fco-21-45-whereabouts-of-eric-gordon-and-family — Page 12

National Archives 英國國家檔案館 All

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Royal Soc.

15

Dear Janet,

The Royal Society

6 Carlton House Terrace

London SW1

Tel. 01-839-5561

ext.262

JJFD/VMK

3 May 1968

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

1 6 MAY 1968

F1142

Jumpa 1875

I attach copies of the papers spoke

about or the telephone today. Please see if you can find out what is
going on, because we would like to help if we can.

Yours sincerely,

John Deveill

(JJP DEVERILL)

for Executive Secretary

Miss Janet Evans,

East West Contacts Department,

4 Central Buillings,

Matthew Parker Street,

London,

.1.

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No. 58

-6 MAY 1968

о

Dear Sir,

TUD. 8697

71

HERTFORD ROAD

EAST FIN CHLEY

LONDON, N. 2,

30. 4. 1968

writing to you

in the

able to

hope

that

help us,

you may

some

my

way, two traxe the

lyfother ERYC

of

who

wrote at

whereabouts his twifed MARIE, and theis KIM(aged 1ctober, 1967, that of
be leaving

the

end

they

ard

would be

leaving Peking

England. Suice then,

me

perlod

souths, they have

ford England.

nearly SEVEN

beel heard

heard of 9 Gat

طمع

of

enclosing the details

the people involved.

Your sincerely,

Gordon

(J. GORDON)

DEF LIT

HS TAPI INVOLVED

Cir. Aric Gordon

Born in Manchester, England. A British subject.

-1 36/37 years;

=reporter.

European;

Jewish.

ilas worked on papers in Southend and Rottingham, on the Brentford and
Chiswick Times, the keynolus News, the Daily Murald and in the Exchange
relegraph News Agency.

Interested and sympathetic to the social experiments taking place in
China.

Native Language: English. Learned a little Chinese whilst in rekin.

Mrs. Marie Gorún. Born in sugland.

A British subject of a Ghanese father and an english mother. Is coloured
with curly black hair, derk complexion, etc. Aged 32/33 years.

Has worked in clerical and secretarial capacity mainly. After this a
housewife then student. Accepted to study for a degree at London school
of Economics upon her return.

Native Lan; UAJO I

English. Could speak a little Franch. Learned

Come Chinese whilst in Pekin.

Interested in social experiment occurring in China, us was hur husband.

Kim Gordon

-

on of the above

Born in London, England. A Britich subject.

A ̧ed 12 years.

Slightly tanned complexion, brown but fairly

i ̧htly curled hair.

L

Native Lan ungo: English. Said to be proficient in Chinese since he had
attended Chinese school whilst the family in China (2+ years).

1

!

Dotails of Visit to China, projected Journey

Back to England, etc.

In 154, Eric Gordon's job with the Daily Herald was terminuted due to
gun.ral redundancy.

ilo and his wife had always boon interested in developing lries and nad
considered living tomporarily in Ghana, India, Czechoslovakia, among
other countries. However, they had not moved to any of these countries,
although they did visit Hlunary and Poland.

In 1964, the Chinese Legation was in.er-sted in obtaining the services
of anglich-speaking poople for work in Fokin. They were introduced to
tho then Chinese Chargó D'Affairs by one or both of the following
people:-

and

Mr. Jeck Shapiro,

100, Brifill,

Hanpated Garden Suburb,

sie

London....2.

Iühade 1697

Kr. Dores/Bryan,

85, Holden Road,

London N.2.

Misjølde 9072

Insurance Agent.

Homber of the Society for Anglo-Chinese understanding. (S.A.C.U.)

Lecturer in Chinose,

Holborn College of Law

Languages & Commerce,

Komber (and ex-Secretary) of 3.4.C.U.

The Gordon left England for rekin in February, 1905, where Bric Gordon
was employed by the Foreign Languages irecs, english section, Room 307,
rai wan Chuang, lekin, 57, China, where he was inprovin.. the
phraseology, etc. of material aire dy translated from the Chinese. llis
wife was employed as a toscher of English to students of 16 years and
over, and the son attended a Chinese school.

