Other possible measures of a more ephemeral kind were discussed, such as
an appropriately stage-managed welcome for returning members of the
Peking staff (ir and when they do return), and inspired pieces in the TV
or the Press, about the schoolchildren. But the general feeling was that
this sort of thing could easily boomerang and in the end do us more harm
than good.
Finally, it was agreed that another meeting should be held to review the
situation when the Chinese have replied to the Secretary of State's
message.
My de la Mare,
مثلا
I support this is alight. No doubt
F.E Dept will keep the info. Depts informed
of occasions on which the Chumme could get up
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to save of their tricks.
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12 September, 1967.
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Actually, this one only came in to be measured for free spectacles."
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Mr. D
Mr. Bolland
ך?"
Reference FC3/20
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
1 5 SEP 1967
FC3/20
62
Further to Mr. Boyd's minute, the Chinese Chargé's Office telephoned me
at approximately 10.45 this morn- ing. They enquired about their ten
cases of film and box of invitation cards, which are held up in Customs.
I confirmed that their message of Friday had been conveyed to Mr.
Bolland and said that the matter was under consideration and that I
would inform them when a decision was taken.
2.
They then asked that Counsellor a should call on Mr. Bolland at 5 p.m.
this afternoon, I promised to let them know whether this would be
convenient.
3. Although they did not say that the call was connected with the
packages of film etc., I think it may well be, since they were concerned
to get my answer to the first question before mentioning the
Counsellor's wish to call.
(R. J. Sharland) 11 September. 1967
P.A.
B
mil
IL
J 149.
SECRETARY OF STATE
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr. Benf
M.
стра Fatir P.A.
ак
1379
VED IN
IS NOTSE
SEP 1967
FC3/20
Mr. Samuel-
Far Easton Sept.)..)
Musi
At the end of your Ministers Meeting this
morning we touched on a question of reciprocity
concerning our relations with the Chinese. In particular you expressed
concern that members of
the Chinese Mission should not slip through our fingers.
2. This arose from my reference to a visit of a
Chinese ship, the "Hangchou", to Liverpool.
The
position is that we were informed on 5 September that
three members of the Chinese Commercial Office
intended to travel to Liverpool to visit the ship.
We made clear that permission would be granted only
if we received a prior guarantee that British officials
in Peking would be allowed to visit British ships in
Chinese ports. They made the strongest protest
against this and repeated their intention of sending
three officials to Liverpool.
3.
However they did not do so, and we later
intercepted a message that suggested that three members
of the crew would come to London. In fact
12/9
five members
2
five members of the crew travelled to London on
Friday night, and returned to Liverpool on Saturday.
They were under police surveillance all the time
and the police are satisfied that the same Chinese
re-joined the ship as left it.
4. The "Hangchou" is due at London Docks towards
the end of this month. We shall follow the same
procedure on this occasion and with any other Chinese
ships. Members of the Mission will not be free to
visit them until we are given an undertaking about
the same freedom for our people in Peking.
also continue the strictest surveillance of any
crew members who visit the Chinese Mission.
We shall
5. On one matter there has been a slight
relaxation in reciprocity. On 18 August we
approached Customs and Excise in order to impose
"administrative delays" on Chinese baggage in view
of difficulties experienced with consignments
/addressed
3
addressed to our Mission in Peking. Since then
there has been an effective delay which appears to
have caused the Chinese some considerable irritation.
6. However, we have made a small gesture by
releasing the baggage that we have been delaying in
the hope that this may lead to some slight
relaxation in Peking. If this does not of course
happen, we can quite easily impose longer delays
on the next Chinese consignment.
WTR
William Rodgers
11 September, 1967.
P
Fe 3/20.
TOP COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
THE GREATEST CARE SHOULD BE TAKE NOT TO MAKE KNOWN MORE THAN NECESSARY
THE FACT THAT SUCH MESSAGES ARE BEING TRANSMITTED TO AND FROM PEKING ON
OUR BEHALF.
CYPHER/CAT A AND BY BAG
PRIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE TO FEKING
TELNO FOPEX 20
12 SEPTELBER 1967
(FED)
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO FOPEK 20 OF 12 SEPTEMBER REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO HONG KONG AND POLAD SINGAPORE AND SAVING TO WASHINGTON.
