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Dr. G. Ruberts,, befes Minister of Stato, loreign Ofico.
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DETAILS OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED
Mr. Eric Gordon.
Born in Manchester, England a British subject. Aged 36/37 years;
Ex-Reporter.
European;
Jewish
Has worked on papers in Southend and Nottinghan. Has worked on the
Brentford and Chiswick Times, the Reynolds News, the Daily Herald and in
the Exchange Telegraph News Agency. Was interested and sympathetic on
the social experiments taking place in China.
Native Language: Pekin.
English. Learned a little Chinese whilst in
Mrs. Marie Gordon.
Born in England
-
and English mother. complexion, etc.
Aged 32/33 years.
a British subject of a Ghanese father and Is a half-caste: black curly
hair, dark
Has worked mainly in offices. After this a housewife, then städent. Ead
been accepted to study at the London School of Economics and hoped to
enter the school upon her return.
Native Language: English. Could speak a little French. Learned some
Chinese whilst in Pekin.
Like her husband very interested in and sympathetic to the social
experiments taking place in China.
·
Kin Gordon - son of the above.
Born in London, England
Aged 12 years.
a British subject.
brown
Slightly tanned complexion, krig but fairly tightly curled hair. Spake
English fluently. Was said to be proficient in Chinese as he attended
Chinese school when they lived in Pekin.
+
DETAILS OF VISIT TO CHINA, PROJECTED
JOURNEY BACK TO ENGLAND
ETC.
In 1964, Eric Gordon's job with the Daily Herald was terminated due to
general redundancy.
He and his wife had always been interested in developing countries and
had considerod living temporarily in Ghana, India, Czechoslovákia, among
other countries. However, they had not moved to any of these countries,
although they did visit Hungary and Poland.
In 1964, the Chinese Legation was interested in obtaining the services
of English-speaking people for work in Pekin. They were introduced to
the then Chinese Chargé D'Affairs by one or bother of the following
people:-
and
Mr. Jack Shapiro,
100, Brim Hill,
Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, N.2. HIGhate 1697
Mr. Darek Bryan, 85, Holden Road,
London, K.2.
HILLside 9072
Insurance Agent.
Member of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (S.A.C.U.)
Lecturer in Chinose, Holborn College of Izw,
Languages & Commerce.
Member (and ex-Secretary)of S.A.O.U.
The Gordons loft England for Fokin in February, 1965, where Bric Gordon
was employed by the Foreign Languages Press, English Section, Room 307,
Pai Wan Chuang, Pokin, 37, China, where he was improving the
phraseology, etc. of material already translated. from the Chinese. His
wife was employed as a teacher of English to students of 16 years and
over, and the son attended a Chirese School.
When he was first in China, Eric Gordon submitted sons, articl on China
to the Sunday Telegraph, which published thon. He stopped doing this
when he was requested to do so by his superiors in the Forsigu Languojos
iTOCI,
When the Cultural Revolution began in about August, 1966, the wife
stopped working and the child (together with all other school-·
children) stopped attending school.
During the whole period of their stay, both adulta vro be rogutarly to
their respective parents, usually at fortnightly intervals. The only
time when the interval was longer (about 4 weeks) was when thoy took a
trip to the interior.
All the lettera were detailed, in particular those of Eric Gordon to his
brother. The latter were also extremely long and sequent because they
were intended to be kept to provide notes
the book which he (Eric) hoped to write upon his return from China. None
of the letters appeared to be censored and they took between 5 and 12
days to reach the recipient.
Eric Gordon's contract expired in February, 1967, but the family
obtained a six month extension. They intended to. leave Pekin for Hong
Kong on 31st October. However, recenti enquiries confirmed by Foreign
Office investigations, showed that, in fact, they left Pekin on 5th
November, intending to go to Hong Kong, via Shanghai and Canton. SINCE
THIS TIME (21 WEEKS) THERE HAS BEEN NO NEWS FROM OR OF THEM. Enquiries
by the Foreign office confira that they have NOT crossed the border from
Canton into Hong Kong. Their last 16tter telling of their plans was
dated 29th October, 1967.
↑
Because there was no news of them, Eric Gordon's brother (Jeffrey) went
to the Chinese Legation in January. Since then,
two further visits have been made and on every occasion the Charge
D'Affairs (a different one each time!) has been evasive and unhelpful.
About two months ago, the British Foreign Officer was contactaa. The
offidals involved werelio.aro Faequill (now transferred to Iran), Mr.
