fco-21-488-detention-of-anthony-grey — Page 4

National Archives 英國國家檔案館 All

September 1969

Reuters Limited 85 Fleet Street London EC4 Telephone Fleet Street 6060
Taliex 24145

Dear Tony,

In Mr Lon/"

on his bel ordeal.

imprison

bsence overseas this is a welcoming letter to greet you when you emerge
after your long relief you must feel now this unjust

is ended is shared by all of us.

Natural. we leave it to you to decide, in so far as you have any power
of decision, how long you stay there before travellin: home. We want to
make everything as easy as

It all depends on how you feel.

possible for you.

At

The last thing we want is to bother you with details at this time but
there are a couple of things which may help you in taking decisions.
Provided we have a little advance notice Doon Campbell will fly to your
point of exit from China and will be there to help you when you come
out. this stage and at this distance it would seem likely that you will
come out through Hong Kong although this is something in which you may
have little choice Naturally enough you are going to be of considerable
news value when you come out and we have thought about this in some
detail as you yourself must have done. Here are one or two points:

1.

2.

We do auggest that for obvious reasons you file nothing and say nothing
about your experiences until you are safely out of China. This may be
difficult with your friends and colleagues in Peking but I am sure that,
if it is explained to them, they will realise that it is solely in your
interests that this should be so.

Visnews

When you do get out and when you feel up to it we shall have to arrange
a press conference. will want to do something with you. will discuss all
this in detail.

Doon Campbell

!

/3.

کی

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-2-

3.

Undoubtedly you will have many enquiries about features, television
appearances and possibly books. In your case the General Manager has
decided that we shall waive the condition in every Reuter contract about
outside work. Mr Long feels you should go ahead and exploit your
experiences as much as you wish. Reuters does not wani Lo benefit by
them. We will help you as much as we can and in this connection have
been in touch with a London agent on your behalf. Doon Campbell has all
the details so you can make any arrangements or plans you like straight
away.

Don't think from the above that we are trying to press you into doing
anything but I know that as a reporter all these things will have been
uppermost in your mind during the past months. You need and deserve a
good rest and we shall see that you get it.

We greatly look forward to seeing you here. As soon as we know your
return plans we shall make all arrangements for you this end.

With very best wishes.

Yours sincerely,

Brian R. Hortons

BR Horton

Но

B.

+

نا

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

UTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 314

G64

palvoista

ا

TO PEKING

12 SEPTEMBER 1969 (FAR EASTERN)

FEC Bbe/1

CONFIDENTIAL.

REUTERS HAVE PRODUCED A REVISED VERSION OF GERALD LONG'S EARLIER LETTER
WHICH IS TO BE HANDED TO ANTHONY GREY ON HIS RELEASE.

די

AS IT ARRIVED TOO LATE TO CATCH THE BAG WHICH LEFT ON 11 SEPTEMBER I AM
TELEGRAPHING TEXT IN MIFT. ORIGINAL LETTER WILL BE SENT BY BAG LEAVING
ON 25 SEPTEMBER.

STEWART

965

FILES

F. EASTERN DEPT. NEWS DEPT.

SIR S. TOMLINSON MR. WILFORD

GGGGG

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Ima

17402 19/9/09

Registry No. F

DEPARTMENT

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

FAR EASTERN

PRIORITY MARKINGS

Top W

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In Confidence

En Clair Lillyma Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

PEVINE

No.

Past Immediate

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* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

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reach addressee(s).

CH

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Addressed to

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And to

(Date)

And to:-

Repeat to:-

Saving to:-

CONFIDENTIAL

+--------+-¬¬NIN

1

12/9 repeated for information to

Saving to

(date)

FILMHIHI

Reuters have produced a revised version of

Gerald Long's earlier letter which is to be handed

to Anthony Grey on his release. As it arrived too

late to catch the bag which left on 11 September

I am telegraphing text in mift.

Original letter

will be sent by bag leaving on 25 September.

Distribution:-

FILES

FED

NEWS DEPT.

Copies to:-

Parape

12/9

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY HONG KONG TO

TELNO 720

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

Adu

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

patro

154

RECEIVED

REGISTRY I

12 SEP 1969

ADDRESSED F CC TELNO 727 OF 12 SEPTEMPER R F ||PEKING.

