's owmers, Red Anchor Line
Ltd. of Hong Kong, have asked for details from
their agents in China, the China Ocean Shipping
Agency, and on 1 April ve instructed our
Kission in Peking to approach the Chinese for
consular access and details of charges if any.
Despite reminders, no reply has been received.
3. Mr. Eric Gordon, his wife and their 11 year
old son.
10. We first learned that the Gordon family
were in difficulties from an enquiry made by
Hr. Gordon's brother on 1 February.
He then
informed us that the family bad been due to
leave China in early November and that no news
had been received since October. The family
were regular correspondents so that their
relatives in Britain were seriously concer
We have received confirmation from Hong Kong
that there was no record of the family having
passed through the Colony and on 3 February
our Mission in Peking asked the Chinese
authorities for assistance in discovering the
family's whereabouts.
Further requests for
information have been made on the 12 and 25
Larch. and on 4 Kay.
11.
Although we have no definite confirmation
we must assume that the family has been detained
by the Chinese authorities.
Letters from
relatives in England to senior Chinese
/officials
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1933 EJ LEON
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officials remain unanswered and approaches by the family to the office
of the Chinese Charge
d'Affaires in London have proved fruitless. No reply has been received
from the Chinese
to our official representations.
F.
Mrs. Epstein (née Elsie Fairfax-Chalmondley)
12. After rumours among the "foreign friends" in Pering and in the Hong
Kong press that Krs
who works for the Poem Foonyn Lamenes Best Systein and her husband an
Merican citizei! had been arrested our Mission in Peking addressed
a note to the Chinese authorities on 2 April asking for information
about her and for consular access if whe is in fact detained.
Despite reminders since then the Chinese have
not answered our request.
G. Mr. Michael Shapiro
13. At the same time as the rumours about
Ers. Epstein were
in Peking that Mr.
circulating it was believed
Who worked? & the Clerc Gout. Shapiro had been detained
for questioning by the Chinese.
Our Mission
addressed a note asking for details of his case
Again,
to the Chinese authorities on 2 April. despite reminders, no reply has
been received. H. Hr. P. D. Crouch
14. Mr. Crouch,/Second Officer of the "Demodocus"¡was held off Shanghai
from the end of February until 3 April for an alleged breach of harbour
regulations. When the ship finally sailed two of her officers were
detained in China, Mr. Crouch and Mr. A. K. Wilson, the
Third Officer. The latter has since been
/deported
·
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F
:
·
-
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deported from China through Hong Kong.
25. We have sext seen and talked to Mr.
Richards, the Chief Officer of the "Dezodoeus"
·
whose account suggests that Ir. Wilson was
detected by the Chinese noting down the numbers
of Chinese naval vessels in Shanghai, which it
he
is sald/was doing on his own initiation.
The
First Officer himself and Hr. Crouch were later implicated but Kr.
Richards was released and sailed with the ship after he had signed a
statement apologising for his activities. He suggests that Er. Crouch
simui, who he described as an extremely tough character, was probably
unprepared to meet the Chinese in any XX way and was accordingly
arrested. 16. Blue Funnel have received reports from two foreign Masters
who attended the "trial" of the tiree British Officers in Shanghai whee
Crouch was then sentenced to three years imprisonment,
British Officers present, however, all say
that Kr. Crouch was merely arrested. Funnel have suggested that the
confusion had his grisen from a failure of the foreign Kasters to
understand the English commentary provided by
the Chinese.
اه عبداله
3lue
17. On ↳ April our Mission in Peking addressed a note to the Chinese
authorities asking them urgently for the charges on which Mr. Crouch has
been arrested and for consular access, but noß reply to our
representations has been received. Keanwhile Blue Funnel have continued
to send
their ships into Chinese ports and no further
}
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
•
NOTHİNG TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
تر
Who was empland by the
13 JU
Quim Ru) ска албик
incidents have taken place.
They have arranged
The
for letters to Er. Crouch from his mother and from Hr. Holt to be sent
to their agents in China who have confirmed that they they have been
passed to
Letters - the competent authorities for delivery. urging Hr. Crouch to
make a full apology for any fault he may have committed and to appeal to
the
Chinese for leniency.
I. Mr. David Crook
18.
Rumours that Mr. Crook had been arrested by the Chinese were circulated
in Peking at the same time as those about Kra. Epstein and Kr.
Shapiro,
portical supporter crook
It was our belief however that Kr.
was a Canadian rather than a British
subject. de jeonfirmed with the Passport Office however that Mr. Crook
was a United Kingdom citizen by birth and that he is
British passport.
ourrently travelling one
Accordingly our Kission in Peking addressed a note to the Chinese
authorities on 25 April
in which they sought information about Kr. Crook.
Again no reply has been received.
J. Hr. Self
19.
