fco-21-687-detention-of-british-subjects-in-china-mrs-constance-martin-and-mr-william-mcbain — Page 9

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Chinese authorities to release him. We are probably

correct. to conclude that Mrs. Martin's health must

continue to be sound.

Indeed she has written from

detention to the Manager of the Hong Kong and Shanghai

Bank about her personal affairs in a sensible and

lucid tone.

You may certainly assure Mr. Jansen that we, for

our part, will not be relaxing the pressure we have

been maintaining on the Chinese, on behalf of Mrs. Martin

I myself took the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires severely to

task for his Government's inhumane behaviour last

December, and her case has been frequently raised with

the Chinese by our Mission in Peking, the last occasion

two weeks ago.

IN CONFIDENCE

In the meantime

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Dd. 12455 Ra (4209)

-

IN CONFIDENCE

In the meantime one must agree with

Mr. Jansen that press interest in the British

subjects detained by the Chinese has waned con-

siderably since the release of the Reuters

correspondent, Mr. Grey. I can sympathise with

We continue to hope,

his disappointment.

however, that wide publicity for the cese of

Mrs. Martin and those of the other British

subjects detained in China might conceivably bring

home to the Chinese the damage which their treat-

ment of British subjects is doing to their

reputation with the public in this country, and

hence might induce the Chinese to release them.

I would agree moreover with Xr. Janaen

that if you, as a Member of Parliament, could

accompany him on a visit to the Chinese Mission,

possibly at the same time as Mr. Kepple

(referred to in Mr. Jansen's letter) and his

Member, Captain Kirby, this would not only serve

to bring home to the Chinese the widespread

concern in Parliament at their treatment of

Kra. Martín, but might also result in wider

publicity for the case in the press.

BAR 13/3

IN CONFIDENCE

Far Eastern Department, FCO.

With the compliments of

THE OFFICE OF

THE BRITISH CHARGE D'AFFAIRES

38 On FEC

Ref. your te 71 of 3 arch.

PEKING

p/w

5 March, 1970

mam

Your 201

بالقوه

кс

DEF Lam of-

Beíibah- Chargé d'Affaires -

pissent their compliments to the Consuler Departzent of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Chira onu have the honour to
refer to

Me nesting between Mr. Xuan Taung-chou and Er. J. F. Allan

on the 12th of February concerning property entrusted før as 2 keeping
with the British office in Shanghai,

The Office of the British Chargé d'Affaires

at th to memind the Consular Departze it that Vr. Allan

requested ra extension of the deadline originally inalcsted in the
Departcent's telephone messege of the fth of Degemer 116.

The office should, alne ba.

+

arsteful in dun pa was for a reply to the points raised

by Fe. Alla conessing the pomerty which won contained

in a bows de ranier left at the Department at the reeting.

AT.

PLA MITIC - the British Chargé d'Affaires avail tmxeelves of tá a
oprørtuit, to renew to the C-neular De jartzent of the Ministry of
Forair: Affairs the

1: T

ir

st consideration.

J

In

(423)

J

5

+

Note No. 30

i

FEL 14!

{

The Office of the British Charge d'Affaire a prosent their compliments
to the Consular "spertsent of the Ministry of "oreign Affairs of the
People's Republic of China and have the honour te refer to their notes
mabered 202, 220 and 239 of the 23rd of October, 24th of November and
24th of December 1969, and no. 15 of the 21st of January 1970, which
requested information concerning the arrest in "hanghai of Mrs. C.
Martin, and further requented immediata consular access to her.

The Office, having received no response to their previous notes, wish to
repeat their request for information concerning this arrest and fer
inmediate

domsular scosse to Krs, Martin.

The Office of the British Charge d'Affaires avail themselves of this
opportunity to renew to the Consular Department of the Xinistry of
Foreign Affairs the

sasurances of their hi hest consideration.

معطر

рж

P2 2073

Office of the British Charge d' ́ffaires,

Peking.

23 February, 1970.

byl

11/3

Mr. Godden - 3

F

The

N

FEC 14/1

Mrs. Martin of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank

I submit a draft reply from Lord Shepherd to

Mr. Peter Hordern's letter to the Secretary of State

about the case of Mrs. Martin, who was detained by the

Shanghai Security Authorities in October 1969.

2. Lord Shepherd is familiar with the background to

the case.

ге

(James Murray)

9 March, 1970.

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY HONG KONG

TO

CONFIDENTIAL

FOPEIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELNO 149

6 MARCH 1970

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED FCO TELNO. 149 OF 6TH MARCH RFI PEKING.

31

MY TELEGRAM NO. 125: MCBAIN.

