Copies to:-
You will
no doubt be sucking further
exformation t
cúle mume
shetre representations
would be appropnatie
JKD
Прия
No. 39
From HUNTER (PEKING) 4/4.
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES N. 31
(10)
F21/39
The Office of the British Charge 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 request their assistance in the following matter.
The Office of the British Charge d'Affaires have received
a report that a British subject resident in Peking, Xrs, ōlsie Epstein,
has been arrested, and that another British subject, Ir. Hichael
Shapiro, has been detained for questioning,
The Office of the British Charge d'Affaires would be
grateful if the Consular Department would inform then whether the above
report is correct, If it is correct, they would be grateful to know the
reasons why Irs. Epstein and är, shapiro are detained, and they request
consular access to them "
The Office of the British Charge d'Affaires avail themselvesS of this
opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's
Republic of Chine the assurance of their
highest consideration,
Office of the British Charge d'Affaires,
PEKING.
2 April. 1964
PA
!
Ed (4206)
F
Reference..
Fer 139. 9
TRANS. To Faz1/14
Fc21/14 3
(Dania Vermon
join)
EN CLAIR
REIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
TELNO 358
UNCLASSIFIED
伝
Fa/39.
8
ра
Jos pu 16/4
11 APRIL 1968 (F)
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 358 11 APRIL REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG
KONG
NEWS DEPARTMENT SAID YESTERDAY ON THE RECORD THAT THE MISSION HAD
ENQUIRED ABOUT MR AND MRS GORDON AND THEIR ELEVEN YEAR OLD SON, WHO
ACCORDING TO RELATIVES WERE DUE TO LEAVE PEKING AT THE END OF OCTOBER IN
ORDER TO RETURN TO THE UNITED KINGDOM VIA HONG KONG, BRITISH AUTHORITIES
IN HONG KONG HAD CONFIRMED THAT ACCORDING TO THEIR INFORMATION THE
GORDONS DID NOT ARRIVE THERE.
SOSFA
RA
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
CONSULAR DEPT.
NEWS DEPT.
C.O. H.K.D.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
No. Fai
DEPARTMENT
Fei/39
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS
Toe Secret Secret Confidential Bastilosed Unchider
Emergency
Routine
(Date)
* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressee(s)
11 APR 1968
1829
8
IPLILI
Despatched
En Clair. Cody Cypher
Draft Telegram to:-
No.
Peking
(Date)
And to:-
Sécurity classification
-if any
[Codeword-if any)
Addressed to
telegram No....
And to.......
+
358
repeated for information to
Penny
...(date)....
- I
/...
.....
11 april
Hory. Kny-
Repeat to:-
Hong
String to...
J
יום
--
VYPNI
News Department said yesinden
On the
recor
that
me Missin
Saving 10:-
had enquired about
GORDON
Mio Mhe. Gordon
their eleven new old son,
according to relativ
MY
Whe
were due to
бель
leave Pernig
The end
ень в остой
of
3
Y
return to
the United
Distribution:-
Держи Fo. F.E.D.
Consules Capics 18: News
C.o.
to
LLAM NE AT
160002 NAT RE
AT LOOStu
authat's
and ad
Kingdum vier Hong Kory. Brinni
ruthminis in Hong
Houy Kory had
Conprimed
that according to mas
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Sr. Samuel 4.4.67
CONFIDENTIAL
L
VD IN
.:: koð
F21139
51
CHINESE ACTIONS AGAINST "FRIENDLY" BRITONS IN
PEKING
We have had reports from our Mission in Peking that the
Chinese are currently turning their attention to the "foreign
friends" in Peking. "Foreign friends" are a group of people
of various nationalities who are resident in Peking and who
work in various capacities for the Chinese Government. The
large majority of them are resident in the "Friendship Hostel".
The Britons among them have never been friendly towards our
Mission and reports about them come either from individuals
of other nationalities also living in the "Friendship Hostel"
or from members of their families in the United Kingdom.
2. During last month our Mission obtained reports from a
Ceylonese contact in the hostel that some of the extreme left
wingers there, including African and Asian as well as Western
nationals, had come under suspicion by the Chinese authorities.