When first in China, üric Gordon submitted come articles on Ching to the
Sunday telegraph, which publi:hod then, Ho stopped doing this at the
request of his superias in the Foreign Languages

esc.

The Cultural Revolution began in abou ugust, 1956 and the vife stopped
teaching and the child (together with all other schoolcziluren) stopped
attend.ng school.

During the whole period of their stay, botu adults wrote regularly to
their respective purenta, wunily at fortnightly intervals. The only
longer interval was onco for 4 woods a when they took a trip to the
interior.

aric Gordon's contract ex ired in Febr. 102. tout family outuined a six
monta extension.

contritt

1262 the

t

:

T

1

ekin for long nong on 31st October. n、ve confirmed that they left rekin
on to Hong Kong via changhai and Canton. no nows has boen received from
them.

However, friends in China

5ta Noveuber intonging to 60 Since this time (26tweCKS)

bcuntly, the Foreign Office told certain reporters the

details which have appoured in the press to ether with information about
two navul 、fficers. The Foreign Office have been making what enquiries
they can without any success so far.

Before any of this information is made public, the foll wing parties
must be consulted:

Hr. Jeffrey Gordon, (brother to Eric)

71, hertford kd.,

Bast Finchely, N.c.

TJJor 8547

Mr. George Fottle (brother-in-law)

bl, Bedster Gardens,

Hearst Fark,

West Lobsey, Surroy. 679-8867

+

+4

+

+

+

FC 1/42.

nu

14

NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS

Acorn House, 314/320 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1

Telephone: 01-278 7916

IJO/G

1

1008

James Murray, Esq.,

Far Eastern Department, i

Foreign Office,

LONDON S.W.1.

Fey/42 i Manas

Mr Shankards.

7th May 1968

Enter.

$%

@

Dear Mr. Hurray,

Mr. Bradley is at present away from the office ireland, so I am
acknowledging with thanks your letter to him of 6th May. He will, of
course, see your letter on his return.

Yours sincerely,

berly tasted

Secretary to Mr. Bradley

General Secretary : H. J. Bradley

Deputy General Secretary: T. D. Lucy

Japan. 14/5

Fel/42

•You

бра

7 May, 1988,

VESPATCHED BY

MUSTER OF STATE'S OFFICE

13

I am replying to your letter of 30 April to Bill Rodgers (who is abroad
at the moment) in which you enclosed a letter from Mr. Sam Gordon, one
of your constituents, kept a copy of kr. Gordon's letter on our files.

We have

I am afraid that there is very little that I can tell you which would
reassure Mr. Eric Gordon's father. The facts in his letter are aterially
correct. Mr. Gordon and his family have never been in touch with our
Mission in Peking, so we were not well placed to obtain news of him when
he disappearēd. In fact we knew nothing of the disappearance until his
brother, Mr. Ceffrey Gordon, made enquiries on 1 February. No trace of
the Gordons has been.). nd in Hong Kong. Formal requests for information
were made to the Chinese "authorities in Peking on 3 February. 12 March
and 25 March and they were rezinded frequently. Sir Donald Hopson was
instructed a day or two ago to make a further approach in Peking and we
have just heard that hiê has done so. We are in clöse touch with ir.
Jeffrey Gordon, who has apparently received no reply to letters to
highly-placed Chinese officials and enquiries at the Chinese Mission
here in London.

In view of the reported detention of other British subjects sympathetic
to the Chinese, for example, Mrs. Epstein and ir. Michael Shapiro, we
think it probable that the Gordon family are being detained by the
'hinese also.

Martin Haddan, Esq., M.P.

House of Commons, S. W. 1.

/There is

- 2

-

There is some sign of a slight easing of relations with the Chinese, for
example, access has been permitted to Mr. Anthony Grey, the Reuters
correspondent under house arrest in Peking.

