fco-21-496-visits-to-detainee-anthony-grey — Page 6

יו. יו-י

HONG KONG

25/11

Repeat to:-

Hayley

Saving to:

Distribution:-

Departmental:

F.E.D.

HONG KONG CONSULAR DEPT. NEWS DEPT.

I.R.D.

D4079-

RESEARCH DEPT. I.P.D.

1805 7251

Saving t

Your telegram No. 1051; of 25 November:

Visit to Grey.

We have no objection to you briefing

correspondents in Peking following your visit to

Grey. We shall of course wish to make a

statement here as soon as we have your report.

In this connexion it would be useful to have the

text of your remarks

2.

to the press.

decided

We agree with the suggestion

in paragraph 5 of your telegram No. 1042 of 22

November that some publicity should be given to

your interview with News Department to-day and

have issued a short statement to the effect that

you were informed that you could visit Grey

tomorrow.

3.

Reuters and Grey's mother have been informed of the impending vist.
Reuters were slightly put

covergle

out that they could not be allowed exclusive story estem Comes fondents

a

ety of the visit but accepted the fact that these

Peking correspondens should be given a break,

It

is possible that the Reuters chief Tokyo correspondent,

Lee Casey, will try to telephone you shortly after

the visit to Grey. Grateful if you would pass on

to him the text of your remarks to local correspondenta.

4. I agree that you cannot har avoid saying something

about Grey's health. On the other hand if it

-ppears that confinement has affected him both

колок

he's

physically and mentally we would prefer to tell thic

o Reuters and his mother first before releasing

it by 15 the press.

puls

5. In general I agree with the publicity line

suggested in paragraph 3 of your telegram under

reference and paragraph 5 of your telegram No. 1042.

of 22 November. This is the line which we have

taken locally with some effect. See Times editorial

of 21 November enclosed with Wilson's letter tó

Cradock of same date.

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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

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Cypher/Cat A

CONFIDENTIAL

TUP CV

IZZIEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Telno 1051

NFIDENTIAL

25 November, 1968

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31!

25 NOV 1968

FEC134/1.

Hong Kong.

Addressed to FCO telegram No. 1051 of 25 Novembeu. Repeated for
information to:

Grey.

On blicity I propose to follow April pattern. I could not try to exclude
Western correspondents here (who are aware from NONA stat.ment on
special visits that access is imminent without ruining relations with
them. Nor do I think we could hold the publicity until after 26
November. I therefore propose to see Western Press correspondents, plus
Tanjug representative (whose reports appear also in Western Press) at 6
pin. on 26 November. You will no doubt inform Grey's mother,

Kiss LcGuinn and Reuters that a visit will take place tomorrow.

2. As regards Grey's health, the Chinese are unlikely to have granted
access if Grey were seriously ill so that it should be possible to give
a fairly straightforward account. If however he is in poor health I
think we should say so. In general, although we certainly do not want to
be alarmists, I hope we can avoid too soothing a line on the health
aspect in publicity on the visit, since to do so plays into the Chinese
hands.

3. In speaking to the Presa I shall confine myself strictly to details
of the visit, unless you see any objection I would however like to make
the additional point, to be used unattributably,: that although all the
Chinese referred to in the NCNA statement of July 1967 on Grey's
detention have been released, Grey remains

in custody.

FCO pass Hong Kong Immediate.

Mr. Cradock

Repeated as requested_/

DEPARTHENTAL DISTRIBUTION

Far Eastern Dept.

Hong Kong Dept.

Consular Dept.

News Dept.

นนนนน

ADVANCE COPIES SENT.

CONFIDENTIAL

M. Ow. k

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2.1

47

CONFIDENTIAL

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14

13

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE

NO 1050

PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

CONFIDENTIAL

25 NOVEMBER 1968

1

{ RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No.31

ADDRESSED TO FCO TELEGRAM NO. 1050 OF 25 NOVEMBER, REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO HONG KONG.

MY TELEGRALI NO. 1047.

25 NOV 1968

PEC1341

I WAS RECEIVED BY MISS CHANG OF THE NEWS DEPARTMENT WHO SAID THAT
FOREIGN MINISTRY AGREED TO A CONSULAR VISIT TO GREY BY

2 CONSULAR OFFICIALS AT 3 P.M. ON 26 NOVEMBER, THE NAMES SHOULD BE GIVEN
TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY BY 5 P.M. TODAY. SHE SET OUT RULES FOR THE
VISIT, WHICH WERE EXACTLY AS IN APRIL (SIR D. HOPSON'S 34. TELEGRAM NO.
334) EXCEPT FOR REFERENCE TO CONSULAR OFFICIALS AND THE FACT THAT THE
VISIT WOULD LAST FOR 25 MINUTES IN PLACE OF 20 MINUTES IN APRIL.