Abo

YOUR TELECRAM 601: ARTHCHY GREY.

I APPRECIATE THE ARGUMENTS IN PAKA, 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM 311 TO

PEKING BUT I THINK IT LOULD BE UNWISE TO EXPOSE DREY TO THE

CYTENT ENVISACED BY REUTERS IMMEDIATELY HE SETS FOOT CUT OF CHINA.

WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT VE ÇAS EXERCISE SOME CONTROL OVER PRESS

ARRALGEMENTS, WE CANNOT PREVENT HIM FROM BEING HOUNDED BY

JCURIAL ICTS SEFKING SENSATIONAL STORIES. MOR CAN WE CONTROL

WHAT HE SAYS OR THE WAY IN WHICH IT IS REPORTED. THE LOCAL PRESS

IN PARTICULAR WILL NOT BE ABOVE PROVOCATIVE TACTICS.

I RECOTRIGE THAT REUTERS ILL DO THEIR BEST TO ENSURE THAT

CAZY IS DISCREET IN HIS REMARKS BUT WE CANNOT BE SURE HOW HE

·ILL REACT TO INTENSE AND LOADED QUESTIOSING AT A CROWDED PRESS

CONFERENCE. IF HE IS DRIVEN TO CRITICISE THIS GOVERNMENT OR HM G

I WOULD PREFER THAT HE DID SO ELICWIERE. I HOPE THEREFCRE

THAT IF WE HAVE ANY CHOICE HIS JOURNEY DOES NOT TAKE HIM THROUGH

HONG KON

(FC O PLS PASS PRIORITY TO FEKING}

SIA D. TRENCH

FILES

FAR EASTERN DEPT.

HONG KONG DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

MR. WILFORD

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

CONFIDENTIAL

963

]

PHER/CAT A

PRIORITY PEKING

TOP COPY

CONFIDENTIAL

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NO 524

12 SEPTEMBER 1969

k..

-

Pu

Croisha

REGISTRY NO.30 12 SEP 1969

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 524 OF 12 SEPTEMBER

RFI HONG KONG

954

FOR MURRAY

YOUR TELNO 3111 ANTHONY GREY.

I SHALL COMMENT AFTER DISCUSSION WITH MADDOCKS III HONG

KONG

HR. DENSON

FILES

F. EAST. DEPT.

H.K. DEPT. NEWS DEPT.

FFFFF

CONFIDENTIAL

+

1962

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No.50

161

CYPHER/CAT -A-

F

INE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 516

TO FOREIGN AND

10 SEPTEMBER 1969

11 SEP 1969 COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

The Fc ind

L

paksitle

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 516 OF 9 SEPTEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO
WASHINGTON, HONG KONG AND POLAD SINGAPORE.

CAVE OF BIDDLE SAWYER TOLD ME YESTERDAY THAT HIS CHINESE CONTACTS HAD
SAID THERE WOULD BE A CELEBRATION BEGINNING ON 11 SEPTEMBER WHICH WOULD
GO ON FOR THREE DAYS DURING WHICH TIME QUOTE EVERYBODY WOULD BE ON
HOLIDAY UNQUOTE. I QUESTIONED HIM CLOSELY ON WHETHER THERE WAS SOME
MISUNDERSTANDING AND THE CELEBRATION WAS TO DO WITH THE NATIONAL DAY ON
1 OCTOBER, BUT HẾ INSISTED THAT THESE DATES WERE CORRECT. I HAVE

BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN ANY CONFIRMATION OF THE STORY AND FIND IT
PUZZLING. IF THIS WERE THE OPENING OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS WHY
THREE DAYS HOLIDAY.

FCO PASS WASHINGTON, POLAD SINGAPORE AND HONG KONG

MR. DENSON

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F. EASTERN DEPT.

HONG KONG DEPT.

S.W. PAC. DEPT.

S.E. ASIAN DEPT.

I.F.D.

I.R.D.

NEWS DEPT. MOD (INTERNAL)

GGGGG

CONFDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP. GOT Y

CYPHER/CAT -A-

ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 601

TO HONG KONG

10 SEPTEMBER 1969

pakoisla

(J 136||

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 601 OF 10 SEPTEMBER REPEATED

FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.