If this trend continues, we may be in a position to do more to help
British subjects in detention. We shall continue to press the Chinese
about the Gordons and will let you and the family know if there are any
developments.

Lrs. Sadie Gordon sent a letter to Her Majesty The Queen in terms
similar to those of Mr. Gordon's letter to you The Foreign Office was
asked to reply and I enclose a copy of the letter sent to her.

(G.0. ROBERTS)

WEB'L SI 2434

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry Fc1/42.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret.

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted. Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

DRAFT Letter

To:-

Martin Kaddan, Esq., K.P. House of Commons, S.W.1

In Confidence

Type 1 +

From

Mr. Roberts

Telephone No. & Ext.

Department

Kr. and Mrs. Eric Gordon

Kre.

I am replying to your letter of 30 April

Alisond of the kinwat

to Bill Rodgers (who is out of the country) in

+

DESPATCHED which you enclosed a letter from Mr. Sam Gordon,

Enclosures

1.

Original of

Mr. Gordon's

letter to be

returned.

2.

Copy of Mr.

5*

Roberts' letter

to Hrs. Gordon.

one of your constituenta. We have kept a copy

of Mr. Gordon's letter on our fiels.

I am afraid that there is very little that

I can tell you which would reassure Mr. Eric

Gordon's father. The facts in his letter are

facts

materially correct. Mr. Gordon and his family

have never been in toúch with our Mission in

Peking, so that we were not well placed to obtain

news of him when he/disappeared.

In fact we

knew nothing of the disappearance until his

brother, Mr. Jeffrey Gordon, made enquiriee on

1 February. No trace of the Gordons has been

found in Hong Kong. Formal requests for infor-

mation were madd to the Chinese authorities in

Peking on 3 February, 12 March and 25 March, jand they were reminded
frequently. Sir Donald

Hopson was instructed a day or two ago to make

further approach in Peking and we have just Lean Hast

he has done so. We are

poesired confin

in close touch with Mr. Jeffrey Gordon, who has

apparently received no reply to letters to

highly-placed Chinese officials and enquiries

at the Chinese Mission here in London.

/In view

In view of the reported detention of other

British subjects sympathetic to the Chinese,

for example, Mrs. Epstein and Mr. Michael

Shapiro, we think it probable that the Gordon

family are being detained by the Chinese also.

There is some sign of a slight easing of

relations with Chinese, for example, access

has been permitted to Mr. Anthony Grey, the

Reuters correspondent under house arrest in

Peking. If this trend continues, we may be

in a position to do more to help British

subjects in detention.

shall continue to

press the Chinese about the Gordons and will

let you and the family know if there are any

developments.

Mrs. Sadie Gordon sent a letter to H.K.

The Queen in terms similar to those of

Mr. Gordon's letter to you. The Foreign Office

sent to her.

was asked to reply and I enclose a copy of the letter

er

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

F41/42

+

12

DESPATCHED BY

MINISTER OF STATE'S O.FICE

7 May, 1968.

@

I am replying to your letter of 20 April to Her Majesty The Queen in
which you enquired about your son, Mr. Eric Gordon, and his family.

I am afraid I cannot add to what we have already said to your son
Jeffrey. We have made repeated attempts to obtain news from the Chinese.
orricial requests for information were made on 3 February, 12 March and
25 March, in addition to repeated reminders by telephone. Sir Donald
Hopson, the British Chargé d'Affaires in Peking, was instructed to make
a further approach to the Chinese a day or two ago and we have just
heard that, he has done so.

Unfortunately since your son never got in touch with our Mission in
Peking, it was difficult for us to know what might have happened to him
when it became clear he had not arrived in Hong Kong. In fact, the first
we heard that he might be detained was from Jeffrey.

We have some reason to hope that relations with China may be improving.
You probably read in the newspapers that Sir Donald Hopson had been able
to visit"tr. Grey, the Reuters correspondent now under house arrest in
Peking. We hope that if relations move slowly back to normal we shall be
able to do more to help your son and his family as well as other British
subjects in difficulties in China.