When he summoned the Chinese Chargé
d'Affaires on 5 April, Mr. Rodgers also raised
the case of Kr. andies, Self, the Manager of the Hong Kong and Shanghai
Bank in Shanghai, and his
wife. The Selfs are neither under arrest nor
in detention but are effectively prevented from leaving China by the
failure of the Chinese to
issue exit visas. Kr. Self's application for
an exit visa was submitted on 17 May, 1967, and
/similar
+
+
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inilar application for his wife was last
submitted on 21 August that year.
Neither visa
has been granted despite the fact that Mr. Selfs
successor arrived in Shanghai last June.
The
Deputy Director of the West European Department
of the office of the Kinistry of Foreign Affairs
informed Sir Donald (then kr.) Hopson on
27 November last that he would enquire about the
case of Mr. and Mrs. Self. Our Mission in
Peking addressed a note to the Chinese authorities
on 24 Januery asking for further information and
and have been in touch by telephone with the
Chinese authorities at intervals since then.
So far no satisfactory answer has been received
and Er. Self and his wife have not yet been
issued with their exit visas.
تا
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
I
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CYPHER/CAT A
SCRET
RIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
TELNO 268
SECRET.
19 MARCH, 1968 (DSQPF 2/99)
1
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 268 OF 19 MARCH REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO HC SINGAPORE.
YOUR TELNO 212. BARRYMINE.
WHILE WE MUST CLEARLY PRESS THE USUAL CONSULAR ENQUIRIES ABOUT
BARRYMAINE YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF HIS UNRELIABLE AND IN COMMUNIST TERMS,
PROVOCATIVE BACKGROUND. FOLLOWING, FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, IS SUMMARY:
2. PRIOR TO 1950 BARRYMAINE WAS DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT OF THE QUOTE
EVENING STANDARD UNQUOTE. HE THEN JOINED I.R.D. BUT THE APPOINTMENT WAS
TERMINATED IN 1954 BECAUSE IT WAS SUSPECTED THAT HE WAS LEAKING OFFICIAL
INFORMATION. AFTER LEAVING 1.R.D. HE WAS IN TOUCH WITH THE SOVIET
EMBASSY IN LONDON, ON THE STRENGTH OF WHICH HE WROTE AN ARTICLE ENTITLED
QUOTE HOW I JOINED THE RUSSIAN SECRET SERVICE UNQUOTE WHICH WAS
PUBLISHED IN THE QUOTE SUNDAY TIMES UNQUOTE ON 7 MAY 1961 AND WHICH HE
HAS SINCE FREQUENTLY SOLD OR TRIED TO SELL TO OTHER PAPERS HERE AND
ABROAD.
3. THE QUOTE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH UNQUOTE OF 4 DECEMBER 1966 CARRIED AN
ARTICLE BY HIM ENTITLED QUOTE BACK DOOR TO VIETNAM UNQUOTE OF WHICH THE
FIRST PARAGRAPH READS:-
QUOTE GATE-CRASHED NORTH VIETNAM WITHOUT EVEN A TRANSIT VISA, I VOYAGED
FROM KOBE ABOARD THE POLISH FREIGHTER KAPITAN KOSKO VIA THE ROUNDABOUT
ROUTE OF CHUNGJIN IN NORTH KOREA, SHANGHAI AND HONG KONG UNQUOTE.
SECRET
/WITH
SECRET
-2-
WITH THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED A PHOTOGRAPH OF SHIPPING IN HAIPHONG AND
ANOTHER OF A U.S. PLANE RECONNOITORING THE AUTHOR'S SHIP.
4. TWO OF HIS ARTICLES ON CHINA HAVE APPEARED IN THE TWO MOST
RECENT DAILY TELEGRAPH MAGAZINES.
SOSFA
FILES
DSAO. SECURITY DEFT
F.0.
F.E.D.
SECRET
RECE ARCH?
F213/17
COPPY OF HARE_ENTERED FC ||39|18.
FAR EASTERN DEPARTIENT
تا
[Note for the record]
Britons Detained In China
18
разл ра
I have had two telephone calls about British subjects detained in China
which you will wish to know of for the record. One was from Mr. Blit, a
journalist of Polish origin known personally to Mr. Rodgers, who was
asking about Mrs. Epstein. It appears that Mr. Blit Is a friend of Mrs.
Epstein's father-in-law who lives in the United States.
2. Mr. D.C. Maxwell of 631 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy,
Manchester 21 also telephoned about Mr. Barrymaine who is a personal
friend of his.
3.
In both cases I explained that we had made vigorous representations, so
far unfortunately without result; and that we would keep the pressure
up. Messrs. Blit and Maxwell seemed satisfied.
Karmint Sammel
(t.C. Samuel)
2 May, 1968.
Bike Mayang
คง
13 May
pa 6/5
-
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ני
1
Eo. 29
From HUNTER (PERING) 4/4.