The report indicated that Mr. and Mrs. Epstein had been arrested
for alleged spying. Mr. Epstein has never been a British
subject. He was an American and is now reported to be a
naturalised Chinese. His wife, however, née Elsie Fairfar
Cholmondley, is undoubtedly British (she is the sister of a
highly-respected member of Barclay's Bank who has been in touch
with us); but, if reports that her husband has taken Chinese
nationality are true, the Chinese may reasonably regard her
/28
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
2.
as of dual British/Chinese nationality.
3. It was also reported that Mr. Michael B. Shapiro had
been detained by the Chinese and was under investigation.
Mr. Shapiro is a British subject whose passport was withdrawn
in 1954 because of his activities in Chine and North Korea
(in connection with the interrogation of British prisoners-
of-war) during the Korean war. He has been offered an emergency
travel document which would be valid for a single return journey
to the United Kingdom. This offer was last made in December,
1966, when he last applied for a new British passport.
declined. Some reports in the press have suggested that
It was
Hr. Shapiro has taken out Chinese nationality, but we have no
official knowledge of this. We also have been unable to trace
any record of his having renounced his British nationality,
although enquiries are still proceeding.
4. On ↑ April we asked our Mission in Peking to seek infor-
mation about the charges, if any, against Mrs. Epstein and
Mr. Shapiro and for consular access to the former. Peking
yesterday confirmed that they were addressing an appropriate
Note to the Chinese authorities.
5.
Rumours have also reached our Mission that a Mr. D. Crook
and his family are also in detention in Peking. Mr. Crook is
a Canadian subject but we have taken no action in this case
as the rumour is not sufficiently firm.
6. On 1 February we were telephoned by the brother of Mr. Eric
Gordon, another "foreign friend" in Peking. Mr. Gordon was
/concerned
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENT IAL
- 3-
concerned that no news had been received from his brother
since November when the latter was due to leave China. The
authorities in Hong Kong had no record of Mr. Gordon and his
family having passed through; so our Mission in Peking asked
the Chinese authorities for assistance in discovering the
whereabouts of the family on 3 February. No reply has been
received. On 25 March therefore we asked Peking to make a
further approach to the Chinese authorities. Meanwhile a
contact in the "Friendship Hostel" has told members of our
Mission that to the best of his belief Mr. Gordon and his
family had left China. The contact had no knowledge of their
arrest or detention and was convinced that had they been
arrested or detained he would have heard.
6. Coming as it does at a time when Mr. Watt has been
sentenced to three years imprisonment and we have been able
to make no progress on the cases of Mr. Grey and Mr. Barrymaine,
the Chinese action against British "foreign friends" is tiresome.
There is little more we can do except to continue to remind
the Chinese that we are awaiting replies to our various Notes.
Janne Umay Munay.
(James Murray) 3 April, 1968
Copies to:
Sir D. Allen
Private Secretary
Mo Shaytime.
5/47/0
CONFIDENTIAL
Алекс
Jasz
thank
Ed (4206)
I
TRANS. to
Reference tz
to Fazi
за
Fe1/39.
FC21/14
(David Vernon Tomas)
(c)
Cypher/Cat A
CONFIDENTIAL
PORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 268
CONFIDENTIAL
2 April, 1968
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES N☛ 31
3- APR 1968
|F21/39.
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No.268 of 2 April,
Repeated for information to Hong Kong.)
Your telegrams Nos. 313 and 314: Arrested British Subjects.
5
зре
We are sending three Notes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, first
asking for confirmation about and Consular access to Jones; second on
Mrs. Epstein and Shapiro; and third repeating our earlier request in
respect of Barrymaine. We have also telephoned the Ministry about Jones,
but have received no reply so far.
Foreign Office please pass Hong Kong 189.
Sir D.Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
News Dept.
Consular Dept.
0.0. H.K.D.
Int & Gen Dept.
F.E. & P.D.
News Dept.
88888
CONFIDENTIAL
•F21/39.
CTV
-*/ CAT A
IMMEDIATE
TELNO 14
CONFIDENTIAL
REIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
1 APRIL 1968
(F)
TOP COPY
Q
34-4
ра
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO 314 OF 1 APRIL REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.
