fco-21-485-detention-of-anthony-grey — Page 2

Far Eastern Dett

F. X.

O.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

(K.M. Wilford)

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17 Dec 1968

Peking refuses cable concerning Grey case

By John Hughes Staff correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor

Hong Kont

Communist authorities in Peking have apparently imposed a blanket ban on
the acceptance of communications concerning prisoned Reuters
correspondent Anthony

y.

Chinese Premier Chou En-lai has just refused to accept a cable from this
cor. respondent in connection with the Grey case. The cable, sent from
Hong Kong to Peking, was neither protest nor plea but a straightforward
journalistic inquiry as to Mr. Communist China's conditions for Grey's
release.

Although the cable was received in the Chinese capital, cable company
officials say the Chinese authorities refused to accept it. In the past
this correspondent has sent a number of similar journalistic inquiries
to officials in Peking by cable. None has been replied to. But cables
have always pre- viously been accepted, and presumably read. This is the
first refusal to accept ene.

This turn appears to reflect increasing Chinese embarrassment over the
Grey case. Speculation here is that top-level in- struction have been
issued to reject all communications concerning. Mr. Grey, of whatever
character.

Embarrassment seen

After fruitless months of quiet effort 10 secure Mr. Grey's release, the
British Gov. ernment now is encouraging publicity about Mr. Grey's
plight in the hope that this may persuade the Chinese to release him.

Accordingly various groups and organiza. tions of journalists the world
over have been protesting to the Peking government over Mr. Grey's
detention. Newspapers in many parts of the non-Communist world have
written editorials in similar vein.

There is, of course, no question of Mr. Grey's having transgressed any
Chinese law. He is a political prisoner, held hostage following the
detention and imprisonment in Hong Kong last year of a number of Chinese
Communists. The Communists were

-

involved in riots and subversion against the British colonial government
of Hong Kong.

Originally, Peking suggested that Mr. Grey was hostage for eight
Communist journalists detained in Hong Kong. Those eight have been
released, along with most other detainees. Some 16 people are still
detained by the Hong Kong authorities.

In addition, more than 400 Chinese have been charged in the courts on
various crimes connected with last year's disturb aaces, been found
guilty, and now are serv ing their sentences in Hong Kong prisons. A
Chinese official in London has hinted that Mr. Grey will not be released
until various "journalists" among these convicted prison- ers are set
free.

Intelligence sources say local Communists in Hong Kong are urging Peking
to use Mr. Grey's ultimate release as a lever to gain maximum possible
concessions in Hong Kong. But the Peking authorities must bal ance these
pressures from their Hong Kong supporters against the bad international
press they are getting for Mr. Grey's con- tinued imprisonment.

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Ethiopian Press Reports of Er. Foley's Recent Visit

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Er. Foley may be interested to

the attached

letter from ir Crosby informing us of the very favourable

reports carried by the press in Addis Ababa about the

Parliamentary Under Boeretazy's recent visit. A copy of

the text of the editorial in the Ethiopian Herald is also

attached. As this newspaper sets as the mouthpiess of the

Ethiopia Government, we can safely samme that the Emperor

and his Government vere flattered to have been singled out

for a visit a spesial omissary from the British Prime

Minister.

(D. J. Moss)

24 December, 1968

East Africa Departmem $

Copies with both enclosures to:

Ir. Tebbit

nest Afpisa Department

Information Research Department

Copy of letter only:

Par Kastern Departamt

(1/8)

M.

CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Moss,

}

CM 241 Xu

BRITISH EMBASSY,

ADDIS ABABA.

16 December, 1968.

F

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1

Ethiopian Press

You (and other departments) may be interested to know that we had a very
good press here in connection with Mr. Foley's recent visit. The visit
was the main news item in all five papers and the editorials all
welcomed the proposed British initiative on Nigeria while making it
clear that in their view the Nigerian problem was an African problem to
be solved by Africans. The Herald editorial of 12 December (summarised
in our telegram No. 656) was the most favourable we have had since the
queen's visit and I attach a copy. I have no doubt that this was
commissioned from on high.