THE CHINESE COUNSELLOR, MA CHIA-CHUN CALLED ON BOLLAND ON 11 SEPTEMBER
AT HIS OWN REQUEST TO PROTEST ABOUT DELAYS IN THE RELEASE OF PARCELS OF
FILMS AND INVITATIONS CARDS ADDRESSED TO THE OFFICE OF THE CHINESE
CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN LONDON. MA SAID THAT THESE MEASURES HAD FOLLOWED
THE BLOODY ATROCITIES'' COMMITTED BY THE POLICE, SPECIAL BRANCH AND
THUGS AGAINST STAFF OF THE CHINESE CHARGE'S OFFICE AND WERE INTENDED TO
DISRUPT NORMAL DIPLOMATIC WORK. HE DEMANDED THE RELEASE OF THESE GOODS
AND A GUARANTEE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO REPETITION
OF SUCH **VICIOUS INCIDENTS' IN FUTURE.
2. BOLLAND REJECTED THE PROTEST. HE REMINDED MA THAT THE PEKING
AUTHORITIES HAD MADE DIFFICULTIES ABOUT GOODS DESTINED FOR YOUR MISSION
AND ABOUT THE PACK ING AND DESPATCH OF PERSONAL EFFECTS OF YOUR STAFF
LONG BEFORE WE HAD ACTED HERE. WE HAD ALREADY DECIDED TO RELEASE THE
CHINESE CONSIGNMENTS. WE WOULD HOWEVER EXPECT YOUR MISSION TO RECEIVE
SIMILAR TREATMENT. IF IN FUTURE THE CHINESE DELAYED CONSIGNMENTS
ADDRESSED TO YOU WE WOULD HOLD UP CONSIGNMENTS ADDRESSED TO THEM.
CONFIDENTIAL
يعهم
12
Helix
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. FOPEK 20 TO PEKING
ATROCITIES'
2.
3. MA LAUNCHED INTO A VIOLENT ATTACK ON THE 'FASCIST
COMMITTED BY THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN HONGKONG. AT THIS POINT BOLLAND
BROUGHT THE INTERVIEW TO AN END, WHEREUPON MA AND HIS INTERPRETER, HSIA,
BEGAN TO SHOUT AND BRANDISH THEIR FISTS. THEY CONTINUED TO RAVE IN
ENGLISH AND CHINESE AS THEY WERE ESCORTED OUT.
4. PLEASE TELEGRAPH IMMEDIATELY DETAILS OF ANY CONSIGNMENTS ADDRESSED TO
YOU AND YOUR MISSION BEING HELD UP BY THE CHINESE SO THAT, IF NECESSARY,
WE CAN REIMPOSE DELAYS ON GOODS ADDRESSED TO THE CHINESE HERE.
SOSFA
5. WE HAVE NOT, REPEAT NOT, TOLD THE PRESS OF THIS EXCHANGE.
SENT 08012/13 SEPTEMBER 1967.
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O. F.E.D.
PROTOCOL AND CONFERENCE DEPT.
C.O. H.K. & W.I.D. "C"
FFFFF
CONFIDENTIAL
▪ Date and time (G.M.T.) telegum guld reach addresses(a).
3/
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
703/20
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret
Secrec
Confe
PRIORITY MARKINGS
(Date)
Flach-
-İnantediace
Priority
}
Despatched
...
1
کان
ייר
12/5
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
En Gloir
-Code
Cypher
Draft Telegram to:-
PE
[Security classification
if any
Privacy marking -if any
[Codeword-if any]
Addressed to
on]
CONFIDENTIA
]
DOLJELIII `ILLIDOLIZIOLNJE
NAPA
----------¶¶-LII
I‒‒ILLI
++ A ITIL AirIII
+4
------ ALLAŞIMA kasa
Peking
+
Am avu‒‒‒‒‒‒
EK 20 telegram No. FOPEK 20 (date)
FOPE
(Date)
And to:-
12/9
And to
700
12/9
repeated for information to D2 Aong, ECAD Singapore
----
Tinimbitýrinhoudbru
Repeat to:-
ONG KONG|87%
24/1876
FOLAD SINGAPORE
Saving to:-
WASHINGTON
2833 ben.
