Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
Flag A
Flags B and C
Mr. Eric Gordon
I attach a draft reply to a letter from
Krs, Margaret Thatcher, M.P.'s Private
Secretary.
2. Kr. Poldy wrote to Mrs. Thatcher on
29 July. The background to the case is in
Mr. Murray's submissions of 1 May and 28 Kay.
There have been no developments since then.
RECEIVED IN
•..CHIVES No. 31 10 SEP 1968
Fa/42
Mr. Deny
Reference....
Mr. Eric Gordan
I attach a
F/4.2.
Fr
daft aply
imevitably of a stalling nature
to
a letter from Mr. Mayart Thatcher, M.P.'s Private Revetay, and
brief daft covering minute.
Mark A. Hall
4/9.
Jom Jessu
4
K
Kote No. 119
Fel/42
·
68
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 Notes
ummbered 76 and 85 of the 24th of June and the 4th of July, 1968, uh oh
requested confirmation of the reported arrest of Mr. Eric Gordon and his
family, details of any charges brought
against them and insediate consular access to them,
The office of the British Chargể d'Affaires have so far received no
reply to the above mentioned Notes. They again urgently request the
Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to furnish the
information requested on the above British subjects and to permit
immediate consular access to them.
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 co: aideration.
Office of the British Chargé d'artai ros, PACING
17 August, 1968
DE
HOUSE
OF
COMMONS
Michael,
!
L
3.
Sen. 5, 19
+
Howieds
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
- 9 SEP 1968
F1/42
το
has not seéh
6
F. E of State Consula Department for
se reply from ...MR foley. new
I am writing on behalf of my constituent, Mrs. Warrawi of 18, Thirlmere,
Cumberland Terrien Market, N.W.1. Mrs. Trewi, whose letter I enclose, is
very worried about her daughter, Merie Gordon and her family. I
understand that Mr. and Mrs. Cordon and their twelve voar old son left
Peking for England in October 1967 and have not been heard of since.
↑ GA- T
that other M. Pa have been in touch with you and I anlarise for "ny
dunlicetion of work. But I certainly understand mar constituent's
opxiatu end I hene that it is now "ossible for further information to be
obtained.
Yours sincerely,
Sena
Tena M.Jezer
Rt. Hon. M. Stewart.
LANT
REF
REA
REF.
93
+
18 THIRLMERE FLATS CUMBERLAND MARKET OFF ALBANY ST.
Dear Mrs.
Jaeger,
9
am
i
the hope that
to
MARIE
MAR
11
trace
LONDON N.W. I.
31. 8. 68.
writing to you will help
you Laughter
GORDON, he husband ERIC,
my ste grandson KIM (aged 12). whote.
at the end of October, 1967, from Peking, that
set
about to
parod
for England. Since then
them.
mouths, nothing has been
from this brother,
ivere
of
elemen
heard
of
JEFFREY touch but
My
son
SUCCESD
GORDON, is in
with
constant
MJJ
the Foreign Office, for detarmthing daughter,
they have hand
in
whereabouts of my
the
+
:
+
grandson:
daughte's M.P., Mr. Ben and Ms. Margaret Thatcher,
Q.m
mada
routrie
the House of Commons, but I
all satisfied with the
in - how,
My
السمو
and
whit aber, have
engine on tim
at all
معهود
cool
altitude
and
daughter's safety,
very
of the Foreign worried about my
son~
Would
Offfice to the whole matter.
and
laws, my grandchild
the Prime Min you please insist that
will
and the Foreign
Ade case.
Secretary personally take
fully question wint MR. JOHN
I who
knows the full story.
shall be glad if
discuss the whole you
C
MENDELSON
Your very sincerely
(MRS, W. WARAN) mas W. Waraur
Land brother lives at
P.S. My 7, HERTFORD RD., N. 2. (TUD. 8697). He can
וד
quickly piras
:
I
:
HOUSE
OF
COMMONS
RECEIVED IN ARCHIV-› No.31
30 AUG 1968
• FC 1142
19th August 1968
Rer and Ack. 29.8. DE. Coment Է
for draft reply please.
Dear Private Secretary,
Mr. Foley wrote to Mrs. Thatcher on the 29th July about Mr. Eric Gordon
who is believed to be in detention in China.
Mr. Jeffrey Gordon, brother of Mr. Eric Gordon, has written again to
Mrs. Thatcher and asked if there is not some way of getting news of him
and his family.
You will remember Mr. Foley said that there had been a report that Mr.
Eric Gordon and his family had been seen and the Foreign Office was
trying to confirm it.
Is it at all possible that Sir Donald Hopson may have news of the
family? I know Mrs. Thatcher would be most grateful if Mr. Foley could
write to her in due course with any further information. She is out of
London for the next week or so and that is why I am writing on her
behalf.
Yours sincerely,
Gillen Z. Wright Acting Private Secretary mes)
To Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, M.P.