2. I.R.D. may also like to know that the 0.0.1. International Commentary
on Anthony Grey (045/68 of 29 November) written by Terence Prittie,
diplomatic correspondent of the Guardian, was carried prominently by the
Voice of Ethiopia and the two Amharic dailies. We were especially
pleased about this as the · Ethiopian Press is reluctant to carry
anything in the least bit controversial. If the Russians had been under
attack it would no doubt have been a very different atory.

3. Bince dpafting the above the Voice of Ethiopia have also carried 'an
FiW.P. story on Anthony Grey which was most favourable to us!

East Afridan Department,

D. J. Mosa, Beq..

Foreign and A.W..

Torever, Ich look

(J. K. Grosby)

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Thank you for the copy of Rawalpindi Telegram N/R No. 1342 of 28
November about what Mr. Stewart said on the subject of Anthony Grey
during his Pakistan visit. I am glad to have seen this: but I wonder
whether it is the whole story. As you may know the joys of life in
Rangoon have been added to recently by a total cessation of newspapers
from London for a fortnight or more. Since one is already sufficiently
cut off, I had to rectify this by ignominiously borrowing his airmail
Times from the Australian Ambassador. I have just digested about a week
of these during three days holiday in Sandoway, and I seem to remember
reading somewhere that among other things the Secretary of State said
was something like 'Chinese bellicosity exceeds their capability'. I
think this is probably what was biting the Chinese Charge here when I
spoke to him always assuming that I have remembered what I read
correctly and that this really was said during the Pakistan visit.

2.

At all events this seems to me to illustrate the inadequacy of the
arrangements for keeping us properly informed in Rangoon.

You

us sur

K. Hamylton Jones, Esq.,

South East Asia Department,

Halfmel

(Trafford Smith)

F.C.O.

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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

WOOL 51-7406

RESTRICTED

DRAFT

Letter

From: Mr. James Murray

To:

H. Phillips, Esq.,

Dar-es-Salaam.

Anthony Grey

Thank you for your letter 31/6 of 10 December

about your talk with Mhando.

2.

I am very glad that you were able to speak about

Mr. Grey. I am sure you are right not to expect that

I am sure you

this will result in a publicity on the ease in

beer gained

surtigg something win bags gained

Tanzania.

As you şe

something will ́bav,

if this has added to the Tanzaniaq's knówɗedge of the

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sort of behaviour, which the Chinese are capable of

showi when there is no need to päintain an artificial

atmosphere of co-operation,

3. If on any future ɖccasion an obvious opportunity

of bentiening Kr.\grèy and the other British subjecta

detained in China arises, you might fish to set this

issue in a wider context by referring to the citizens

the are algo, as far as we know, of other countries who are also, as far
as we know,

in prison or detained in China. The relevant

information is contained in paragraph 2, section 7 ď

the Guidance Talegrań number 295 of 28 November.

RESTRICTED

Ed (5084)

L

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UNCLASSIFIED COVERING RESTRICTED

Reference...

Mr. WiXson (Far Eastern Department)

Mr. Murray (Far Eastern Department)

Anthony Grey

DUNG

93

I attach a draft reply from Mr. Murray to Mr. Phillips' letter of 10
December.

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This

(I. C. Orr)

(19 December, 1968)

has now been ourtaken by

an exchange of telegrams with

Mr Phullifs.

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31 Dec

UNCLASSIFIED

COVERING RESTRICTED

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Jes

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ARCHIV.

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION,

(92)

31/6

- 3 JAN JOU

DAR-ES-SALA AM.

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FEC 13C the dumpt utly from 10 December, 1968.

draft

Dear James,

me to the Mulligs.

The 16 the

Anthony Grey

slo On

Коран,

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N/R

In my letter No. 62/3 of today to Le Tocq of East African Department I
reported that on 6 December I had an opening to raise the case of Grey
with the recently appointed Tanzanian Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs.

2. I had just been talking to him about the imprisonment of a young
Englishman up-country here (since released) for over six weeks without
being charged or brought before a magistrate. I said this was the kind
of thing which could so easily hit the headlines in Britain and be used
by people less anxious than the Minister and I were to improve the image
of our respective countries in the other. lhando agreed with me and said
he hoped to be able to get the Ministry of Home Affairs to speed up
their procedure in such cases. Quite apart from the adverse publicity,
there was the question of human dignity. Tanzania's struggle against the
exploitation of man by man stemmed from the concept that the smallest
individual should be granted a decent peaceful existence, and, if he had
to be punished by society, should know why and by what process.

