fco-21-489-detention-of-anthony-grey — Page 15

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BASED ON INCOMPLETE INFORMATION ALMOST ENTIRELY DERIVED FROM CHINESE
SOURCES: AS AN EXPERIENCED OBSERVER, WOULD HE NOT THINK IT RIGHT BEFORE
REACHING A FINAL VIEW AND BEFORE COMMITTING HIMSELF IN PUBLIC, TO LOOK
AT ALL ASPECTS OF THE CASE AND IN PARTICULAR TO DISCUSS THE HATTER FULLY
IN LONDON WITH THOSE IN REUTERS AND ELSEWHERE WHO WERE INVOLVED.

3. THIS SEEMS TO US A USEFUL APPROACH; AND, IF GREY IS DISPOSED TO BE
CRITICAL, WE SEE ADVANTAGE IN YOUR TAKING THE SAME LINE.

4. REUTERS ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE DANGER THAT, IF GREY WERE TO EXPRESS
THE VIEW PUBLICLY THAT COMMUNIST PRISONERS SHOULD BE PREMATURELY
RELEASED IN HONG KONG TO BRING ABOUT THE RELEASE OF OTHER BRITISH
SUBJECTS IN CHINA, THE CHINESE MIGHT WELL SEE THIS AS ENCOURAGEMENT TO
APPLY PRESSURE ON US ALONG THESE LINES. REUTERS RECOGNISE THAT THIS
WOULD NOT BE HELPFUL AND HAVE PROMISED TO

DO THEIR BEST TO ENSURE THAT GREY AVOIDS COMMENT, IN DISCUSSING

THE OTHER BRITISH SUBJECTS WITH GREY, WE THINK THAT YOU MIGHT

SAY THAT THE CHINESE HAVE NEVER LINKED THEM WITH HONG KONG BUT THAT,
WERE THE CHINESE TO RECEIVE ANY ENCOURAGEMENT THAT THEY COULD

USE THESE BRITISH SUBJECTS TO BARGAIN THE RELEASE OF COMMUNIST

PRISONERS IN HONG KONG, THIS COULD HARDLY FAIL TO LEAD TO FURTHER DELAY
IN SETTLING THEIR CASES: AND YOU HOPE THEREFORE THAT HE WILL

AVOID COMMENT ON THIS DELICATE MATTER.

5. YOUR PARAGRAPH 2. WE APPROVE WHAT YOU YOURSELF PROPOSE TO SAY TO THE
PRESS.

STEWART

FILES

F.E.D.

H.K.D.

NEWS DEPT CONSULAR DEPT MR.WILFORD

CONFIDENTIAL

хх

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No. FED

DEPARTMENT

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secree 1/10

Secret

Confidential

Restrict

Uncalled

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair Lode Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

PRIORITY MARKINGS\(Date).....

Plash

Priority Rogethe

• Date and tinza (G.M.T.) telegram should

Mespatched

reach addressee(s)...

-----------|

it sofe

-----

드

CYPHER

Security classification]

-if any

[Secur

[

Privacy marking -if any

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

telegram No....

DERING

No.

344

And to

(Date)

And to:-

Repeat to:-

יזו---Iו וויזזיי

JULILL

]

محمد

11 repeated for information to

Hong Kong

Saving to:-

Distribution:-

II FILES

PED HKD

NEWS DEPT.

CONSULAR DEPT.

Copies to:-

18757. 181571/162

Saving to.....

CONFIDENTIAL

LL-

AMING

(date)

HONG KONG

1116.7

L

Your telegram No. 562 of 29 September 7: Grey.

We have been considering what advice you might

give to Grey about his contact with the press

outside China. We think that it would not be

smai fiesty

appropriate to ask him to refrain from public

criticism of HIG; but that it would be right for

you to impress on him the importance of not saying

anything which might make things even more

difficult for the other British subjects remaining

in detention in China.