2.

IN

Dept

PRESSED FOR A LONGER VISIT WITH REFERENCE TO HONG KONG VISITS WHICH HAD
LASTED ON AVERAGE 35 MINUTES, MISS CHANG SAID THAT IF WE WISHED TO GO ON
LONGER IT COULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE PUBLIC SECURITY MAN ON THE SPOT.

3.

I SAID THAT I WOULD MAKE THE VISIT ACCOMPANIED BY GARSIDE. SINCE THERE
WAS SOM /GP UNDEC/ TO THE QUESTION WHETHER WE WERE CONSULAR OFFICIALS, T
EXPLAINED THAT I WAS CONSUL GENERAL AND GARSIDE CONSUL. MISS CHANG DID
NOT ACCEPT THIS THERE AND THEN BUT UNDERTOOK TO CONFIRM THAT THERE WAS
NO PROBLEM OVER THE NAMES IN THE COURSE OF TODAY.

4.

I SAID IN CONCLUSION THAT THOUGH I ACCEPTED THE OFFER OF ACCESS I MUST
POINT OUT THAT GREY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED ALREADY, IN PARTICULAR
SINCE ALL THE CHINESE REFERRED TO IN THE NCNA STATEMENT OF JULY 1967 HAD
BEEN RELEASED, MISS CHANG REPLIED THAT SHE HAD INSTRUCTIONS TO INFORM US
OF THE DETAILS OF THE VISIT AND COULD NOT DISCUSS OTHER MATTERS.

FCO PASS IMMEDIATE HONG KONG.,

MR. CRADOCK

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

FAR EASTERN DEPT.

HONG KONG DEPT.

CONSULAR DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

INFORMATION RESEARCH DEPT.

RESEARCH DEPT.

#FORMATION POLICY DEPT.

NNNN

fa See (59

CONFIDENTIAL

+

13

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CONFIDENTIAL

25 at FEC

Cypher/Cat A

IKMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN AND COMIONWEALTH OFFICE

Telno 1047 23 November, 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to FCO telegram No. 1047 of 23 November Repeated for
information to: Hong Kong.

I have been asked to send a member of my staff to

י.

IN

ARCESVL. 31

25NOV 1968

FEC134/1

paleo 25/11

a meeting with the News Department at 10 a.m. on 25 November

on a matter concerning News Department". I assume this refers to Grey
and shall attend myself. Unless I hear to the contrary from you
beforehand, I shall speak as proposed in paragraph 3 of my telegram No.
1042.

FCO pass Priority Hong Kong.

1

|

+

L

Mr. Cradock

[Repeated as requested]

=

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

Far Eastern Dept

Hong Kong Dept

Consular Dept

News Dept

Information Research Dept

Research Dept

Information Policy Dept

CONFIDENTIAL

bbbbb

+

1

I

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11

EN CLAIR

FEC134/1.

TOP COPY

12

PRIORITY FOREIGN AND 'COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NO. 1591 15 NOVEMBER, 1968

UNCLASSIFIED

(F)

ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 1591 OF 15/11 REPEATED

FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.

YOUR TELNO 2183. GREY AND PRISON VISITS_/

WE AGREE AND SHALL ACT LIKEWISE,

STEWART

DEPARTIENTAL DISTRIBUTION

FAR EASTERN LEFT.

HONG KONG DEPT,

CONSULAR DERN

NEWS DEPT.

INFORMATION RESEARCH DEPT.

L

Ju pur

pur 18/10

XXXXXX

+

+

I

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

FEC139/1

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Top Secret Secret

Confidential

Kenzined

Unclassified

Infirecrata Priority

}

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

reach addressco(s).

(Date) 2 (Date)......

Despatched 97/

LILI

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair. Code Cypher

Draft Telegram to:- Hong Kong

No.....

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"Security classification]

[Sec

[ Privacy

Privacy marking -if any

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1

[Codeword-if any).

Addressed to

telegram No....

And to

HONG KONG

1591. (date)

(Date) ___15/1 repeated for information to

And to:-

Repeat to:-

Pekar's

Saving to:-

Saving to...