Meanwhile, I can assure you that we are continuing to do all we can to
get news of him.

(G.0. ROBERTS)

Mrs. Sadie Gordon.

22. Westbourne Gardens,

Hove

SUSSEX.

BNS 5PP

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

KEMETS KOMA

Registry No.

F21/42

DRAFT

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

Secret.

Confidential,

Restricted.

Unclassified

To:-

Mrs. Sadie Gordon,

22 Westbourne Gardene,

Hove,

Sussex, BN3 5PP.

PRIVACY MARKING

-In Confidence

2

Type 1 +

From

Mr. Roberts

Telephone No. & Ext.

Department

Extra copy to

go with Mr.

Roberts' letter

to Mr. Madden

I am replying to your letter of 26 April

to Her Majesty The Queen in which you enquired

about your son, Mr. Eric Gordon, and his family

I'm afraid I can't add to what belave we were alread are already in
close touch with your suid to your son Jeffery.

aon, Mr. Jeffrey Gordon, and there is nothing-

"SPATCHED By the Chinese.

4

STATES CFFICE

I can add to what he had already been told.

We

have made repeated attempts to obtain news from

Official re-uests for information

were made on 3 February, 12 March and 25 March,

in addition to repeated reminders by telephone.

Sir Donald Hopson, the British Chargé d'Affaires

in Peking, was instructed to make a further

approach to the Chinese a day or two ago and

hears Haut

we have just pessiv

unfortunately.

ation he has done gut

so. ¡Since your son was never in touch with our

it was difficult for up

Mission in Peking, w

lot well placed to

know what might have happened to him when it

became clear he had not arrived in Hong Kong.

sa beand

In fact, the first Indication we received that

he might be detained was from your other son,

,

Jeffrey. Gorden

We have some reason to hope that relatione

with China may be improving. You probably read

in the newspapers that Sir Donald Hopson had been

able to visit Mr. Grey, the Reuters correspondent

now under house arrest in Peking. We hope that

if relations move slowly back to normal we shall

be able to do more to help your son and his

/family

family as well as other British subjects in

difficulties in China.

Hemskule, lean amiest you that we are

Kaanwhile, please rest assured that we

combinuing to do all we can to get news of him.

shall godt inu

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

9- MAY 1968

bir. Arbuthnott

FC 1/42

Frobable Detention of Kr. Eric Gordon

and his Family

10

Flag A

I attach draft replies to letters from Mr. Gordon's

@ .

Flag B

mother to H.M. The Queen and from Mr. Martin Maddan, M.P.,

who enclosed a letter from Mr. Gordon's father.

Flag C 2.

My submission of 1 May gives the background on the

Gordons.

Humay

(James Murray)

6 May, 1968

Bd (4206)

1

·

I

F41/42

!

Reference.....

W (10

I attach a letter addressed to Her Majesty The Queen by Mrs. Sadie
Gordon of 22 Westbourne Gardens, Hove Sussex asking for news about her
Son Eric, his Wife and Son aged 11.

2. You will see from the Buckingham Falace Private Secretary's Office
stamp that Mrs. Gordon has been informed that her letter has been passed
to the Foreign Office.

3. I understand that you are already dealing with this case, so I am
sending it to you for entry and action by Far Eastern Department.

Mr. J.D.I. Boyd,

Rine Enture

(R. McEntire) (Miss)

Protocol & Conference

Department,

Room 409,

Charles House.

Far Eastern Department,

Room 86A,

Foreign Office,

Downing Street.

enter einmediz

3/5

110

PRIVATE SECRETARY'S OFFICE BUCKING ATA PACE

3 0 APR 1968

Walter I formed that letter

being forwarded to

oneign offers.

22, Westbourne Gardens,

AK

Hove..

9- MAY 1968

мех

26

F21/427

Your Majesty,

ssex, BN3. 5PP.

April, 1968.

you could

could please

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