2. We have discussed the whole matter with Reuters,

who have been giving thɗought to what their ow

representative should say to Grey. (They point out

that our interests are comparable to the extent that

cise

if Grey is địaposed to critig HMG for refusing the

premature release of the newsworkers, he will also

be critical of Reuters for not applying more

pressure

CONFIDENTIAL

pressure on us.

Their own major concern is that

Grey should not behave in such a way as to

restrict his possibilities in future employment

with them.)

They think that, since Grey had the

reputation as a journalist of being a fairly

detached and objective observer, the following

line might appeal to him. They would propose to

say that he has no doubt formed a view about how

his case has been handled and the duration of his

detention; that the view may be correct but is

necessarily based on incomplete information

almost entirely derived from Chinese sources;

an experienced observer, would he not think it

right before reaching a final view and before

committing himself in public, to look at all

aspects of the case and in particular to discuss

the matter fully in London with those in Reuters

und elsewhere who were involved.

3.

28

This seeme to us a useful approach;

and, if

Grey is disposed to be critical, we see advantage

in your taking the same line.

4.

Reuters are fully aware of the danger that,

if Grey were to express the view publicly that

communist prisoners should be prematurely released

in Hong Kong to bring about the release of other

tatjet

+

British rivenere in China, the Chinese might well

see this as encouragement to apply pressure on us

along these lines. Reuters recognise that this

would not be hel, ful and have promised to do their

coment

best to ensure that Grey avoids tie. In

discussing the other British subjects with Grey,

we think that you might say that the Chinese

0327 17 E W.& S., Ltd. (64m 3/67.

/have never

+

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

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WEEL S1-2466

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CONFIDENTIAL

have never linked them with Hong Kong but that,

were the Chinese to receive any encouragement

that they could use these British subjects to

bargain the release of communist prisonera in

Hong Kong, this could hardly fail to lead to

further delay in settling their cases; and

you hope therefore that he will avoid comment

on this delicate matter.

5. Your paragraph 2. fe approve what you

yourself propose to say to the press.

Mr.%

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

PAWALPINDI

TOP COPY

PRIORITY DACCA

TO

TELEGRAM NUMBER $32

2 CCTOBER 1969

BEGINS

ADDRESSED TO PINDI TEL NO 532 OF 1 OCTOBER.

CONFIDENTIAL

DAVID LOSHAK FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT OF THE LONDON DAILY

TELEGRAPH ARRIVED IN DACCA FROM DELHI THIS MORNING. HE SAYS

HE IS HERE BECAUSE OF THE RECENT REUTERS REPORTS OF GROWING

TENSION IN E PAKISTAN. HE HAS NOT MENTIONED ANTHONY GREY

RELEASE STORY BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THIS IS THE REAL REASON

FOR HIS ARRIVAL.

ENDS.

MR. BAXTER

FILES

F.E.D.

S.ASIAN DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

NNNNN

CONFIDENTIAL

1.2. 1971

995

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY RAWALPINDI TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

UNNUMBERED

2 OCTOBER 1969

[RECEIVED UNDER RAWALPINDI TEL NO.532).

CONFIDENTIAL

FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM DACCA.

BEGINS.

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO RAWALPINDI TELEGRAM NO.527 OF 30 SEPTEMBER, REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO KARACHI.

DONALD SEAMAN, A SENIOR FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT WITH THE DAILY EXPRESS,
HAS ARRIVED IN DACCA. HE IS HERE TO COVER EVENTUALITY OF ANTHONY GREY
PASSING THROUGH THIS CITY AFTER HIS RELEASE

SEAMAN IS AND ACCOMPANYING HIM FOR REST OF JOURNEY HOME.

IN EVENT OF GREY BEING HANDED

ANXIOUS THAT CORRESPONDENTS OF OTHER NEWSPAPERS ARE NOT AWARE OF HIS
PURPOSE IN DACCA. HE SAYS MOST PAPERS ARE CONGRE- GATING THEIR REPORTERS
IN HONG KONG IN BELIEF THAT GREY WILL

BE TAKEN TO BORDER BY CHINESE. OVER TO OUR MISSION AND THEN BEING BOOKED
ON PIA AIRCRAFT, WE PRESUME PEKING WILL COPY ANY IMMEDIATE TELEGRAM TO
DACCA.