15711

ILLU

PEKING

--------------------▬▬▬▬.....................P

Your Tee No 2/8 3

[Grey and Prison Vints]

We

agree

Water likewise

and shall act

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Distribution:-

Sear

سے

FED

Не верь Coumar News

EXANTED AT 17507091

57.

بدل

15/11

CONFIDENT IAL

CYFFER/CAT A

FEIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NO 2183

TO FOREIGN AND COTRONWEALTH OFFICE

15 NOVENSER 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED FCO

RFI PIKING.

い

11

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

J 8NOV 1968

FECI

TELEGRAM NO. 2183 DATED 15TH NOVEMBER

HKCK

小

12/28

MY TELEGRAM NO. 2176 : GREY AND FRISON VISITS.

WE SHALL HOT INTORM THE PRESS OF VISITS MADE BY N.C.N.A. TO THE

PRISON. ON 13TH ARD 19TH NOVEMBER BUT IT 13 LIKELY THAT THE MELS

WILL BE LEAKED IN THE COPPUNIST KEVGPAPERS, KO SMALL TIPW NO DOUBT

BL FRLOSED TO SAY WHETHER WE HAVE STRUCK A BARGAIN WITH THE PERING

GOVERMENT OVER A VISIT TO GREY, I SUGGEST HE SHOULD SAY IF ASKED

THAT THE KISSION IN FEKING HAS REPEATEDLY FRESSED FOR ACCESS TO GREY

AND US POPE THAT, AS IN AFSIL, THE VISITS MADE BY THE 1.C.N.A. AND

REFRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNIST KEYSPAPERS WILL SHORTLY ES FOLLOWED

BY THE GRANTING OF PERMISSION FOR THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES TO VISIT

GREY, BUT WE WOULD DO OUR BEST TO AVOID CONFIRMING EXPLICITLY THAT

WE HAVE STRUCK A BARGAIN.

FCO PLEASE PASS FRIORITY PEKING.

SIR D.TRENCH

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

HONG KONG DEPT.

PAR FASTERY DET,

INSULAR DEFT.

+

MAIS DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

Note Fo. 161

AP

REIVED IN

No.31

- Sau 1968

Fe=134/1. pakonfi

The office of the British Chargé d'Affaires present their

compliments to the Consular Department of the Hinistry of Foreign

Affairs of the People's Republic of China and have the honour to

raise the following matter.

Er. Anthony Gray, Reuters Corres ondent in Peking, has been

held under house arrest without any charges having been made cœminst

him by the Chinese authorities since the 21st of July, 1967. During

this period despite repeated requests for consular access officials

of this office have been permitted only one short visit to Mr. Grey. The
office of the British Chargé d'Affaires repeat their request

for immediate consular access to him.

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 consideration.

office of the British Chargé d'Affaires,

24 October, 1968.

3

CYPHER/CAT A

ROUTINE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 2163

SECRET

BLESSED FCO TEL NO.

SECRET

TOP

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

7 NOVEMBER 1968

2163 OF 7 NOVEMBER RFI PEKING,

MY TELEGRAM HO. 407 TO PEKING: GREY

97

RECEIVED IN ¡ARCEHVERN 3.

1Jbk

FEC1341.

CRADOCK'S REMARKS ABOUT GREY DURING HIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON 3JTH OCTOBER
HAVE GIVEN RISE TO A GOOD DEAL OF HOSTILE COMMENT IN THE COMMUNIST
PRESS, THIS HAS BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY A REVIVAL OF PUBLICITY ABOUT QUOTE
ATROCITIES UNQUOTE COMMITTED DURING LAST YEAR'S DISTURBANCES, QUOTE
MARTYRS UNQUOTE PRISONERS AND DETAINEES. ARTICLES HAVE BEEN ON FAMILIAR
LINES AND REITERATE DEMANDS FOR RELEASE OF PRISONERS AND DETAINEES AND
FOR ACCEPTANCE OF DEHANDS MADE BY QUOTE MARTYR'S UNQUOTE FAMILIES.

