People's Republic of China and have the honour to refer to their netes
numbered 203, 221 and 240 of the 24th of Deteber, 24th of November and
24th of December 1969, which requested information concerning the arrest
in Changhai of "r. ". KeBain.
The Offics, having reosived ne response to their previous netes, wish to
repeat their request for information concerning this arrest and for
immediate consular access to Mr. McBain.
The Office of the British Charge l'Affaires avail themselves of this
oppertunity to renew tɔ the
Consular Department of the Ministry of Pareign Affairs
the assurances of their highest consideration.
po
PR
office of the British Charge d'Affaires,
Peking.
21 January, 1970.
میا
CYPHER/CAT A
ROUTINE HONG KONG
SLEGRAM NUMBER 125
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
24 FEBRUARY 1970
IDENTIAL ADDRESSED FCO TELEGRAM 125 OF 24 FEBRUARY RFI PEKING,
YOUR TELEGRAM 105 : MCBAIN.
FOLLOWING FROM MADDOCKS.
129
HE IS SLOWLY REGAINING STRENGTH IN HOSPITAL BUT IS NOT YET ABLE TO
GIVE A CONNECTED ACCOUNT OF HIS EXPERIENCES. GEORGE MCBAIN, HIS
NEPHEW, DOUBTS THAT HIS MEMORY WILL WHOLLY RETURN, GEORGE ADVISES
ME TO SEE HIS UNCLE IN ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME IN THE HOPE THAT HE WILL
BY THEN HAVE REMEMBERED MORE. I SHALL THEN GIVE HIM YOUR MESSAGE
AND TRY TO DISCOVER WHAT MORE CAN BE PUT TOGETHER ABOUT HIS ARREST
AND DETENTION.
2. MEANWHILE THERE ARE TWO POINTS TO ADD TO OUR TELEGRAMS 103 AND
118 :-
(A) THE FAMILY THINK HE WAS JUST DEPORTED WITHOUT TRIAL. MCBAIN
DOES NOT REMEMBER APPEARING IN COURT BUT IS NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT
HE WAS TRIED IN HIS ABSENCE.
اسپا
(B) HE HAS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS ATTRIBUTED HIS ARREST TO THE CHINESE
CLAIMS AGAINST MOLLERS. HE SAYS THAT TWO DAYS BEFORE HIS ARREST
THE CHINESE PRESENTED LARGE FINANCIAL DEMANDS AGAINST MOLLERS WHICH
HE REFUSED TO PASS ON WITHOUT PROPER DOCUMENTATION.
3. I SUGGEST THAT THE THEORY THAT HIS ARREST WAS THE RESULT OF THE
MOLLER DISPUTE SHOULD BE TREATED WITH SOME RESERVE AT PRESENT BECAUSE
MCBAIN'S MEMORY IS SUCH THAT HE MAY HAVE MIXED UP THE DATES OF EVENTS
CONSIDERABLY AND SO FAR AS I KNOW IT LEAVES THE ARREST OF MRS MARTIN
UNEXPLAINED.
FCO PLEASE PASS ROUTINE TO PEKING,
SIR D.TRENCH
FILES
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION U.H.D. 4 COPI:18
MR. WILFORD
NEWS DEPT.
SIR S.TOMLINSON
CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TO
HONG KONG
TEL NO 105
23 FEBRUARY 1970
(FED)
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TEL NO 105 OF 23 FEBRUARY
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING.
PERSONAL FOR MADDOCKS FROM
WILFORD,
PLEASE GIVE MY REGARDS TO MC.BAIN AND SAY HOW PLEASE MY WIFE
AND I ARE THAT HE IS SAFELY IN HONG KONG.
2.. WE SHALL BE MOST INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT HIS
DETENTION. IT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, IMPORTANT TO US TO KNOW WHETHER HE WAS
TRIED, SENTENCED OR JUST EXPELLED. PRESUME YOU WILL BE
REPORTING.
·
STEWART
FILES
F.3.D.
H.K.D.
SIR S.TOMLINSON
MR. ILFORD
CONFIDENTIAL
1
New See Militel
no. 125 at
at /30
Pa.
так
27/2
29
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
FED
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En elpir. Code
Cypher
Draft Telegram to?
Gov HtKing
No. 105:
(Date)
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date)
Tish
Priority
Despatched
[Security classification] -if any
[
Privacy marking -if any
1
[Codeword-if any)
Addressed to
telegram No.........
And to
M..
Tirr‒‒
Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should
reach addressee(1)
23/2
887
CYTHER
ידי
CONFIDENTIAL
------
.P.