SMALLWOOD HAS MET EVERY PLANE FROM CHINA SINCE PEKINGS ALERT LAST MONTH
BUT AS PASSENGER LIST IS NEVER AVAILABLE WE CAN

ONLY SCRUT IN ISE PEOPLE WHO LEAVE PLANE DURING REFUELLING IT WOULD
GBVIOUSLY BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD BE FOREWARNED

THAT GREY IS ON AIRCRAFT.

ENDS,

Lu

UR. TWIST

FILE S:

F.E.D.

S. ASIAN DEPT

NEWS DEPT

&&&&

CONFIDENTIAL

p.c

994

+

CONFIDENTIAL

10% o

+

1993)

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

'ELEGRAM NUMBER 340

TO PEKING

1 OCTOBER 1969.

139/1.

(F.E.D.) FEC 13c1.

CONFIDENTIAL,

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 340 OF 1 OCTOBER REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO HONG KONG RAWALPINDI AND KARACHI

MY TELEGRAM NO 339 OF 30 SEPTEMBER: GREY.

११२

LONG SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE SUGGESTED THAT GREY

WAS IN REASONABLE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL SHAPE WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR THE
EVENTUALITY, ALBEIT REMOTE, THAT ON RELEASE HE MIGHT IN FACT BE IN A
STATE TO REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION.

2. MURRAY EXPLAINED THAT YOU WOULD BE ARRANGING FOR HIM TO BE EXAMINED
EXPERTLY, CERTAINLY BY THE MISSION NURSE AND POSSIBLY BY A LOCAL
(NON-CHINESE) DOCTOR. IF HE REQUIRED TREATMENT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE
WHETHER IT WAS BEST TO KEEP HIM IN THE MISSION IN PEKING FOR A FEW DAYS
OR TRY TO GET HIM OUT OF CHINA FOR TREATMENT ELSEWHERE. LONG WAS DULY
GRATEFUL FOR THIS. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD WELCOME OUR ADVICE ON WHERE
GREY COULD CONVENIENTLY RECUPERATE UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION, IF IT
SEEMED DESIRABLE THAT HE SHOULD DO SO BEFORE HIS ARRIVAL IN THE U.K.
WITH ALL THE STRAINS THAT THAT WOULD IMPOSE. THE NECESSARY MEDICAL
FACILITIES WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG. BUT GREY WOULD ATTRACT MUCH
ATTENTION THERE, AND TO KEEP HIM FROM BEING PESTERED BY THE PRESS WOULD
IMPOSE A BURDEN ON ALL CONCERNED. ACCORDINGLY LONG THOUGHT THERE MIGHT
BE SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR KARACHI AS A SUITABLE QUOTE NEUTRAL UNQUOTE
PLACE WHERE GREY MIGHT IF NECESSARY RECUPERATE FOR A FEW DAYS: BUT HE
WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE ADVICE OF OUR PEOPLE IN KARACHI ON THIS.

13. IT WOULD

P

CONFIDENTIAL

р.а

CONFIDENTIAL

2

3. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL THEREFORE IF THE DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER,
KARACHI, COULD DISCREETLY LOOK INTO THE QUESTION OF AVAILABLE FACILITIES
FOR MEDICAL CARE OF THIS KIND IN KARACHI, LEAST WE ARE ASKED URGENTLY BY
REUTERS FOR HELP IN ARRANGING THIS.

STEWART,

FILES

F.E.DEPT.

HONG KONG DEPT.

SOUTH ASIAN DEPT.

NNNNN

CONFIDENTIAL

+

XX

B

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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No. FED

DEPARTMENT

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

JM 30/9

لجConfidenti

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair. Lode

Cyther

Drafy Telegram to:-

PEKING

340

No.

(Date) 1/10

And to:-

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date)...