FOLLOWING FROM MADDOCKS.

A

: EC 14/1

I SAW MCCAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY. HE HAD LITTLE TO ADD TO

WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY REPORTED. HE NOV THINKS HIS ARREST WAS CAUSED

NOT BY THE CLAIM AGAINST KOLLERS BUT BY THE SUSPICION THAT HE AND

MRS. MARTIN VERE ENGAGED IN SPYING. THE ONLY GROUNDS FOR THAT

ACCUSATION WHICH HE CAN REMEMBER ARE A LETTER ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN

WRITTEN TO THE MISSION IN PEKING SAYING THERE WERE SOLDIERS IN THE

FORMER CONSULATE GENERAL'S PREHISES AND THE 0.0.E. AND M.B. £.

GIVEN TO HIN AND MRS. MARTIN. HE DENIED TO HIS INTERROGATORS

THAT HE HAD WRITTEN THAT OR ANY OTHER LETTER TO THE MISSION.

HE TOLD ME HE WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF MRS. MARTIN HAD WRITTEN

ON THOSE LINES,

2. JOHNSTON HAD NOT COME UP IN ANY WAY.

3. FULLER REPORT BY BAG.

FCO PLEASE PASS ROUTINE PEKING.

SIR D. TRENCH

FILES

F.E.D.

H.K. DEPT.

MY. A MAT Mr. Wilson & of pan of thous Kongtel.n? 125 at 50

7.6. Roberts 16/3

REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

U.N.DEPT.

MR. WILFORD

NEWS DEPT.

SIR S. TOMLINSON

CONFIDENTIAL

NUNAN

Pn. 23/3

I

I

CONFIDENTIAL

18

CYPHER/CAT A.

PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 71

CONFIDENTIAL.

TO PEKING

FEC 14/1

3 MARCH 1970.

(F.E.D.)

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO.71 OF 3 MARCH REPEATED FOR INFORMATION
TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG.

YOUR TELEGRAM NO.101: SAFE CUSTODY PROPERTY IN SHANGHAI,

WE AGREE WITH THE PROPOSAL IN PARAGRAPH 2 TO REMIND THE MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS BY NOTE ON 4 MARCH OF YOUR PREVIOUS REQUEST FOR AN
EXTENSION OF THE THREE-MONTH DEADLINE. LEGAL ADVISERS CONFIRM THAT THE
LEGAL POSITION IS ADEQUATELY SAFEGUARDED.

2. IN THE CASE OF MCBAIN'S EFFECTS WE AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD NOW SEEK THE
MFA'S ADVICE ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR REMOVING THESE FROM SHANGHAI SINCE
THE RELATIVES ARE STILL KEEN FOR YOU TO DO SO DESPITE THE PAST CHINESE
RECORD OF UNHELPFULNESS IN MATTERS OF THIS KIND. WE LEAVE THE TIMING OF
THE APPROACH TO YOUR DISCRETION,

STEWART.

FILES

F.E.D.

HONG KONG DEPT.

CONSULAR DEPT.

ACCOMMODATION DEPT.

MR. WILFORD

NNNNN

CONFIDENTIAL

Registry No. FED

DEPARTMENT

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

reach addressocié)

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS

Top Sunn

50

(Date)..

Despatche

A

}

Baserlegd

Priority

BAUHAUS

OTHER

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Chir Code Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

[Secu

Security classification" -if any

---

[

Privacy marking

if any

1

Sen beni bobble H H da

[Codeword-if any]

PEKING

Peking

Addressed to

telegram No..

HAAAAAAAAAHYHHHH...÷¬÷AH

71 )................................................................

3 Maret

..(date)

71

Nat

And to

וו'ו00111ITF1

Jovement

HONG KONG

KRETARIATETIME+-+-+Abhimmı

(Date) 3M and repeated for information to

And to:-

Repeat to:

Govermen Hong Kany

Saving to:-

Distribution:-

Files

FED

HKD

CONSULAR DEPT.

ACCOMMODATION

Copier t

DEPT

Mr. Wilford

3/3

Saving to......

Your telegram No. 101: Safe custody property in

Shanghai.

We agree with the proposal in paragraph 2 to

remind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Note on 4

March of your previous request for an extension of the

three-month deadline. Legal Advisers confirm that

the legal position is adequately safeguarded

2. In the case of McBain's effecta we agree that you

should now seek the MFA's advice on the arrangements

for removing thee from Shanghai since the relatives

are still keen for you to do so despite the past

Chinese record of unhelpfulness in matters of this

kind. We leave the timing of the approach to your

discretion.