3. I seized this opening, spoke about Grey, and gave Mhando a copy of
the London Press Service Topical Commentary No.045/68 of 29 November on
the subject. I made it clear that in doing so I realised I was
criticising a country in friendly relations with Tanzania. But my
criticism had nothing political in it; nor was I engaging in a public
campaign, e.g. by circularising diplomatic missions in Dar-es-Salaam or
trying to get local editors to publish denunciations of the Chinese
action. (I was of course making a virtue out of necessity, given that
the press here is either biassed outright towards the communist world or
afraid to offend it without covering authority). I was simply putting
the case to him in terms of justice and human dignity, so that at least
he and the President

James Hurray, Esq., IG,

Far Eastern Department,

Foreign & Commonwealth office,

S..1.

1.

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

and leaders of Tanzania could know the facts and frankly, I hoped,
consider whether Tanzania could not make its voice heard in favour of
the release of Grey.

But

4. Mhando naturally did not commit himself. he was not unsympathetic.
And he was, I think, relieved that I had not sought publicity here for
the case. He said it was something which I had properly brought to his
notice, and he would look at the L.P.S. commentary.

5. It would be over-optimistic to suppose that my approach will result
in inspired publicity for the case here, far less any mention of it by
Mhando to the Chinese chargé d'affaires. But my effort will have served
even if it only adds a little more to what I suspect the President and
others already know about the real nature and aims of their Chinese
friends.

Yours ever,

Grace Phillie

copied to:

Consular Department, FCO

Peking

(H. Phillips)

2.

RESTRICTED

21

ED IN

NAITISH EMBASSY,

WASHINGTON D.C

5 December 1968

FEC1345.

Dea Janes,

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I attach the text of an article which appeared in the New York Times of
5 December, date line Hong Kong. You will see that it apparently records
what was said by Chen Yi to some foreign visitor to Peking about Anthony
Grey and other detainees. The remainder of the article does not appear
to be of any particular interest.

Yours ever

Michael hifford

K.M. Wilford)

James Murray, Esq.,CMG., Far Eastern Department,

Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London.

c.c.

A.F. Maddocks, Esq., Hong Kong P. Cradock, Esq.,CMG., Peking

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Ed (1626

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PEKING RELAXING

Businessemen Oppose Publicity

PRISONER STAND the profits and prospect of fu-

Hope Growing for Release of Datained Foreigners

Special to The New York Timel

HONG KONG, Dec. 4-At a recent meeting in Peking with a foreign visitor,
Foreign Min- ister Chen Yi showed a marked! interest in world reaction
tol· Communist China's detention of a Reuter's correspondent, An- thony
Grey, and more than 30 other foreigners.

Mr. Chen told the visitor that Britain and the other countries concerned
were responsible for the detention of their citi zens, but he asked
questions and indicated concern bout what the rest of the world thought
about Peking's actions.

In Hong Kong, local Commu- nist officials are prepared to argue at
length on almost any topic except the question of Mr. Grey's detention,
which they avoid, according to one non- Communist businessman, with
"something very much like guilt symptoms."

"If the present trend to moderation in Peking con tinues, some of the
British and Japanese nationals now under detention have a good chance;
of being released before long." one informed observer com- meated.

British Intensify Efforts These signs of Chinese sen- sitivity to world
opinion, and other indications that Peking is looking outward again
after the introspective years of cul- tural-revolution turmoil have
encouraged the British Govern- ment to intensify its efforts to obtain
the release of Grey and 12 other British subjects.

"There is evidence that the Chinese are quite sensitive to foreign
opinion at the present, time, particularly suggestions that they are
behaving in a bar- barous fashion," one informed source said. "Our best
hope is to mobilize international cpin- fon to hit hard at them where
they don't like it."

There is some division of opinion among diplomats, busi-' nessmen and
others, however, over the value of publicity and other forms of pressure
against the Chinese.

Hong Kong business concerns, which balance their difficulties in dealing
with China against).

ture trade, advise against pub- licity. Even concerns with rep
resentatives in trouble in China advocate quiet. behind-the- gcenes
negotiations, asserting that publicity upsets Peking.