MIL --
Hong Kong
195 (date)
-----חווווה
23 February repeated for information to
And to:- 93/2
L
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Saving to.....
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23 Lebaran..
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----
Repeat to:-
Peking
Saving to:-
Distribution:-
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Far Eastern Dep
HK Depr
to
23/1
Suis Sa Taunton
M' halferð Copies to
16·07232~
wilferd
Personal
for
Maddocks from Wilford
Please give my regards to McBain
анттан
that he fter
how plecised my wife
ল
is safely in Hung King.
2. We shall be most interested
The au
what he has to say about his
If
detention.
is, for example, important
he
tried
to know whether
sentenced
or just expelled. Presume
23
You will be reporting. Mr2%2
TOP COPY/28
CYPHER CAT/A
ROUTINE PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
PEKING TELNO. 21 TO HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
23 FEBRUARY 1970
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELNO 21 OF 23 FEBRUARY REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO FCO.
YOUR TELNO 118 ·
23.
NOW THAT MCBAIN IS IMPROVING, IT WILL NO DOUBT BE POSS-
IBLE TO HAVE A LONGER TALK WITH HIM ABOUT HIS INTERROGATION.
IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTING TO KNOW WHETHER THE
JOHNSTON CASE WAS BROUGHT UP IN ANY WAY.
MR. DENSON
FILES
FAR EASTERN DEPT CONSULAR DEPT
HONG KONG DEPT
P. & C. D.
NEWS DEPT
.CONFIDENTIAL
See also
Mi wil
пра
willend's fel at $29. It is containly
is certainly about
time M.K.
pulled
their finger ons.
PR1712
+
HER/CAT A
ROUTINE HONG KONG
RESTRICTED
TO FCO
27
AdC)
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.19 TO PEKING 24 FEBRUARY 1970
RESTRICTED.
ADDRESSED PEKING TELNO 19 OF 24 FEBRUARY REPEATED F C o.
20
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 20: MCBAIN'S PROPERTY.
THE FAMILY PREFER NOT TO RISK ADDING TO THE PRESENT HARDSHIPS OF THE
BANKS IN SHANGHAI BY ASKING EITHER OF THEM TO ACT FOR MCBAIN. THEY DO
NOT THINK THAT AN APPROACH TO CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE WOULD BE PRODUCTIVE.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES AND DRAWBACKS OF MAKING REPRESENTATIONS
IN PEKING, BUT THEY WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD ASK THE MFA ON THEIR
BEHALF FOR ADVICE ON THE PROCEDURE FOR RECOVERING MCBAIN'S EFFECTS.
C F C O PLS PASS PEKING)
SIR D.TRENCH.
FILES:
F.E.D.
H.K.D.
CONSULAR D.
PROT.& CONF.D.
NEWS D.
MR. WILFORD
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
RESTRICTED
Good.
ра
pu.
312
:
.
·
+
P
YPHER/CAT A
ROUTINE PEKING
ELEGRAM NUMBER 20
RESTRICTED
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
23 FEBRUARY 1970
:
RESTRICTED
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELNO. 27 OF 23 FEBRUARY REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO FC0.
25
YOUR TELNO 118 TO FCO: MCBAIN'S PROPERTY.
I AM WILLING TO ASK MFA TO FACILITATE REMOVAL OF MCBAIN'S
PROPERTY BUT IT IS LIKELY THAT OUR INTERVENTION MAY BE
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE FOR TWO REASONS:
(A) THE MFA'S RESPONSE TO ALL OUR ENQUIRIES IN MCBAIN'S
CASE HAS BEEN ENTIRELY UNHELPFUL :
(B) THE RECENT HISTORY OF SIMILAR CASES INVOLVING BRITISH
SUBJECTS PROPERTY IN SHANGHAI SUGGESTS THAT THE CHINESE
DO NOT RECOGNISE THE LOCUS STAND OF THIS OFFICE IN THESE
MATTERS AND PREFER TO DEAL DIRECTLY WITH INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED OR THEIR
AGENTS (SEE PARA 2 OF MY TEL 83 TO FCO).
2. FOR THESE REASONS I SUGGEST THAT MCBAIN'S FAMILY SHOULD CONSIDER
APPOINTING AN AGENT IN SHANGHAI (POSSIBLY
ONE OF THE BANKS WOULD UNDERTAKE THIS EVEN THOUGH THEY
HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT ABOUT PROPERTY FORMERLY IN HMG'S SAFE CUSTODY). AN
APPROACH MIGHT ALSO BE MADE TO CHINA TRAVEL
SERVICE TO SEEK THEIR ASSISTANCE.