The Private Secretary to Maurice Foley, Esq., M.P.
(66)
(FC 1/42)
D. in F. Div.
44 28/8.
Foreign Office, S.K.1.
23 August, 1968.
(65)
I do know of the Eric Gordon case.
A dozen or so letters in a similar vein from Mrs. Gordon and her sons
and daughters have been received in the Office through the medium of
numerous dignitaries including a number of Keabers of Parliament. There
is unfortunately very little to add to the facts as stated by Mrs.
Gordon.
The only information of any sort we have is a report from a foreign
resident of the Friendship Hostel in Peking who told a member of our
Mission that Mr. Eric Gordon and his family reappeared there some weeks
ago for about a day, apparently under no form of restriction. We have
done our best to corroborate this report but in the present atmosphere
in Peking contacts of this sort are difficult to follow up.
Mr. Gordon was employed by the Chinese Government, and had virtually no
contact with the Mission. The Office are in very close touch with Mr.
Jeffrey Gordon, Mr. Gordon's brother, and will tell him as so n as any
news is received. The usual protests and demands for access and
information are being made of course, both here and in Peking, but have
so far extracted no response. Mrs. Gordon is familiar with all thie
information.
There is, therefore very little to tell your friend. I wish there were
more. I am enclosing the documents as requested.
Robin Cliver, Esq.,
23 Gledhow Gardens,
8.W.5.
(F. Brewer)
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
GENTIS MUDAA
23/12
Registry
No.
DRAFT Letter
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
To:-
Top Secret.
Secret
Confidential.
Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confiden
Robin Oliver, Esq.,
23 Gdedhow Gardens, London, 3.W.5.
Type 1 +
рв
F.
From
Mr. Brewer
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
I di kaow of the Eric Gordon care. At
I am afraid we love received got
of So
fera dozen letters in a similar vein from
Shows been receval in
A
Office
Mrs. Gordon and her sons and daughters which the through the veeduino A
qumato_us-from, numerous dignitaries includifig
a number of H.P.a
There is very little to
add to the facts as stated by Krs. Gordon.
The only information of any sort we have is
a report from a foreign resident of the
Friendship Hostel in Peking who told a member
of our Mission that Er. Eric Gordon and his
family reappeared there some weeks ago for
about a dey, apparently under no form of
restriction.
We have one our best to
corroborate this report but in the present
atmosphere in Peking contacts of this sort
are difficult to follow up.
Jur. Gordon was employed by the Chinese
Government, and had virtually no contact with
The Office
the Mission.
are in very close touch with
Kr, Jeffrey Gordon, Mr. Gordon's brother, and will
aug desi cewed.
aball tell him as soon as we receive any nOWG,
ef course_making the usual protests
Cam basing winds of comme
and demands for access and information, both
but
here and in Peking, and have so far extracted
no response. Mrs. Gordon is familiar with all
this information.
tovec, decayfore, very
"There were curre
little & tell gaus
V
friend. I wish there
he
an luxclosing
documents as requested.
B
22/0/68
Fc42
FOREIGN OFFICE, 8.V.1
21st August, 1968
64
63
Thank you for your letter of 12th August with which you enclosed a short
note from your parents to your brother in China.
I shall be sending your parents' letter to the Office of the British
Chargé d'Affaires in Peking by our next diplomatic bag; and I am asking
them to hand it to the Chinese authorities with the request that it be
delivered to your brother.
You will know only too well from the previous letters you have received
from the Foreign Office and no doubt from your brother, who keeps in
regular touch by telephone with my department, about the difficulties of
our Mission in Peking. I can only promise therefore that they will hand
the letter to the Chinese. We have no guarantee unfortunately that the
Chinese will deliver it, nor even that they will tell us whether or not
they are going to. If by any chance the Mission was at last able to see
your brother," they would of course deliver the massage from your
parente personally.
I can assure you that our Kission are continuing regularly to approach
the Chinese for information about your brother and that as soon as we
receive any information,
shall let you know.
Kiss Ann Gordon,
22 Westbourne Gardens,
Here,
Šustez, 193 5PP.
ве
(James Murray)
(Far Eastern Department)
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
EINE LEIAA
Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Conflé
DRAFT Letter
Ta:
Miss A. Gordon,
22 Westbourne Gardens,
Hove,
Sussex, EN3 5PP.
Type 1 +
From
Mr. Murray
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
and I www
asking there to
Laund it
If by any chaney
the Thesion woun
last ath to se
your butthes. Kepy would of courofe deliver the assage from your ponents
personally
adj
23
Thank you for your letter of 12 August
with which you enclosed a short note from
your parents/to your brother in China.