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

Despatched

reach addressce(s).

------‒‒‒ -‒‒PI-IIIU IL

1324

1/70

Post------------+kt+ture-pure genike------------

CYBER

• Security if any [Secu

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[ Privacy marking ]

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

telegram No. 340

And to...

T

IT T‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒ILLII--- ---- FILILI-IL-----

CONFIDENTIAL

ATTA‒‒‒‒‒-----

PEXING

Thumppaakkkkan masalHobook---------lead

DIPLOJJLIIL L.

(date)

1 Oct

repeated for information to

HONG KONG,

RAWALPINDI

and

KARACHI

Repeat to:- HONG KONG 1 RAWALPINDI

KARACHI

Saving to:-

Distribution:- Fu

fa.D. H.M.D. S.A.D.

Copies to:-

Saving to.....

PILLA TOYOTA COROATIA

My telegram No. 339 of 30 September: Grey

Long said that although the available evidence

suggested that Grey was in reasonable physical and

mental shape we must be prepared for the eventuality,

albeit remote, that on release he might in fact be in

a state to require medical attention.

2.

Murray explained that you would be arranging for

him to be examined expertly, certainly by the mission

nurse and possibly by a local (non-Chinese) doctor.

If he required treatment, you would have to decide

whether it was best to keep him in the Mission in

Peking for a few days or try to get him out of China

for treatment elsewhere. Long was duly grateful for

this. He said that he would welcome our advice on

where Grey could conveniently recuperate under medical

supervision, if it seemed desirable that he should do a

before his arrival in the U.K. with all the strains

/ that

+

CONFIDENTIAL

that that would impose.

The necessary medical

facilities would be available in Hong Kong.

But Grey would attract much attention there, and

to keep him from being pestered by the press would

impose a burden on all concerned. Accordingly

Long thought there might be something to be said

for Karachi as a suitable "neutral" place where

of necessary Grey might recuperate for a few days; but he would

be grateful for the advice of our people in

Karachi on this.

3. It would be helpful therefore if the Deputy-

High Commissioner, Karachi, could discreetly look

into the question of available facilities for

medical care of this kind in Karachi, lest we are

asked urgently by Reuters for help in arranging

this.

decan

032717 E.W.65..Lx. 164m 3/67.

CONED ENTI AL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER CAT A

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE,

TELEGRAM NUMBER 339.

CONFIDENTIAL

TO PEKING.

30 SEPTEMBER 1969.

(FE)

TOP COPY

993

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 339 OF 30 SEPTEMBER REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO HONG KONG RAWALPINDI KARACHI DACCA AND PHNOM PENH. HONG
KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 764 : GREY,

983!

IN DISCUSSION WITH MURRAY THIS MORNING LONG, GENERAL MANAGER OF REUTERS,
AGREED THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE DISCRETION TO ADVISE GREY ABOUT HIS RETURN,
BEARING IN MIND THE FOLLOWING:

(A) GREY'S HEALTH AND WISHES MUST BE THE PARAMOUNT CONSIDERATIONS.

(B) IF HIS HEALTH IS UP TO IT REUTERS NOW AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO
GET HIM BACK TO LONDON BY THE FASTEST AVAILABLE ROUTE OTHER THAN THROUGH
HONG KONG (OR MOSCOW).

(C) IF HOWEVER HE EXPRESSED A STRONG DESIRE TO COME THROUGH HONG KONG OR
IF THIS SEEMED TO YOU THE BEST WAY OF PROVIDING HIM WITH URGENTLY NEEDED
MEDICAL ATTENTION, HE SHOULD COME THROUGH HONG KONG. (D) IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT A SENIOR REUTERS REPRESENTATIVE (DOON CAMPBELL) SHOULD HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR A THOROUGH TALK WITH GREY

BEFORE HIS FIRST MEETING WITH THE PRESS AND SHOULD BE WITH HIM ON

HIS ARRIVAL IN LONDON, TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE SUCH AS TO ENSURE