Brunnage (Trafalar 4555 Ext. v03) anl Mr. Sharland (930-8440), all of
whom have been very helpful.
The F.O. checked with the Authorities in Hong Kong that the Gordons had
not crossed the border. They also confirmed that they left Fekin on 5th
November, by contacting a Kepalese vorer in the Foreign Community there.
Hore recently, on 25th March, Mr. Sharland sent a cable to the British
Chargé d'Affairs in Pekin and authorised (directed, asked) him to
contact the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Fekin inmediately with all the
details. To date (30th March), no further information has been received.
Mr. Jeffrey Gordon would like to re-emphasize how helpful and
co-operative the Foreign Office have been in the matter.
It is vital that before any of the above information is mide public the
following interested parties MUST be consulted:
!
Mr. Jeffrey Gordon,
71, Hertford Road
Bast Finchley, N.2.
TUDor 8597
Mr. George Fottle (brother-in-law), 81, Bedster Gardens, Kursbek Hearst
Park, West Molesey, Surrey. 979-8867
It is wished that the above information is made public OHLY if
considered necessary to the interests of Mr., Mrs., and Kin
Gordon by the Foreign Minister (or the person deputised by him to handle
the matter).
L
:
From M. Reer. MP MY
27
for
Reid 21/5
Far Eastern
Mh.Rodgers...
House of Commons,
ant
RECEIVE
London, S.W.1
20 May 1968
ARCHIVES N.
Ackid 21/5
24 MAY 1968
Dear Goronwy.
On
wrote
to
You
Family
who
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F211421
2nd Aprt eux
Concernand
China [CHING]
for
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me?
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news
Your Summels Merl
ра
Mr. Benson
Mr. Murray
CONFIDENTIAL
FC 1/42
26
Reference
Flag D
I think that
are can uly
Hawg Kong to
Le tir
May many think
if mold
e
36* be leaching Run this bowed,
Eric Gordon and family
Peking telegram No. 448 reports a conversation in which a member of the
Mission in Peking heard from a French contact that the latter had seen
the Gordon family "within the last few weeks".
2. I have spoken to Mr. J. Gordon who has confirmed that the family in
England have not received any news from Eric Gordon. I passed on the
gist of the report from Peking, but explained most carefully that too
much trust should not be placed in it, and that the family here should
not allow their hopes to rise too much.
3. I think, however, that the report is worth investigating further, if
that can be done, It would be particularly useful if we could establish
the approximate date of the sighting and the degree of certainty of the
identification. Since Mrs. Gordon is coloured, the latter may seem a
foolish question at first sight, but I understand there are several
expatriate Africans in Peking.
4. Had the Gordons been released and were they engaged on collecting
their last few belongings from the Hostel, I should have expected them
to have left China by now. The failure of the family in England to
receive news, however, argues against that hypothesis. It may be worth
while, though, to remind Hong Kong to keep a watch on travellers from
China so that if the Gordons do leave via Hong Kong, we receive the
information as soon as possible.
5.
Kong.
I attach a draft telegram to Peking and Hong
Ackerland
J. Sharland) 23 May, 1968.
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Jon Denson
Tel to nevt.
так
237~
Assay
23
pher/Cat A
PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telegram No. 448
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
20 May, 1968
CH
26
F21/42
Addressed to Foreign office telegram No. 448 of 20 May, Repeated for
information to Hong Kong.
2
Your telegram No. 426:
¡ng. Gordon.
A member of my staff learnt yesterday from a French resident of the
Friendship Hostel that he had seen Gordon and family again at hostel
where they had re-appeared for about one day only. They appeared to be
under no (repeat no) form of restriction. Frenchman gave impression that
this had happened within the last few weeks.
2.
One possible interpretation of this is that Gordoné had been released
and had come to pick up belongings before leaving China. You may like to
check again whether the family have any news of them.
Foreign Office pass Hong Kong No. 324
Bir D. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
at have panca
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
News Dept
C.0. H.K. Dept
88866
Consular Dept
CONFIDENTIAL
information to Mr. J. Gordon,
The family have reccse of
and $ coma M. Gordon Mari the rust south selle pass
прив
'tamara'
$7%
No. 42
copy for FE.D.
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES N
Entry 17
16 MAY 1968
Fc 1142
必不
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 refer to their Note No. 8 of the 3rd of
February, 1968, requesting the Department's assistance in
ascertaining the whereabouts of är. Eric Gordon and his
family. They have received no reply to this Note.