I shall be sending your parents' letter
to the office of the British Chargé d'Affaires
in Peking by our next diplomatic bag; witha
request that it be handed to the Chinese
with the request that
authorities who will of the same time be
to your brother asiya te orrange for it to be deliveredf
You will ungezetend only too well from
the previous letters you have received from
the Foreign Office and no doubt from your
brother, who keeps in regular touch by telephone
with my department, of the difficulties of our
Mission in Peking. I can only promise
therefore that they will hand the letter to
the Chinese. We have no guarantee
unfortunately that the Chinese will deliver it
nor even that they will tell us whether or not
they are going to.
I can assure you however that our Mission
are continuing regularly to approach the
Chinese for information about or your brother
and that as soon as we receive any information
shutt
I will let you know.
And
21 Any.
!
:
!
...... kurray
Reference FC 114.2 11.63.
In her letter (attached) Miss Ann Gordon asked that we send a letter
from her parents to her brother, which she enclosed, to Peking and try
to persuade the Chinese to deliver it to her brother.
2.
I have forwarded the appropriate letter to Peking with a covering note
and attach a draft reply from you to Miss Gordon.
(E. J. Sharland) 20 August, 1968.
TheBank
zon.
la
22, Westbourne Gardens,
15
63
Hove,
K
Sussex, BN3 5PP.
12th. August, 1958.
ARCHIVES No.3 1
¡ 23 AUG 1968
FC+ |42
Dear Sir,
I am writing about my brother, Eric Gordon, and his family, who are
being detained in China.
In July I wrote to The Foreign office, (and received a reply from Mr. M.
Foley) to ask whether a message could be given to my brother, when
someone from the British Mission in Peking, is allowed to see him, The
message was that: "Mother and all other relations are in good health,
also Marie's relatives are in good health; and that we hope that they
are in good health. Regards from all relatives and friends."
1
Eric will be anxious about mother and how she is taking all this,- as
she is a worrier and afraid that she has made herself ill worrying about
him. Fric must be under enough strain without having to worry about
mother as well. As it happens mother is in good health. We have all kept
telling her that Eric and his family would not be harmed by the Chinese;
(and this has helped her) although we could not be sure, but Mr. Grey
seemed to be alright, as far as we could tell.
Mr. Foley replied, saying "we have asked the British Charge d'Affairs in
Peking to transmit your message to your brother and his family, if he is
allowed to visit them. I would suggest, however, that you yourself write
a letter, and send it to Far Eastern Dept. in the Foreign Office. We
would then forward it to Peking, and the British Charge d'Affairs would
try to have it delivered to your brother at such time as any information
became available about his whereabouts."
I have enclosed a brief, open letter, written by mother, just saying
that she hopes that they are in good health, and that she, and the rest
of us are fine. And that Marie's relatives are all well.And that she
hopes to see them soon.
If mother'a letter could be sent on to Peking for the British Charge
d'Affairs to have delivered to Eric,-or read to him,-if and when someone
from the British Mission in Peking is allowed by the Chinese to see him,
we would all be very grateful.
Ре
O
Thank-you very much indeed.
Yours sincerely,
A Gordon. MISS)•
A. Gordon. (Miss).
יח
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
Din D16
248 HB
FC
114
19 August, 1968.
We have received the enclosed open note to Eric Gordon and his family
from his sister acting on behalf of his elderly parents, We have agreed
that we will ask you to pass the letter to the Chinese authorities with
a request that it be delivered to his but have warned Miss Gordon that
we can neituer guarentee delivery nor a straight answer from the Chinese
as to whether or not the letter will in fact be delivered. We have of
course said that you continue to make regular representations to the
Chinese on Mr. Gordon's behalf. You will no doubt let us know as soon as
you have anything to report.
R. R. Garside, Esq.,
PEKINO.
(E. J. Sharland) Far Eastern Department
CONFIDENTIAL
62
Ed (1626)
i
60
2
Reference...
M. Boyd. FE·D
Сие брове
·RECEIVED IN..
ARCHIVES No 31
16 AUG 1968 1
Fe1/42
thee letter from Oliver anot-
coubali berewith
Сибай
3. Could you please advise me
ཀ
how to reply to let me have de docemento back своим
61
скв
14/8/68
M.
1. you.
вини
you please advice Mr. Brewer."
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line to
Mr. Before 2./0/60
I attack a suppestad
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Follow.
Letter Corisce
Marti A. Hull 19/8
F. 22/8/68.
الا
fe
Later issued & exclonics at (60) attachés,
Q
enter
MMA
23 Gledhow Gardens
London, S.W.5
12 August 1968
во
Dear Frank,
I do apologise for bothering you with the enclosed, but should be so
grateful if you could spone a moment for them.
They are copies of letters sent to the Pre- sident of a society for the
blind who is also an old friend of my family's.
She thinks I am still in the Office. In a covering letter to me she
writes:-
"I feel sure that all possible enquiries
have already been made by the Foreign Office and have proved fruitless.
But I thought there might be just a chance that you would be in the way
of knowing whether anything further could still be done - or any sort of
hope held out to Mrs.Gordon.
I should be so grate- ful if you could give any advice, even if it has
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.