F.C.O. TELEGRAM NUMBER 311 TO PEKING:

ANTHONY GREY.

FOLLOWING FROM MURRAY FOR MADDOCKS.

CAMPBELL HAS RAISED WITH US THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE BORDER

CROSSING AT LO WU, HE FULLY APPRECIATES THE CONCERN OF THE HONG

KONG AUTHORITIES TO AVOID A CROWD ON THE HONG KONG SIDE OF THE

BRIDGE. HE SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESS PARTY MIGHT THEREFORE CONSIST OF
HIMSELF, AS REUTER'S COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE: ROUND, THE LOCAL REUTER'S
REPRESENTATIVE: ONE POOL REPORTER, VISNEWS (IN WHICH REUTER'S HAVE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDING): AND ONE POOL CAMERAMAN. HE THOUGHT THERE
MIGHT BE A CASE FOR INCLUDING A STILL PHOTOGRAPHER ON A POOL BASIS - BUT
THAT WAS SOMETHING YOUR INFORMATION PEOPLE

WERE BEST QUALIFIED TO DECIDE.

2. ONCE GREY WAS SAFELY IN HONG KONG, CAMPBELL WOULD ARRANGE FOR HIM TO
GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE, PROBABLY IN THE MANDARIN HOTEL, FOR THE WHOLE
PRESS CORPS. (WE IMPRESSED ON CAMPBELL HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS THAT GREY
SHOULD BE DISCREET IN WHAT HE SAID IN HONG KONG).

3. I SAID THAT THESE WERE ALL MATTERS WHICH HE WOULD HAVE TO DISCUSS
WITH THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES ON HIS ARRIVAL IN THE COLONY: BUT THAT I
WOULD GIVE YOU ADVANCE WARNING OF WHAT HE HAD IN MIND.

STEWART

FILE S

F.E.D. H.K.D. NEWS D.

MR. WILFORD

CONFIDENTIAE

9.00

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Abdel 1018452

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* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

reach addressse(s).

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

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/601 (Date) 10/9

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CYPHER

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-if any

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Addressed to

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG

telegram No. 601

And to....

repeated for information to

Saving to......

---

(date)

10 sehr.

PEKING

-

FCO telegram No. 3/1

sete

to leking Anthony Grey.

Repeat to:-

for information

PEKING

He fully

Saving to:-

Distribution:- Files

F.G.D. H.K.

New Deft.

Copies to:-

We impursed on Cumfhall how

inglortant it cons

18152 That Svey shanbe be

10/9/69

dis wat in that be

said in Hang Kitang),

Following from MURRAY for MABBOCKS.

Campbell has raised with us the arrangements

for the border crossing at Lo Wu,

appreciates the concern of the Hong Kong authorities

to avoid a crowd on the Hong Kong side of the

bridge. He suggested that the press party might

therefore consist of himself, as Reuter's company

representative;

representative;

Round, the local Reuter's

Vesnews

one pool reporter; viz-sewa (in

which Reuter's have a substantial shareholding); and

one pool cameraman. He thought there might be a

case for including a still photographer on a pool

basis

but that was something your information

-

people were best qualified to decide.Once Grey

Campbell was safely in Hong Kong, Deẻm would arrange for

him to give a press conference, probably in the

Kandarin Hotel, for the whole Press Corpa.

CONFIDENTIAL

13.

032717 E.W.GS., Led. 164m 3/67,

CONFIDENTIAL

3. I said that these were all matters which he

would have to discuss with the competent

authorities on his arrival in the Colony: but that I worker

give you advance warning of what he had in mind.

to Sef.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CYPHER/CAT -A-

. CONFIDENTIAL

ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 311

TOP COPY

TO PEKING

10 SEPTEMBER 1969

да

(F) W15/

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 311 OF 10 SEPTEMBER REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO HONG KONG (FOR MADDOCKS).

FOLLOWING FROM MURRAY.

YOUR LETTER OF 26 AUGUST: ANTHONY GREY.