ротора.
1714
RECEIVED IN
CHIVES N. 31
F43/17
17
The Office of the British Marge 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 lote Ko. 22 of the 16th of laroh
about Mr. Nerung Martynn1150.
Har kajesty's Doreminent are becosing ineressingly
eonsermed at the abɛmes of news about ir, Barvynaina'a
shereabouts and sandition, since they understand that he
is sixty eight years old and in peor health after a number
of operations for brain tumour,
office of the British
Charge d'Affaires have therefore bom instructed to ask the
Consular Department for an urgmt reply to their Xote referred
to above. If kr. barrymaine is in fuet detained in China,
the Gfries would be glad to have full information on the
Peasons for the detention and repeat their request for
urgent consular assess to him.
The Office of the British Charge d'Affaires avail themselves
this opportunity to renew to the Xinistry of Farsign "ffairs
of the People's Republie of Chim the semurones of their
of
highest son sideration.
Office of the British Charge d'affaires,
PIXING.
2H 196,
2.x,
Mr. Merry
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN (ARCHIV - - No 31
- 9 APR 1508
F13/12
Call of Mr. Paul Channon, M.P., on
Mr. Rodgera: Wednesday, 3 April, at 4.0 p.m.
16
I attach a background note and talking points for the
Mr. Channon's letter and your reply are also
& B meeting.
FLAGS A & B
w-16
attached.
2.
The brief gives all the information available to us.
It would not be advisable to mention Mr. Barrymaine's previous
connexion with I.R.D.
Jom Denson
(J.B. Denson)
2 April, 1968
MR. DENSON
Mr. Channon called as arranged. Mir. hodgers told him the position on
the lines of the speaking notes and found Mr. Channon very
understanding. kr. kodgers undertook to keep r. Channon fully informed
or developments and said he would keep in close touch on the
Parliamentary aspects of the case. 2. I should be grateful if you would
keep Mr. Channon's interest in mind.
हु
pain. 2. pa ny Gathe
कीम
Richard Samuel
(K.C. Sa.nuel) 5 April, 1968.
CONFIDENTIAL
MR. NORMAN BARRYMAINE
FC-13/17
wilb
Speaking Notes
We first heard of Mr. Barrymaine's detention on
14 March from the "Daily Telegraph". They reported that
kir. Barrymaine who had been a passenger aboard the Polish
ship "Hanoi" had not arrived in Hong Kong on that vessel.
The authorities in Hong Kong were unable to obtain confirmation
of the report. Confirmation was finally obtained when the
"Hanoi" reached Singapore and crew members admitted that
Mr. Barrymaine had been detained in Shanghai on or about
23 February. On 16 March, our Mission in Peking addressed
a Note to the Chinese Foreign Ministry asking for information
about Mr. Barrymaine and for consular access to him if he was
in detention. No reply has yet been received. Although it
is regular practice for our Mission to give frequent reminders
of such Notes to the Chinese authorities by telephone, we have
since (1 April) asked them to make a further approach.
Future Action
review.
limited.
(a) The whole question of Anglo-Chinese relations is under
Keans of putting pressure on the Chinese are very
Retaliation in some form against Chinese officials
in this country has obvious appeal, but past experience haa
shown that this is not effective. As the Chinese are
uninhibited by considerations of accepted diplomatic practice
or indeed humanity, they would be bound to win any competition
in unpleasantness. If we were to embark upon a policy of
harassment of Chinese officials in London, British subjecta
/in
- 2 -
in China, of whom there are some 75 excluding the staff
of our Kission and their families, would be the first to
suffer. The best chance of obtaining Kr. Barrymaine's
release is through a general improvement in Anglo-Chinese
relations, which we are doing our utmost to achieve.
(b) We are also unattracted by the idea of a trade embargo.
The Chinese could probably find other sources for imports
and outlets for their exports and would therefore be unlikely
to respond in the way we wish by releasing British subjects
under detention. The only result would be to damage our own
commercial interests.
Consular Access
We shall of course continue to press for consular access
to Mr. Barrymaine.
Information for Miss Barrymaine and Kr. Channon
The Political Department concerned has Miss Barrymaine's
address and telephone number and will keep her informed of any
developments. I will of course see that you are also kept in
the picture.
+
- 3 -
Defensive
Possible Reasons for Detention
We have received no information as to why Mr. Barrymaine is being
detained. His two articles he wrote for the "Daily Telegraph" magazine
section about China appeared after he
was detained. In December 1966, however, the "Sunday Telegraph"
published an article by Mr. Barrymaine entitled "Back Door to Vietnam",
which reported how he had managed to visit North Vietnam
semi-clandestinely aboard a Polish freighter. It is
possible that the Chinese thought Mr. Barrymaine's present
visit would be a prelude to a similar article. He had in
1961 published a rather sensational piece entitled "How I Joined the
Russian Secret Service" which purported to describe his connections with
the Soviet Embassy in London. Fanciful
as this may in fact have been, it would not commend him to the Chinese
in the present state of Sino/Soviet relations.