3. ONCE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE MCBAIN FAMILY WE COULD
CONSIDER WHETHER IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO BACK UP APPROACH
WITH MFA HERE. PLEASE ASSURE RELATIVES THAT WE ARE ANXIOUS
TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP: THIS IS A QUESTION OF TACTICS.
MR DENSON
FILES
F.E.D.
CONSULAR DEPT. HONG KONG DEPT.
PROT. & CONF.DEPT. NEWS DEPT.
NNNNN
Flatty attitude,
RESTRICTED
Невероват
altitude, in spite
4
their difficulties.
Comanda Deps to reply.
ра
PM 27/2
(26
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
20 FEBRUARY 1970
PHER/CAT A
RESTRICTED
PUTINE HONGKONG
TELEGRAM NO.118
RESTRICTED
25
ADDRESSED FCO TELEGRAM 118 OF 20 FEBRUARY RFI PEKING.
MY TELEGRAM 103 : BRITISH SUBJECTS IN CHINA : MR MCBAIN.
MCBAIN IS GRADUALLY IMPROVING BUT HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF WHAT MAY
HAVE HAPPENED TO HIS PROPERTY IN SHANGHAI. HE IS ANXIOUS TO RECOVER
HIS PERSONAL EFFECTS AND HIS FAMILY HERE HAVE ASKED WHETHER THE
CONTENTS OF HIS FLAT COULD BE FORWARDED TO HONG KONG. IF NECESSARY
THEY WOULD BE PREPARED TO PAY NORMAL REMOVAL COSTS. COULD THIS BE
PUT TO THE M.F.A. IN PEKING ?
FCO PLEASE PASS ROUTINE TO PEKING.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
た
27
1?
FILES
F.E.D.
CONSULAR DEPT
H.K.D.
PROT & CONF DEPT
NEWS DEPT
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
U.N.D. 4
RESTRICTED
:
+
·
F
CYPHER/CAT A
PORITY HONG KONG.
(24
TOP
OP CO.
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE.
TELEGRAM NUMBER 117.
20 FEBRUARY 1970.
RECE:V REGI
CONFIDENTI AL
ADDRESSED FCO AS MYTEL. NO. 117 OF 20TH FEBRUARY RFI PEKING.
YOUR TEL. NO. 13 TO PEKING. MRS. MARTIN.
HONG KONG BANK HAVE HEARD THAT THEIR SHANGHAI BRANCH HAVE BEEN
TOLD TO HAND OVER MRS. MARTIN'S PASSPORT TO THE SECURITY
AUTHORITIES. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD BY AN EXCHANGE BROKER
DEALING WITH THE BANK OF CHINA THAT THEY CAN EXPECT
MRS. MARTIN TO BE RELEASED SOON. THE BANK ARE NOT SURE THAT
THIS MESSAGE IS RELIABLE BUT THEY ARE HOPEFUL.
FCO PLEASE PASS ROUTINE PEKING.
SIR D. TRENCH
As are
ра
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
Jar. 27/2
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
CONSULAR DEPT
NEWS DEPT
I. R.D.
I.P.D.
CONFIDENTIAL
+
CYPHER/CAT A & BY BAG
CONFIDENTIAL
ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 1.LEGRAM NUMBER GUIDANCE 35
FIDENTIAL.
BRITISH SUBJECTS DETAINED IN CHINA.
MY GUIDANCE NUMBER 4 OF 6 JANUARY 1970.
TO CERTAIN MISSIONS
19 FEBRUARY 1970
(PG/1)
23
FE
AS YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM PRESS REPORTS, MR. WILLIAM MCBAIN WAS
RELEASED FROM DETENTION AND PUT OVER THE BORDER INTO HONG KONG ON 15
FEBRUARY.
2. ALTHOUGH WE NATURALLY WELCOME THIS MOVE, WE ARE UNABLE TO INTERPRET
IT AS A GESTURE INTENDED TO IMPROVE SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS. IN FACT WE
DO NOT DISAGREE WITH SUGGESTIONS THAT HAVE APPEARED IN VARIOUS PRESS
REPORTS THAT ONLY A DETERIORATING STATE OF HEALTH HAS PROCURED MR.
MCBAIN'S RELEASE.
3. IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDANCE TELEGRAM NUMBER 4 YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO
STIMULATE PUBLICITY IN REGARD TO THE EIGHT BRITISH SUBJECTS STILL
DETAINED.
4. FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY, SING-BRITISH RELATIONS HAVE BEEN
UNSATISFACTORY SINCE THE ARRESTS OF MR. MCBAIN AND MRS. CONNIE MARTIN IN
OCTOBER 1969. TRADING IS NOT STAGNANT, BUT THE CHINESE ARE ONCE AGAIN
IMPOSING DISCRIMINATORY RESTRICTIONS UPON THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT OF
MEMBERS OF OUR MISSION IN PEKING, WHICH IS IN
STRIKING CONTRAST TO THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT ENJOYED BY MEMBERS
OF THE CHINESE MISSION HERE.
STEWART
BY TELEGRAPH:
BRUSSELS
COPENHAGEN
THE HAGUE
OSLO
ROME
BERNE
DUBLIN
STOCKHOLM
RABAT MONROVIA
NEW YORK (UKNIJ) CAFE TOLI NEW YORK (BIS)
VASHINGTON
BEIRUT
Drafted by FE.D.
on the suggetion of Guides. Ja BR 27
SINGAPORE(POLAD)
PEKING
NEW DELHI
2227/2
RAVALPINDI
KUALA LUMPUR SIHGAPOPE
AND SAVING TO CERTAIN OTHER POSTS.
FCO/HI. DISTRIBUTION:
GUID.D.
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDIWICHAL DISTI BUTION:
GUIDANCE
Private Secretary
COVERING RESTRICTED
.a
Erlonel
big/2.
Flag A
THE RELEASE OF KR. WILLIAM MOBAIN BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES
I submit speaking notes on the release of Mr. McBain
for use by the Secretary of State in Cabinet on 19 February.
2. A background note is attached, listing the eight British
subjects who remain in detention in China.
Copies to:
Mr. Wilford
Mr. Godden
(C. Wilson)
18 February, 1970.
COVERING RESTRICTED
22)
RESTRICTED
SPEAKING NOTES
RELEASE OF MR. MCBAIN BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES
Mr. William McBain, who was arrested and detained by
the Shanghai security authorities on 23 October, 1969, has
now been released. He was put over the border into Hong
Kong without warning on 14 February.
2. It is not clear why the Chinese have released Mr. McBain.
The most plausible explanation at present is that the
worsening state of Mr. McBain's health his heart condition
had made him a semi-invalid even before his arrest led the
Chinese to fear that he might die while in their hande.
3.
Officials who met Mr. McBain on his arrival in Hong Kong
described him as "very tired and confused", His general
physical condition was found to be not unsatisfactory,
although he has high blood pressure and needs a complete rest.
He is at present in hospital in Hong Kong. There is no
evidence that the Chinese mistreated him during his captivity;
he was for a time in a Chinese hospital.
4. The reasons for the arrest of Mr. McBain remain obscure: the
Chinese authorities have never acknowledged our requests for
information about his case. However, Mr. McBain received
the impression during interrogation that the Chinese believed
that his 0.B.E. was a reward for espionage.
5. If the reasons for his release are, as we suspect, Chinese
fears for his health, it would be premature to conclude that
RESTRICTED
/his release
RESTRICTED
his release will be followed by others, although we are
hoping that Mrs. Martin, another elderly resident of
Shanghai arrested at the same time as Mr. McBain, will be
released soon.
Far Eastern Department,
18 February, 1970.
RESTRICTED
2
BACKGROUND NOTE
BRITISH SUBJECTS DETAINED OR BELIEVED TO BE
DETAINED BY THE CHINESE
(18 February, 1970)
Mr. George Watt, a Vickers-Zimmer engineer arrested on
26 September, 1967, and sentenced to three years'
imprisonement for alleged spying by a Lanchow court
on 15 March, 1968.
Mr. P. D. Crouch, Second Officer of the "Demodocus", detained
at Shanghai on 3 April, 1968.
Mr. D. C. Johnston, former Manager of the Shanghai branch
of the Chartered Bank, arrested on a spying charge on
25 August, 1968.
Mrs. Constance Martin, age about 72, was employed by the
Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in Shanghai, where she has
lived for many years and was arrested on 23 October, 1969.
Mrs. Gladys Yang, a British wife of a Chinese national who
worked as a literary translator and is thought to have
been detained in July 1968.
Mra. Epstein, who was employed by the Chinese authorities and
is thought to have been detained towards the end of 1967.
Mr. Michael Shapiro, as above.
Mr. David Crook, as above.
/ Recent Representations
Recent Representations
Apart from regular monthly requests by our Mission
in Peking for access to and information about all eight
British subjects, the most recent oral representations
to the Chinese were
(8) in London, by Lord Shepherd to the Chinese Chargé
d'Affaires, on 19 December, 1969; and
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.