THIS. REUTERS FEEL THAT ADVICE FROM CAMPBELL IS LIKELY TO BE

PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE WITH GREY,

2. CAMPBELL IS LEAVING TODAY FOR HONG KONG, WHICH IS IN ANY CASE THE
MOST CONVENIENT TRAVEL CENTRE. HE WILL WAIT THERE FOR YOUR REPORT ON
GREY'S MEDICAL CONDITION AND THE DECISION ON THE ROUTE, MEANTIME HE WILL
MAKE THE NECESSARY CONTINGENCY ARRANGEMENTS FOR JOINING UP WITH GREY IN
PAKISTAN. IF GREY COMES BY THE PAKISTAN ROUTE, REUTERS WOULD BE GRATEFUL
IF THE MEMBER OF YOUR STAFF COULD ARRANGE TO ACCOMPANY GREY AS FAR AS
KARACHI, EVEN IF CAMPBELL DOES IN THE EVENT DECIDE TO TRY TO COME TO
DACCA.

CONFIDENTIAL

13.

15/2

CONFIDENTIAL

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3. REUTERS ARE NOW FIRMLY OF THE VIEW THAT YOU SHOULD ADVISE GREY NOT
REPEAT NOT TO SEE THE PRESS IN PEKING EVEN ON THE BASIS (PARAGRAPH 3 OF
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 562) THAT THEY DO NOT QUOTE ANY REMARKS HE MAKES
SEMICOLON AND THEY HAVE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT YOU CAN PREVAIL UPON THE
LOCAL PRESS CORPS TO LEAVE HIM IN PEACE, AND CAN ARRANGE THE NECESSARY
PROTECTION FOR HIM. THOUGH WE SYMPATHISE WITH YOUR DIFFICULTIES WE SHARE
THIS VIEW, AS LONG AS GREY REMAINS IN CHINA THERE IS ALWAYS THE RISK
THAT REMARKS ATTRIBUTED TO HIM BY THE PRESS MIGHT GIVE OFFENCE TO THE
CHINESE AND JEOPARDISE HIS EXIT VISA, YOU MIGHT IMPRESS ON HIM THAT THE
ONLY WAY TO ENSURE AGAINST THIS RISK IS TO AVOID ANY CONTACT WITH THE
LOCAL PRESS AND TO REFUSE PRESS TELEPHONE CALLS.

4. WE ARE REPLYING SEPARATELY TO PARAGRAPHS 4 AND 5 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO.
562.

STEWART

FILES

FAR EASTERN DEPT

HONG KONG DEPT CONSULAR DEPT NEWS DEPT

SIR S. TOMLINSON MR. WILFORD

CONFIDENTIAL

+

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

FE

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

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

reach addressee(s)

PRIORITY MARKINGS

(Date)

JI

Top Secret

30/9

Despatched.

Confidential

Restricted Ungh

Fash Immediate

Fork Routine

}

Unclassified

30 531

-

+

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!

-----------------LODIIL

ХХ

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair. Code Cypher

Draft Telegram to

PEKING рек No. 339

(Date) 30 Sept.

30.4

And to:-

Repeat to:-

HỒNG TRONG 18 Rawalpindi Kailchi - Dacka

Panga Pant

Saving to:-

[Security classification"]

-if any

[

Privacy marking -if any

1

[Codeword-if any].

Addressed to

CONFIDENTIAL

EEKING

(date) 30 chr

telegram No...

339

And to

repeated for information to

Rabalfundi Karachi, Daren

HONG KONG

Saving to

Grey.

IMMEDIATE)

and Place Reali

Hong Kong telegram No. 764 of 27 September 7:

In discussion with Murry this morning Long,

General Manager of Reuters, agreed that you should

have discretion to advise Grey about his return,

bearing in mind the following:

(a) Grey's health and wishes must be the paramount

consideration

(b)

If his health up to it

that

Distribution:-

Kilan

FE.S. 4.K. Consulat

Name

St. S. Tomlinson

Copies to:-