CONFIDENTI AL
FL13/17. (wi16
ER. NORAN DANKYMAINE
.
Fackground
r
On 14 March we received a report that the "Daily Telegraph"
staff correspondent in Hong Kong had heard that Mr. Barrymaine, a
British subject, who had been a passenger aboard the Polish ship
"Henoi", had been detained by the Chinese authorities in Shanghai.
As the inform tion available indicated that the report was accurate,
the Mission in Peking addressed a Note to the Chinese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs on 16 March asking for information about Er.
Barrymaine and for consular access if he was in fact detained.
reply iwe yet been received. We have since received confirmation
from Singapore, where Mr. Barrymaine is normally resident and
where some of his friends approached members of the "Hanoi's" crew,
that he was taken off the vessel by Chinese authorities in Shanghai
on 23 February. No reason was given for his detention.
2.
No
After leaving I.B.D. he was in
Prior to 1950 Mr. Barry a ine was diplomtic correspondent of
the "Evening Standard" and was well known to News Department.
He
then joined the Information Research Department (I.R.D.) but the
appointment was terminated in 1954 because it was suspected that he
was leaking official information.
touch with the Soviet Embassy in London, on the strength of which he
wrote an article entitled "How I Joined the Russian Secret Service"
which was published in the "Sunday Times" on 7 May, 1961, and which
he has since frequently sold or tried to sell to other papers here
and broad.
3. The "Sunday Telegraph" of 4 December, 1965, carried an article
by him entitled "Back Door to Vietnam" of which the first paragraph
/reads:
CCHF IDEN IAL
CONFIDE TIAL
2
reads: "I gatecrashed North Vietnam without even a transit visa.
I voyaged from lobe aboard the Polish freighter "Kapitan Rosko"
via the roundabout route of Chungjin in North Korea, Shanghai and
Hong long." With this article was published a photograph of
shipping in Haiphong and another of U.S. plane reconnoitring the
author's ship.
40
Two of Mr. Barrymaine's articles on China, neither
particularly flattering to the Cultural Revolution appeared in
the "Daily Telegraph" weekend magazine of 8 and 15 March, 1.e.
after is detention. While they could not have been the cause of
is detention, their publication cannot have improved kr.
Barrymaine's atending with the Chinese.
5. As a result of Mr. Channon's interest in the case, we have
learnt that Mr. Barrymaine is aged 68, is not in robust health
and has had operations for a brain tumour. He have passed that
information to our Hission in Peking with a request that they
make a further ttempt to gain Consuler access.
6.
My department has a note of the address and telephone number
of Miss A. Barrymaine, Kr. Larrymaine's daughter, and will ensure
that she receives any information we obtain about her father.
CONFIDEN
T:
+
FL13/17.
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
27 March, 1968.
15
14
I am riting on Mr. Rodgers's behalf to thank you for your letter of 25
March, and to confirm our telephone conversation of to-day.
Mr. Rodgers will be pleased to see you for a talk about Mr. Norman
Barrymaine's imprisonment in China, and we arranged for you to call at
the Foreign Office at 4 p.m. next Wednesday, 3 April. As I said, we will
certainly inform Miss Barrymaine direct as soon as we receive any
further information about her father.
(D.B. Merry)
Assistant Private Secretary to
Mr. William Rodgers
Paul Channon, Esq., M.P.,
House of Commons.
-
P.a. see 16.
Ra
а
Romble
L get Liget, himont.
HOUSE
OF
URGENT.
CONS
RECLYD IN ARCHIVES No.51
CAPK 9. APK 368 From Paul Channon
Rec. and Ack. 26.3.
..... Department for draft reply picase,
Bill
-
F= 13/17.!
World Sokoni
Speak & Lin-nack
M.P.
25th March, 1968.
him
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& say gie de gird to chat if weed k?
Ottere a
lette and boond
On Friday I was approached by my constituent, Miss A. Barrymaine of
'Elaine', Cranley Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex telephone Southend
49650. She tells me that her father, Mr. Norman Barrymaine, who is a
freelance journalist, was recently imprisoned in Shanghai. The first
time Miss Barrymaine had any news of him was in a newspaper story last
week and she is naturally very perturbed about the situation. Mr.
Barrymaine is 68 and has had operations for a brain tumor.
at all good.
Therefore his stage of health is not
On Friday evening I did have a brief word with the Far Eastern
Department of the Foreign Office who were most helpful. I understand
from them that attempts have been made by our Charge d'Affaires in
Peking to obtain Consular access to Mr. Barrymaine and to discover on
what, if any, charge he is being held. As soon as there is any further
information, I would be grateful if you could let me know and, much more
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.