123/3

CONFIDENTIAL

TYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY PEKING

TELEGRAM NO. 116

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

TOP COPY

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

3 MARCH 1970

ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 116 OF 3 MARCH REPEATED FOR INFO-

MATION TO HONG KONG.

i

MY TELNO 102.

Bu

HEAD OF CHANCERY WAS NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT SHANGHAI.

2. SINCE MCBAIN'S RELATIVES STILL WISH US TO APPROACH MFA (HONG KONG
TELNO 20), WE SHALL SEEK AN INTERVIEW AS SOON AS WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR
VIEWS ON THE SAFE CUSTODY

PROPERTY.

MR. DENSON

FILES

F.E.D.

HONG KONG DEPT CONSULAR DEPT

PROT & CONF DEPT

NEWS DEPT

MR. WILFORD

RESTRICTED

Now see (58)

(31

37

CYPHER CAT A

RESTRICTED

ROUTINE HONG KONG

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

HONG KONG TELNO. 20 TO PEKING OF 28 FEBRUARY, 1970

RESTRICTED

ADDRESSED PEKING AS MYTEL. NO. 20 OF 28TH FEBRUARY RFI FCO.

YOUR TEL. NO. 102 TO FCO.

+

35

MCBAIN'S PROPERTY.

AFTER REFLECTION FAMILY WOULD STILL PREFER YOU TO ASK MFA

Quite right.

FOR ADVICE ON WHAT STEPS THEY SHOULD NOW TAKE TO RECOVER MCBAIN'S

PERSONAL EFFECTS. THEY WOULD BE READY TO APPOINT AN AGENT

OR TO TAKE ANY OTHER REASONABLE STEPS THAT MIGHT BE RECOMMENDED.

FCO PLEASE PASS ROUTINE PEKING.

SIR D. TRENCH

FILE S

F.E.D.

H.K.D.

- CONSULAR D.

PROT. & CONF. D.

NEWS D.

MR. WILFORD

[REPEATED AS REQUENTED]

from

I have

раздава Safe Parloidy

бере

RESTRICTEDİ

ESTR

Thay

1%

lueß

pc.

My Wilay

Consular Left have lille/intered, at the moment, in this exchange, &
certainly no intentar t of intervening. I think we need not, either:

Hongkong are coping

nicely.

P.J. Rob

4

7/3

CYPHER CAT.1.

PRIORITY PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

134

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NO 192

27 FEBRUARY 1970

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 102 OF 27 FEBRUARY REPEATED FOR

INFORMATION TO HONG KONG,

Z7

Ес

HONG KONG TELNO 19 TO PEKING: MCBAIN'S PROPERTY.

I STILL CONSIDER THAT APPROACH TO MFA IS UNLIKELY TO EVINCE

HELPFUL ADVICE, PARTICULARLY IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR CURRENT

ATTITUDE TO THE SAFE-PROPERTY. I THEREFORE ADHERE TO

MY VIEW THAT MCBAIN'S RELATIONS WOULD BE BEST ADVISED TO

DEAL WITH THESE PATTERS DIRECT (SUPPORTED IF IT SEEMS IT

WOULD BE HELPFUL BY AN APPROACH BY US TO MFA). IN CASE

OF SHIPMENT OF HEWITT'S EFFECTS FROM SHANGHAI (SEE DAVIES'

LETTER TO APPLEYARD OF 18 FEBRUARY NOT TO HONG KONG)

C.T.S. WHO EVENTUALLY SHIPPED THE GOODS REFUSED TO HAVE

ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS OFFICE AND AN AGENT (HYDER OF PIA)

HAD TO BE APPOINTED.

2. WE WILL NEVERTHELESS APPROACH MFA FOR ADVICE IF, ON

REFLECTION, THIS IS WHAT THE RELATIVES STILL WISH. I WOULD

HOWEVER PROPOSE TO POSTPONE DOING THIS UNTIL I HAVE RECEIVED YOUR VIEWS
ON THE SAFE CUSTODY PROPERTY (MIPT). THIS WILL

ALSO ALLOW US TO SEE IF HEAD OF CHANCERY IS ALLOWED DOWN TO

SHANGHAI THIS WEEKEND, WHICH WOULD GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR

DISCUSSION ABOUT APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS.

MR. DENSON

FILES

F.E.D.

H.K. DEPT.

CONSULAR DEPT.

PROT. & CONF.DEPT. NEWS DEPT.

MR. WILFORD

CONFIDENTIAL

brz

Po

| Cunning

Hi

they precapt any contrany

Orders

from ce

NNNNN

USE OF

COMMONS

PETER HORDERN, M.P.

+

HOUSE OF COMMONS,

LONDON, S.W.I.

.1

Acknowledgement?

to sele

24 February, 1970

2 Secretary of State intes hot sp

FE

Cépagtnfent for

drafferreply ffRoth word Shackles

flewar!

M2512

I enclose a copy of a letter I have received from my constituent,

Mr. Clinton Jansen, which is self- explanatory, and would be grateful if
you could let me know what the position

is.

Re

FEC 14/1

Your

feiner

fami

Hürlim

The Rt. Hon. Michael Stewart, C.H., M.P.,

Foreign Office,

S.W.1.

No. Wilson

Draft reply

herewith.

P.j. Roberts

2/in

Link

+ recivolate

-pse.

27

33

House of Commons,

Lilestone,

metr stre.*,

zatvor ti

Jussex.

Zuta February 190

London, b.......1.

Dear Mr. Lordern,

I once had the pleasure of meeting, jou as a Committee member of the
Cuollum and otipley breach of the Conservative Associs tion.

,ay I now reintrouuce myself as clinton Jansen, two nephew of hrs.
Constance Lartin, who was arrested in Stangrai lest Lotocer by tre .nese
authorities. As the only male representative of her immcxiste fondly
residing in zn ̧lond, I levo since ler arrest, kept in constant touch
with the for zastern section of the Foreiga uffice over Ler pliut, and
love on their suvice paid personal visits to the Ginose Liɔuion in
London in an attempt to obtain some iuvrmation about her.

Although I have been courteously received, my viuits have proved
completely abortive as they ave continust to maintain that they inve
received no súv.ce wætsoever acout ner from the reking Authorities.

You will periaps knov tlat the Forei¿n uffice themselves Lave been
particularly concerned about bot. nor case and that of ir. Lesain in
view of their age. Lord Shepherd, I believe, nas protested strongly to
their Charge d'Affairs in London.

Ir. Lartin Kepple, wno lives in Storrington, and is related by marriage
to lrs. Lartin, mas alao bean very active in nis caueavours to keep ner
case in the public eye, both through his 1.r., .r. kirby of Aurnael, and
through the media of the Press and T.V. Although ir, airby has, and
continues to be, most responsive over her case, the press appoer less
4.4 less cooperative, presumably as they now feel that her case is no
longer newsworthy.

The release of ar. Lesain at the end of last week was given our family
some nope of an early release of hrs, artin, but I feel trat pressures
.ould not be relaxed un this account.

I lave consulted again with the Foreign Office today, sad it 120 been
agreed that in the light of Mr. Lobain's reloase no cama would come of
my paying a Zurtuor visit to the Chinese Liscion. I tend to

I wonder if, as my ..., you could sparo the time to adu your weight to
our unsecvours to secure some information auout Ars. Lartın. woru viti.
kr. kirby voulu give you fuller cetails of the steps no ninseli proposes
to take in the house.

¿

The forein uffice officials are a little souptical of e value of
questions in the Louise, as they claim that viedo aro normally ruferred
back to wiem, and tog are ot aule to gave any fuller uu'onation tion
that already supplied to immediate relatives.

7

+

Contin. over.

7

- 2 -

in the opinion of sie Porcija vffice officials core weight would attacı.
to en...d, accoa,zaying a relative to the Chinese Lässion as their Carje
"'Affairs in Lenon uoes not particularly like criticisa from official
sources.

I must, of course, leave this matter in your lands, but per:aps

Kiroy before taxing La ecision. you woula prefer to first consult with
im.

-

If necessary, I could make myself available later at the Louse of
Commons, or alternatively in forsan, if you require fuller uetails of
the back, Four of the case and the stops we rave slrooty taxon.

Anything you can do to help our family over tuir worries

would, of course, be very nucl. appreciated.·

Yours sincerely,

Jans

Car W. JANSEN

L

Note Xo. 15

FEC 16/1

-

"he Office of the British Charge d'Afraipea present their complimente to
the Consular Department, of the Ministry of Foreign "ffairs of the
People's Republic of China and have the honour to refer to their notes
numbered 202, 220 and 239 of the 23rd of October, 24th of November and
24th of Dece-ber 1969, which re-usated information concerning the crr-t
in thanghai of Era. C. Martin, and further requested inmediate consular
access to her.

The Office, having received ne response to their previous notes, wish to
repeat their request for information concerning this arrest and for
iamediate consular access to Yrs. Martin.

The Office of the British Charge ¦'Affaires Hvail themselves of this
opportunity to renew to the Cenaular Departmená of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs the assurances of their highest consideration.

271227/2

Office of the British Charge d'Affaires, Peking.

21 January, 1970.

+

Note No. 14

FEC Luli

The Office of the British Charge d'Affaires present their compliments to
the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the

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