The offics of the British Charge d'Affaires would be
grateful to know as soon as possible whether Mr. Gordon, his
wife and son are still in China, and if so, how they may be
contacted.
The Office of the British Charge d'Affaires avail
themselves of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China the
assurance of their highest consideration.
Office of the British Charge d'Affaires,
PEKING.
5 Max. 1568
with
F21/42 + M. Bogel 7
2 Mr. Sharland. FED
Iltant that you wish brinks
Ittenti
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(BRAVERY)"
7.5-68
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10, DOWNING STREET, S.W.1.
PRIVATE SECRETARY
Forsig. Office
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Pri with
The attached communication addressed to the Minister is transmitted to
you to be dealt whatever manner is considered appropriate by the
Department concerned. It refers to previous correspondence which was
forwarded to
you on..
1. No acknowledgment has been sent from here.
2. A plain acknowledgment has been sent from here, adding that the
communication has been forwarded to your Department.
3. A plain acknowledgment has been sent from here, adding that the
communication is receiving attention. You should ensure that a
substantive reply is sent from your Department as soon as possible.
4. A copy of the acknowledgment which has been sent from here is
attached.
Date
115/68.
RECEIVED:
ARCHIVES N.
6467 Dd. 268461 20m 4/68 CHC 696
-3 MAY 1968
Gorda VE.
Copp
10, Downing Street, Whitehall.
May 1, 1968
Dear Miss Gordon,
The Prime Minister has
asked me to thank you for
your letter of April 26
which is receiving attention.
Yours sincerely,
(SGD) D. H. ANDREWS
Miss Anita Gordon.
[
2
き
Tham gia
atta
Dear Sir PM
the
bould
22, WEST BOURNE- GDNS,
HOVE,
SUSSEX, BN3.5 PP.
26th April, 1968.
امتی
you please tell me whether Government has heard anything from the
Chinese Government regarding my brother, Eric Gordon, his wife Marie,
and son Kim, Eleven years-old, yet?
Кий
не
We have not heard from them for six months. They have been in Peking for
about three
leaving years and said they Early in November, 1967. The last letto we
Received from them was
in October, 1967.
They
west
were going to get a
Cargo & boat from Hongkong, but there
is
wo
र्ट
record of them having
crossed the border into Hongkong
They said they would write from Hong kong before getting
There has been no
on
letter, so
boat.
something must have happened. They wrote reqularly each week
near the end of October,
until
1967.
It seemed to
to u us
that they must
have been detained by the
Chinese.
My other brother, and in-laws, have visited the Chinese Embassy, several
times, and have been. unable to get any news from them.
My brother also went to the
Foreign Office a few weeks ago, and they contacted China,
R
ps.
3.
but the Chinese would not reply.
-Could
you please let me know whether you have heard
вышен
anything from the Chinese Government since then. ?
Thank you very much. Thank-you
My
Yours Sincerely,
Anita, Gordon (Miss.)
brother, Eric, worked as a reporter in England, and in publishing office
in China.
D
You
a
think the Government could
ack the Chinese Government,
ag
ain about
ofamily.
?
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brother and his
Reference
Ko/GORDON,
Mr. Gordon (brother | phoned
Q.m
to see if any change in position had been notified since he spoke to the
Pasquill
a week or so
Вы в
ago.
being
an appeal
appeal to
told us
change!
he asked
M.P. would help. He
swas told that this would doubtless
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES M
20 MAR 200
Fel/42
E.
be
referred
back to us
& that all that
being
done
Could be done was
Mr Avery spoke to him later
& made the additional point that
Such a question could raise publicity
which might draw the attention
of
Chinese authorities to ther. Gordon,
possible adverse effect's in the country
the
with
on his position
EA (4206)
i
тра
15/5
14/11
| =1
E4 (4206)
Reference.
Spoke to Smart in News Dept.
who had enquired what we knew of
Gordon's case (last evening)
yave him references to tels.
x Ch.daff's Note Verbale general outline
g
of case
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@ 1100
tha
3 Feb. 4
BB 916
PA.
Jannisys
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care to see 4.
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ensuring
that no
tele grams
or letter
enquering about British sabjects messing
Chemia
are semp
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Thank you.
for
us to to operate
I entirely aree
British subject's in
13.3.68.
ври
that it is vital
I will
thrower
That
relevant
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