Little publicity was given to Mr. Grey's plight during the first months
after he was con- fined to his Peking home 16 months ago in retaliation
for British seizure of Chinese jour- nalists in Hong Kong. Last month,
Gerald Long, genera? manager of Reuters, was asked during a television
interview if more might have been done to publicise Mr. Grey's case.

"Perhaps we might," he re- plied. "There are people who think we might,
certainly, All I know is that we have done; what in conscience we have
thought to be best."

In other detentions, Belgium has lifted a virtual news black- out on the
fate of a Belgian banker, Frans van Roosbroeck, who was arrested last
June 1 after having been denied

an exit visa for 15 years. The Bel- gian Foreign Ministry said it was
making diplomatic efforts to obtain his release.

Foreign Ministry sources said that Mr. van Roosbroeck, who joined the
Shanghai branch of the Belgian Overseas Bank 1950, was being held
hostage in! a banking dispute.

Japan has adopted e hands- off policy with regard to 12 businessmen and
ore news- paperman detained in China. some of them on charges of spying,

Prospects for the release of some of the foreigners held in China are
brighter than for others. Only one of the British; detainees. George
Watt, has! been tried and convicted of a crime. He was sentenced to
three years' imprisonment last March for alleged espionage. Four
Americans have been tried, convicted and sentenced to imprisonment.

In the case of two Ameri- cans, Hugh Francis Pedmord of Yonkers, NY, and
fchn Downey of New Britain, Conn., the term of imprisonment is life. Two
others, Richard Fee- teau of Lynn, Mass., and Bishop James E. Walsh,
were sentenced to 20 years' im prisonment. disop Weish was sentenced in
1560 when he was an years old.

VS.

المذاق

New York

limes

5.Dec. 1968

Japa

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SECRET

90 BAAAB

240

23 December, 1988

You wrote to Nicholas Barrington on 11 December about our letter ar 148
10 December which contained details of the dates of release for
newspaper workers in prison in Hong Kong.

기,

The dates given in his letter allow for the full remission of one third
of the sentence for good behaviour.

!. M. Palliser, Esq., C.X.G.,

10 Downing Street.

SECRET

WEL BUMD

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

DRAFT

Letter

To:-

A. M. Palliser, Esq., CMG,

Top Secret

Secret.

ICO

10 Downing Street.

Confidential. 16/12

Restricted. Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

*959

Type 1 +

Entrapa

62024/12

From

D. H. Day, Esq.

Telephone No, & Ext

Department

You work to Nishihen banighs

Thank you for your letter of 11 December about

my letter of 10 December which contained details of

the dates of release for newspaper workers in prison

in Hong Kong.

his

The dates given in my latter allow for the full

remission of one third of the sentence for good

viph

behaviour",

19

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

KENZIE MEŠAN

Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

DRAFT

Letter

To:-

A. M. Palliser, Esq, CMG,

Top Secret.

Secret,

ICO

10 Downing Street.

Confidential

16/12

Restricted Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

مل

In Confidenes

Type 1 +

From

D. M. Day, Esq

Telephone No. & Est.

Department

Thank you for your letter of 11 December in which

you refer to my letter of 10 December which contained

details of the dates of release for newspaper workers

in prison in Hong Kong.

The dates given in my letter allow for the full

remission of one third of the sentence for good

behaviour.

PRIME MINISTER

Emberapa

89

420 24/12

10 Downing Street

Qua

Whitehall

December 18, 1968

SECRET

Ju Nidden,

87

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на

I wrote to Derek Day on December 11, with

reference to his letter of December 10 about m

37

Mr. Anthony Grey, with an enquiry by the Prime Minister.

I should be grateful to know when I may

expect a reply to that letter.

Juw

Mirael

Reply now

sunt.

N. Barrington, Esq.,

Foreign and Comm awealth Office.

Kr. Day

COVERING SECRET

Enterapulco 24/12/88

Jupe 711

240

148

Mr. Anthony Grey

Mr. Palliser asks in his letter to you of

11 December about the dates which you gave him in your

letter of 10 December for the release of newspaper

workers in prison in Hong Kong.

2. The dates given in your letter allowed for the

usual remission of sentence for good behaviour.

3.

I attach a draft letter to Mr. Palliser.

James Money

(James Murray)

19 December, 1968.

COVERING SECRET

ECHETE HOWA

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret,

Secret.

Confidential

Restricted. Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING