to be of a negative kind".
Since the writer of these lines is an ex- tra nice person I should like
to be able to say something to her, not necessarily for repetition to
hrs.Gordon. of this case? guidance you can offer.
Do you by any chance know I should be very glad of any
May I have the enclosures back some time?
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
1 6 AUG 1968
F4/142
Tamo
opologetically
Robin Oliver
F2 1/42.
67
59
12 August, 1968.
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES N. 31
1 4 AUG 1968
Fa1142
Thank you for your letter of 4 August to Coronwy Hoberts, about Mr. Eric
Gordon.
I am afraid that there is little we can add to the facts as set out in
your letter. Kr. Gordon worked in the Foreign LarguagOB Fress in i
øking, and lived in the Friendship Hostel, a hostel for foreigners, most
of whom are employed by the Chinese Government. Neither he nor his
family were ever in touch with our Nission in leking, and it was in
consequence particularly difficult for us to find out anything about
them when we received information that they had disappeared. Moreover,
the Mission, as you will bə ɛware, has been working under considerable
difficulties. we have, however, done all that we could to obtain
information about the Gordons. The Chargé d'Affaires has ande formal
approaches to the Chinese authorities in reking regularly since 3
February, and the Mission have telephoned
Sir Barnett Jamar, M.P.,
The Board of Deputies of British Jews,
Woburn House,
Upper Woburn Place,
London, .C.1.
/ the
enter & pa
мара
13/8
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs weekly in efforts to find whether the
Gordons are in fact under detention. Bill Rodgers, when he was
Parliamentary Under-Secretary, also pressed for information from the
Chinese Chargé d'Affaires ad interim in London. Unfortunately, the
Chinese have so far not responded to any of these approaches.
The only information of any sort we have is a report from a foreign
resident of the Friendship Hostel, who told a momber of our Mission that
Kr. Fric 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
obtain corroboration of this report, but in the present atmosphere in
Peking, contacts of this sort are difficult to follow up.
I am corry that we have not more to tell you, but I am sure you
understand the problems which we face.
( CHALFONT )
Registry No.
FC 1/42 ·
DRAFT Letter
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
To:
Top Secret,
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
Ja Confiden
Sir Barnett Janner, H.P. The Board of Deputies of British Jewe,
Woburn House,
Upper Woburn Place, W,C.1
Thank
Type 1 +
From
Lord Chalfont.
Telephone No. & Ext.
Туроб Aurel Laugh
you for
Department
[I am reptring to your letter fear/eg] of
4th August to Goronwy Roberts, about Mr.
Eric Gordon.
I am
afraid that
There is little we can add to the facts
as set out in your letter. Mr. [Brig Gordon
worked in the Foreign Languages Press in
Peking, and lived in the Friendship Hoetel,
a hostel for foreigners, most of whom are
employed by the Chinese Government.
Feither
he nor his family were ever in touch with our
Mission in Peking, and it was in consequence
particularly difficult for us to find out
anything about them when we received informa-
tion that they had disappeared. Moreover,
the Mission, as you will be aware, has been
working under considerable difficulties.
have, however, done all that we could to
obtain information about the Gordone. The
Chargé d'Affaires has made formal approaches
to the Chinese authorities in Peking regularly
since 3rd February, and the Mission have
telephoned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
We
weekly in efforts to find whether the Gordons
are in fact under detention.
Bill Rodgers,
../ when he was
WEBL S1-743
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
e
when he was Parliamentary Under-Secretary, also
pressed for information from the Chinese
Chargé d'Affaires ad interim in London.
Unfortunately, the Chinese have so far not
responded to any of these approaches.
The only information of any sort we have
is a report from a foreign resident of the
Friendship Hostel, 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 obtain corroboration
of this report, but in the present atmosphere
in Peking, contacts of this sort are difficult
to follow up.
I am sorry that we have not more to tell
you, but I am sure you understand the problems
which we face.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Mr. M.L. Tait
MR. ERIC GORDON AND HIS FAMILY
58
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
1 4 AUG 1968
F42
Fello
I attach a draft reply to a letter from Sir Barnett Janner, M.P., to Mr.
Roberta, about FLAG A57 Mr. Eric Gordon and his family whom we believe
to be detained in China.
2. The draft follows closely the terms of
FLAGS B4 letters sent by Mr. Foley to Mrs. Margaret Thatcher,
M.P., and Hr. Ben Whitaker, M.P.
& C
FLAGS & E
n
3. The background of the case is covered in my submissions of 1 May and
28 May. no developments since then.
There have been
г
Janne Umary
(James Murray)
12 August, 1968
P.a. Seef59
Telephone: 01-387 3952
Telegrams: Deputies, London, W.C.1
$7
THE LONDON COMMITTEE OF DEPUTIES OF THE BRITISH JEWS
generally known as
THE BOARD OF DEPUTIES OF BRITISH JEWS
President:
Alderman MICHAEL M. FIDLER, J.P.
Vice-Presidents:
SIR SAMUEL FISHER, J.P. VICTOR MISHCON, DL.
Treasurer:
HARRY LANDY, J.P.
Secretary:
ABRAHAM J. MARKS
seen. CONSULAR..... Dept.
1/nas not
for advice and draft reply
WOBURN HOUSE.
UPPER WOBURN PLACE,
LONDON, W.C.1.
from fees,
Lord Chalfont.
The Riakon
used so-The-Scerty.
4th August, 1968 car/eg
}
Goronwy Roberts,
.P.,
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,
The Foreign Office,
Jowning Street,
Londen, S.1.1.
م
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES Ne.31
- 7 AUG 1968
Fa/42
The Board has been approached by the relatives of a family missing
either in China, or en route from China, I understand that the relatives
have been in touch themselves with the Foreign Office and with the
Chinese Embassy here, but in view of the seriousness of the matter I
felt I should approach you on it,
The following are the details we have been given:- Hames of persons
missing:
Nationality:
Residence in China:
Employment there:
Address there:
Last communication received:
Mr. Eric Gordon, his wife Marie, and their son Kim (aged 12)
British
Since February 1965
With the Foreign Language Press, English Section Friendship Hotel,
Peking
Dated 23th November 1967, in which Mr. Eric Gordon wrote that they were
due to leave Peking on or about 5th November 1967, in order to travel
back to England by Cargo Boat via Hong Kong. He stated that he would be
writing again from Hong Kong, but no further letter or information has
been received since the above letter.
..../2
-2-
tive who approached
the Board:
Miss A. Gordon,
22 Westbourne Gardens, Hove, Sussex,
I need not tell you how distressed the relatives here are about the
matter, and should be most grateful for any information you are able to
obtain.
Sir Barnett Janner, H.P. Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee
Fe 1/42
From The Parlamentary Under-Secretary of State
Foreign Office
London SW1
29 July, 1968.
+
Dean Nagant Thatcher
Fred Mulley has asked me to reply to your letter of 17 July about Mr.
Eric Gordon, whom we believe may be in detention in China. I am
returning the correspondence you enclosed. We have retained copies for
our files.
I am afraid that there is little information that we can give you about
the Gordons We are in constant touch with Mr Gordon's brother, Mr.
Jeffrey Gordon, and my colleagues in the Foreign Office have written to
his mother and father, and to other members of his family who are
already aware of all the information in this letter.
The facts are as Mr. Jeffrey Gordon describes them. Mr. Eric Gordon
worked in the Foreign Languages Press in Peking, and lived in the
Friendship Hostel, a hostel for foreigners most of whom are employed by
the Chinese Government. Neither he nor his family were ever in touch
with our Mission in Peking and it was consequently diffi- cult for us to
find out anything about them when we received information that they had
disappeared. Moreover, the Mission as you will be aware, is now working
under considerable difficulties. We have, however, done all that we
could to obtain information about the Gordons. The Charge d'Affaires has
made formal approaches to the Chinese authorities in Peking regularly
since 3 February, and the Mission have telephoned the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs weekly in efforts to find whether the Gordons are in
fact under detention. Bill Rodgers, when he was Parliamentary
Under-Secretary, also pressed for information from the Chinese Charge
d'Affaires ad interim in London. Unfortunately, the Chinese have so far
not responded to any of these approaches.
The only information of any sort we have is a report from a foreign
resident of the Friendship Hostel, who told a member of our Mission that
Mr. Eric Gordon and his family reappeared there come weeks ago for.
about a day, apparently under no form of restriction. We are doing our
best to
Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, M.P.,
House of Commons.