2
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 263 ARRESTED BRITONS
PLEASE MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, SEEKING DETAILS
OF ANY CHARGES AGAINST SHAPIRO AND MRS EPSTEIN.
2. PLEASE ALSO TRY AGAIN TO OBTAIN CONSULAR ACCESS TO BARRYMAINE. WE
HAVE HEARD FROM HIS DAUGHTER THAT HE IS AGED 68 AND HIS HEALTH IS NOT
ROBUST: HE HAS HAD OPERATIONS FOR A BRAIN TUMOUR.
SOBRA
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.0.
0.0.
F.E.D.
CONSULAR DEPT.
NEWS DAPT.
8.A.D.
H.K.D.
F.E. & P.D.
CONFIDENTIAL
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
FC
39
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
Restricted
Unclassified
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Clair. Code Cypher
Draft Telegram to:-
No.
Flush Immediate Priority Routine
(Date)...
* Date and time (G,M,T.) telegram should
De batched
Security classification"|
[ Privacy marking ]
-if any
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
ched
reach addressee(s).
ty
+-----
CYPHER ED
]
CONFIDENTIAL
PEKING
Bing 314
telegram No...
314
(date)
JLIL
And to
(Date)
And to:-
Repeat to:-
Hong Kong
584
repeated for information to
Saving to.........
Homdannada KAZALJ
ipe
Herug.
KONG.
JILLI
Your telegram No 263
Cremonade a magya
Anected Britons
Please make representation
mdan dalk a
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
to the
Chunku
Saving to:-
authenter sucking
sucking details of
Ma Shapiro
aunch
Distribution:- Departmentine
any charges against
Mrs. EPSTEIN,
differently from the Boutin outfects
by
ADVe
FE.D
Corrida dest
for ten
infuriating the p
prevides
actions
Маці дерев
S.AD
have
Copies to:-..
202
julay 小
HW. Dyst
Please also try agoun
to obtain
F
Consula
access
to
BARRY MAINE.
We have
heard from his daughter that
he is
/ayed
his hearth
MA
mr Jorma
aged
68
and has had operations for
brain tumour.
His health
-gobat
032717 E.W.65.,Ltd. 164m 3-67.
ht
theros sist
+
3174.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Ed (4206)
Reference...
F21/39
TRANS.
то
To F221/14
D
(Dania Vemon Joren)
3
Cypher/Cat.A
AR-EIVES No 31
1-1968
CONFIDENTIAL
| FC 1/3200
IMMEDIATE
PEKING
סוי
FOREIGN OFFICE
2
OPY
Telno. 263
CONFIDENTIAL
1 April 1968
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 263 of 1 April. Repeated for
information to Hong Kong.
Your telegram No. 308:
Arrested Britons.
There is nothing we can add at present to "Hong Kong Star" report, which
seems based on Appleyard's letter to wilson (I.R.D.) of 19 March
2. We regret that that letter stated that Epstein is British: so far as
we know he is American, although his wife is British. Shapiro's British
passport was impounded in about 1952 (you presumably have record of
this).
3.
You will no doubt advise us of any representations you wish made.
Foreign Office pass Hong Kong 183.
Sir D. Hopson
1 Repetition to Hong Kong referred for
departmental decision]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
Consular Dept.
News Dept.
S.A.D.
H.K.Dept.
F.E.P.D.
SSSSS
CONFIDENTIAL
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
F1139
En Clai
TLDIATE
lno. 308
CLASSIFIED
FOREIGN OFFICE
TO
PEKING
30 March 1968 (F)
Addressed to Peking telegram No. 308 of 30 March And to Hong Kong.
Today's "Evening Standard" curries headlines
"Three Britons held in Peking".
It quotes "Hong Kong Star"
as citing reliable sources ror information that Mr. and Mrs.
Epstein and Michael Shapiro bad been detained by the Public Security
Bureau earlier this month; the Epsteins had been charged with spying and
Shapiro detained for questioning.
SOSFA
Grateful for your latest information.
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.0.
0.0.
SSSSS
F.E.D.
No comments yet.
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