2. THIS SPATE OF ARTICLES IS NO DOUBT A REACTION TO CRADOCK'S REFERENCES
TO GREY, WHICH HAVE EVIDENTLY HIT THE CHINESE ON A SENSITIVE SPOT. IT
MAY BE THAT N.C.H.A. 'S REQUEST FOR A FURTHER ROUND OF SPECIAL VISITS TO
IMPRISONED NEWSWORKERS SHOULD ALSO BE SEEN IN THIS LIGHT, AND THAT
COMMUNIST PRESS WILL SEEK TO PRESENT THESE VISITS, IF THEY TAKE PLACE,
AND ALSO HSUEH P'ING'S RELEASE ON 16TH NOVEMBER, AS QUOTE VICTORIES
UNQUOTE KIICH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN QUOTE FORCED UNQUOTE TO
CONCEDE UNDER COMMUNIST PRESSURE. THE EARLY RELEASE OF GREY SCARCELY
FITS INTO THIS PICTURE. IT SEEMS POSSIBLE THAT H.C.N.A. AND THE LOCAL
COMMUNISTS ARE MAKING A FINAL EFFORT TO PERSUADE PEKING TO RAISE THE
PRICE FOR GREY'S RELEASE.

F. C.0. PASS ROUTINE PEKING.

SIR D. TRENCH

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:

FAR EASTERN DEPT.

S. B.A.D.

HUNG KONG DEPT.

INFORMATION POLICY DEPT.

INFOR AT ICH RESEARCH DEPT.

1473 DEFT.

CONSULAR DEPT.

(REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

from pm exp

CONFIDENTIAL

ри вр

FEC135/1

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TOP COPY

расноар

CONFIDENT | AL

YPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 931

6 NOVEMBER 1968 (FE)

•

CONFIDENTIAL.

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 931 OF 611

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG,

나

YOUR TELEGRAM NO.1008: CHINESE PROTEST.

WE HAVE SOME SYMPATHY WITH YOUR DESIRE TO PUT THE CHINESE RIGHT. BUT
ASSUME THAT THE CHINESE HAVE ADEQUATE MEANS OF FINDING OUT WHAT CRADOCK
ACTUALLY SAID AND HOPE THAT THEIR PROTEST IS SIMPLY FOR THE RECORD. FROM
YOUR ACCOUNT IT WOULD NOT APPEAR THAT THE CHINESE EXPECT A REPLY. IF
THIS IS THE CASE, WE CAN SEE NO ADVANTAGE IN PROLONGING THE EXCHANGE. IF
HOWEVER THE CHINESE REVERT TO THE ISSUE YOU SHOULD REBUT THEIR CHANGES.

2. WE PROPOSE THAT WHEN YOU NEXT VISIT THE M F A (AS SEEMS LIKELY IN THE
NEAR FUTURE IN CONNEXION WITH GREY) YOU GO ARMED WITH THE TEXT OF
CRADOCK'S REMARKS: BUT THAT IF THE CHINESE DO NOT RAISE THE MATTER AGAIN
YOU DO NOT YOURSELF TAKE THE INITIATIVE

IN DOING SO.

STEWART

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

FAR EASTERN DEPT.

HONG KONG DEPT. CONSULAR DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

RESEARCH DEPT

INFORMATION' RESEARCH DEPT.

CONFIDENTIAL

Xx

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

FECIBCNX

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

PRIORITY MARKINGS (Date)

6/11

Top Secret

Flash

Secret

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

Priority Routine

Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should reach addresse(3)....

Despatched

1330

Security classification" -if any

28

TERASAL DA

CYPHER

[Se

En Clair.

[

Privacy marking -if any

1

CONFIDENTIAL

-----

Code

Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

PEKING

No.

(Date)

And to?

itang

931

Repeat to:--

Saving to:

Distribution:-

[Codeword-if any]

Addressed to

telegram No. 931

And to

611 repeated for information to

Departmental

F.E.D.

H.K.D.

Consular D. News D. **XXKA R.D.

I.R.D.

Saving to

PEKING

(date)

HONG KONG

ויזוחחח

Your telegram No. 1008: Chinese Protest

JIL

We have some sympathy with your desire to put

the Chinese right. But assume that the Chinese

have adequate means of finding out what Cradock

actually said and hope that their protest is simply

for the record. From your account it would not

appear that the Chinese expect a reply. If this is

the case, we can see no advantage in prolonging the

exchange. If however the Chinese revert to the

issue should rebut them, their clages.

2. We propose that when you next visit the MF A

(as seems likely in the near future in connexion with

Grey) you go armed with the text of Cradock's remarks;

but that if the Chinese do not raise the matter again

you do not yourself take the initiative in doing so.

1155 20 4 1/5526 4/+/687

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