WE AGREE THAT ALLAN SHOULD SEEK AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CHINESE

AUTHORITIES IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 21 SEPTEMBER. HE MIGHT DRAW

ATTENTION TO THE RELEASES IN HONG KONG, REFER TO THE ASSURANCE GIVEN TO
YOU, AND ASK WHAT ARRANGEMENTS THE CHINESE HAD IN MIND FOR LIFTING THE
RESTRICTIONS ON GREY'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT,

2. REUTERS, WITH WHOM WE HAD, WITH ALL DUE RESERVE, DISCUSSED
CONTINGENCY PLANS BEFORE THE DEVELOPMENTS REPORTED IN YOUR TELEGRAM
NUMBER 515, WOULD NOW PREFER GREY TO LEAVE CHINA VIA HONG KONG IF YOU
AND HE HAVE ANY CHOICE IN THE MATTER. THEY ARE IMPRESSED BY

THE SELF-POSSESSION HE SHOWED IN HIS MEETING WITH YOU, AND THINK THAT,
SUITABLY SUPPORTED, HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COPE WITH THE HONG KONG PRESS
CORPS. MOREOVER IN HONG KONG WE SHOULD HAVE A

DEGREE OF PHYSICAL CONTROL OVER THE ARRANGEMENTS THAT WOULD NOT BE

POSSIBLE WERE HIS FIRST CONTACT WITH THE PRESS TO BE IN FOREIGN

TERRITORY. I SHARE THESE VIEWS, BUT WOULD WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS.

/3. REUTERS

CONFIDENTIAL

.

959

CONFIDENTIAL

-2-

3. REUTERS WOULD PROPOSE TO SEND DOON CAMPBELL, THEIR DEPUTY GENERAL
MANAGER, TO HONG KONG TO TAKE CHARGE OF GREY'S RECEPTION ON THEIR
BEHALF. THE TIMING OF CAMPBELL'S DEPARTURE FOR HONG KONG COULD BE
DECIDED IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT ALLAN IS ABLE TO

FICIT,

4. WE LEAVE IT TO YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER GARSIDE SHOULD ACCOMPANY

GREY ON THE FIRST LEG OF HIS JOURNEY.

5. WE SHALL BE TELEGRAPHING. FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS ABOUTLONG'S

LETTER OF 7 NOVEMBER 1968.

STEWART

FILE S

F.E.D.

H.K.D.

NEWS D.

CONFIDENTIAL

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

F

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Segret

Confidential

PRIVACY MARKING

In-Confidence

En-Clair

Code

Cypha

FAR EASTERN

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date).......

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reach addresscc(x).

Despatched

0804

CYPHER

CONFIDENTIAL

[Secu

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[

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]

[Codeword-if any]

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Obattell

1018412

$8152

10/9/:51

Addressed to

Draft Telegram to :-

PRVING

(No. 311

M

telegram No. 311

And to

PEKING

(date)

Sept 10.

(Date) Sapt 10. repeated for information to

And to:-

Saving to....

Following from Murray.

Madleeus HONG KONG (for MABJOCKS)

Repeat tal-

for information

Your letter of 26 August:

Mocks, ENG KONG

Saving to:-

Distribution:- Files

f.e.o. H.K. Nero Deft.

Copies to:-

Anthony Grey.

Valess there are developments in the meantime We agree that Allan should
seek an interview with

the Chinese authorities in the week beginning

He 21 Septemcer. Me might draw attention to the

releases in Hong Kong, and refer to the assurance

given to you, and ask what arrangements the Chinese

had in mind for lifting the restrictions on Grey's freedom of

Movement.

2. Reuters, with whom we had, with all due reserve,

discussed contingency plans before the developments

reported in your telegram No. 515′′ would now prefer

Grey to leave China via Hong Kong if you and he have

any choice in the matter. Like you They are

in his wanting with pan, impressed by the self-possession he showed and
think

that, suitably supported, he should be able to

CONFIDENTIAL

/cope

CONFIDENTIAL

cope with the Hong Kong Press Corps. Moreover in

Hong Kong we should have a degree of physical

Kat

control over the arrangements which would not be

possible were his first contact with the press to

be in foreign territory. I share these views, but

would welcome your comments.

3. Reuters would propose to send Doon Campbell,

their Deputy General Manager, to Hong Kong to take

charge of Grey's reception on their behalf. The

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