/obtain
1.9/8
p.a.
мета 18
enter d
-2-
obtain corroboration of this report, but in the present atmosphere in
Peking contacts of this sort are difficult to follow up.
I am sorry that we have not more to tell you but I am sure you
understand the problems which we face.
Youn
مکارح
Vand they
Maurice Foley
*
1
A
H
F=1/42
From The Parlamentary Under-Secretary of State
Noted in
Private Office
Foreign Office London S.W.1
29 July, 1968.
Dear Ben.
Thank you for your communication of 22 July about Mr. Eric Gordon, whom
we believe may be in detention in China. I am returning the
correspondence you enclosed and have retained copies for our files.
I am afraid that there is little information that we can give you about
the Gordons. We are in constant touch with Mr. Gordon's brother, Mr.
Jeffrey Gordon, and my colleagues in the Foreign Office have written to
his mother and father, and to other members of his family who are
already aware of all the information in this letter.
The facts are as Mr. Jeffrey Gordon describes them. Mr. Eric Gordon
worked in the Foreign Languages Press in Peking, and lived in the
Friendship Hostel, a hostel for foreigners most of whom are employed by
the Chinese Government. Neither he nor his family were ever in touch
with our Mission in Peking and it was consequently difficult for us to
find out anything about them when we received information they had
disappeared. Moreover, the Mission, as you will be aware, is now working
under considerable difficulties. We have, however, done all that we
could to obtain information about the Gordons. The Charge d'Affaires has
made formal approaches to the Chinese authorities in Peking regularly
since 3 February, and the mission have telephoned the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs weekly in efforts to find whether the Gordons are in
fact under detention. Bill Rodgers, when he was Parliamentary
Under-Secretary, also pressed for information from the Chinese Charge
d'Affaires ad interim in London. Unfortunately, the Chinese have so far
not responded to any of these approaches.
The only information of any sort we have is a report from a foreign
resident of the Friendship Hostel, 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 are doing our best to
obtain corroboration or this report, but in the present atmosphere in
reking contacts of this sort are difficult to follow up.
Ben Whitaker, Esq., M.P.,
House of Commons.
/I
[
enter & pa.
1/
+
L
:
-2-
+
I am sorry that we have not more to tell you but I am sure you
understand the problems which we face.
+
+
改
Maurice Foley
1
-
A
WIDAL SERVI
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry Felfer 2
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret, Secret. Confidential.
Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
DRAFT Letter
To:
(1) Mrs. Margaret
Thatcher, K.P.. House of Commons.
(11) Ben Whitake‡ Esq.,
M.P..
House of Cómmona.
56
Type 1 +
From Mr. Foley.
Telephone No. & Brt,
Department
FLAG A
FLAG B
(1) Fred lulley has asked me to reply to your
letter of 17th July about Mr. Eric Gordon whom
we believe/may be in detention in China. I
am returning the correspondence you enclosed.
We have retained copies for our files.
(11) Thank you for your communication of 22nd
July about Mr. Eric Gordon whom we believe may
be in Retention in China. I am returning the
correspondence you enclosed and have retained
copies for our files.
(i) and (11)
I am afraid that there is little informa-
tich that we can give you about the Gordons.
We are in constant touch with Mr. Gordon's
brother, Mr. Jeffrey Gordon, and my colleagues
in the Foreign Office have written to his mother
and father, and to other members of his family
who are already aware of all the information
in this letter.
The facte are as Mr. Jeffrey Gordon des-
oribes them. Mr. Eric Gordon worked in the
Foreign Languages Press in Feking, and lived in
the Friendship Hostel, a hostel for foreigners
most of whom are employed by the Chinese Govern-
ment. Neither he nor his family were ever in
touch with our Mission in Peking and it was
../.
consequently difficult for us to find out
anything about them when we received informa-
+
tion they had disappeared. Moreover, the
Mission, as you will be aware, is now working
under considerable difficulties. We have,
however, done all that we could to obtain
information about the Gordons. The Chargé
d'Affaires has made formal approaches to the
Chinese authorities in Peking regularly since
3rd February, and the Mission have telephoned
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs weekly in
efforts to find whether the Gordogs are in fact
under detention. Bill Rodgers, when he was Parliamentary Under
Secretary,/elso pressed
for information from the Chinese Chargé d'AT-
faires ad interim in London. Unfortunately
the Chinese have so far not responded to any
of these approaches.
The only information of any sort we have le a report from a foreign
feeident of the Friend ship Hostel, who told a member of our kission
that Mr. Eric Gordon and his family reappeared dr
there some weeks ago for about a day, appa-
rently under no form of restrierion.
We are
doing our best to obtain corroboration of this
report, but in the present atmosphere in Pakkng
contacts of this sortere difficult to follow
up.
sort!
I am sorry that we have not more to tell you
but I am sure you understand the problema
which we face.
Wi) 29/1
:
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
"
F2/42.
Noted in
Priate Office
Foreign Office
London SW.1
From The Parlamentary Under-Secretary of State
31 July, 1968
We
Thank you for your letter of 18 July about your brother, ir. Eric
Gordon, and his family in Peking. I am afraid that we have still
received no more news about them. are however in touch with your
brother, Mr. Jeffrey Gordon, and shall let him know as soon as we hear
anything new.
We have asked the British Chargé d'Affaires 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 Department in the Foreign Office, Downing Street, London
S.W.1. We would then forward it to Peking and Sir D. Hopson would try to
have it delivered to your brother at such time as any information became
available about his whereabouts.
I am glad that your mother is in good health despite the dreadful worry
of the past few months. Please assure her that we are doing everything
we can to help.
·
E
Miss A. Gordon,
Maurice Foley
22 Westbourne Gardens,
Hove,
Sussex
NB35PP.
L
enter vpa.
!
WOL 31-7433
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
$4
Registry No.
FC 1/42
DRAFT Letter
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
To:
Top Secret. Secret
Miss A. Gordon,
22 Westbourne Gardens, Hove, Sussex, NB35FP.
Type 1 +
From
Mr. Foley
Telephone No. & Btt.
Confidential.
Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidenc
Department
FLAG C
Thank you for your letter of 18th Iplý
about your brother, Mr. Eric Gordon, and his
family in Peking. I am afraid that we have
still received no more news about them
We
are however in touch with your brother, Kr.
Jeffrey Gordon, and shall let him know as soon
as we hear anything new.
We have asked the British Chargé d'Affaires
in Peking to transmit your message to your bro-
ther and his family if he is allowed to visit
them
+
I would suggest however that you your-
self write a letter and send it to Far Eastern
Department in the Foreign Office, Downing Street
London S.W.1. We would then forward it to
Peking and Sir D.
Hopson would try to have it
delivered to your
brother at such time as any
information became available about his where-
abouts.
I am glad that your mother is in good
health despite the dreadful worry of the paat
few months. Please assure her that we are
doing everything we can to help,
(4) 27/1
29.7.
Miss L. Desé
MR. ERIC GORDON AND HIS FAMILY
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES N. 31
- 1 AUG 1968
Fe1142
FLAGS A
& B
FLAG C
FLAG D
FLAG E
FLAG F
I attach draft replies to letters from Mra.
Margaret Thatcher, K.P., and Mr. Ben Whitaker,
E.P., about Mr. Eric Gordon and his family, whom
we believe to be detained in China; and a draft
reply to a letter from Mr. Gordon's sister, Miss
A. Gordon. A telegram has been sent to Peking
asking Sir D. Hopson to transmit Miss Gordon's
message to her brother in the unlikely event of
his securing Consular access.
2. The draft to the two kembers of Parliament's
letters follow closely the terms of the letter sent
by Mr. Foley to Kr. David Watkins, M.P. The back-
ground of the case is covered in my submissions of
1 Kay and 28 Kay. There have been no developments
since then.
Jums
Humay
(James Murray)
29 July, 1968.
pia
53
Mr
Free FE)
Mn
Consula Depot for deft Reply by Mrr Foley
Mr. Sharland.
192/7
52
22, Westbourne Gdns.
Hove,
Sussex, MB3, 5PRECEIVED IN
¡ARCHIVES N. 31
Dear Sir,
Thank-you for the last
18th July, 1968.
- 1 AUG 1968
FCI 42
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