Distribution:- Departmental
P.3.D.
Protocol
C.0.- Kr. Carter
D.T.D. Copies to:-
rejected the
potent. He
Saving to
Masington.
The Chinese Counsellor, Ka Chia-chun called on
Bolland on 11 September at his own request to rece
rotest about delays in the release of
cels of films and invitations cards addressed to
the Office of the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires in London.
a said that these measures had followed the "bloody
atrocities" committed by the police, special branch
and thugs against staff of the Chinese Chargé'a
Office and were intended to disrupt normal diplomatic
The
work. He demanded that the Custom be instructed-to-
1
release these goods and that
A
guarantee thet there would be no repetition of such
"vicious incidente" in future.
2.
нал
a
reminded MA Hal Bollandgasid that my but been very reluctant to
impose these delayerHowevus, the Peking authorities had rede
difficulties about goods destined foryour Kission in and about the
packing and despatch
CONFIDENTIAL
/of
F
CONFIDENTIAL
despatch of personal effects of your staff ling
before we had acted here.
decided to
Lissionė
Lission
release.
We had already
Chinese
the latt
consignments
ie would however expect your
to receive similar treatment.
If in future the Chinese delayed consignments
addressed to
You Doking we would hold You Dakine
Them.
up consignments addressed to the
kaza until those in Peking-=
Ja Bollandsejected the zterents about bloody
atrocities" in London, reminded Ma of the violent
treatment meted out to you and your staff during
the attack on our Office in Feking and also
rejected the protest about delaying the clearance
of Chinese goods here. Heaked for a
guarantee that our people in Peking would be
treated sensibly and in accordance with normal
cfplcnutie practice.
3. Ka refered to
into any die sion but violent
jdonnintay launched into a kerstarting attack on the
"fascist atrocities"
committed by the British
authorities in Hong Kong. At this point Bolland
brought the interview to an
whereupon end, a and his
interpreter, Hsia, began to shout and brandish
their fists. They continued to reve in English
out.
and Chinese as they were escorted se tam jest
4. Please telegraph inmediately details of any
consignments addressed to you and your kission
are being held up by the Chinese so that,
if necessary, we can reimpose delays on goods /addressed
(1438) Did.833246 600mm 9/66 G.W.B.L" QONFIDENTIAL
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
1
r
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
CONFIDENTIAL
addressed to the Chinese here.
St
We have not, repeat not, told the prese
of this exchange.
CONFIDENTIAL
Flag
Ardelia
CONFIDENTIAL
5- 5 -
ST
ARCHIVES NO.31
1
→ SEP 1967
| 123/20
While my submission of 8 September was being considered,
Mr. Ma of the Chinese Office asked to call, clearly with the
intention of protesting about our delay in releasing their
S8) goods being held by Customs. I attach a record of the inter-
view which, as you will see, was no more than an exchange of
statements by Er. Ka and myself, ending in an outburst of
shouting and brandishing of fists when I told Mr. Ma that I
did not want to hear any more about "fascist atrocities" in
Hong Kong and brought the interview to an end. I attach a
Flag E (fo) draft telegram to Peking -
2. Meanwhile, Protocol Department have been instructed to
release these consignments of goods. When Peking have reported
whether consignments of goods addressed to them are being held
up or not, we will decide what further action to take here.
Tel to move.
IL
+
Iland
(E. Bolland)
12 September, 1967
No publicity
per
Am
12/9
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN RCHIVES No.31
1 SEP 1967
Езро
Record of a Call by the Chinese Counsellor
on 11 September
Ma Chia-chun called at his own request on Mr. Bolland
at 5 p.m. on 11 September. He was accompanied by Mr. Hsieh,
an interpreter.
58
2. Mr. La said that recently serious incidents had occurred
in that goods and mail addressed to the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires
ad interim and to his office had been unwarrantedly detained
and delayed by the Customs and the Post Office.
3.
+
(i) A box of invitation cards addressed to the Office
of the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires arrived in London
on 17 August and although the formalities were
completed by the Chargé's Office on 22 August
(application form No. P32-67) the cards had not
yet been released.
(11) Ten cases of film addressed personally to the
Chinese Chargé d'Affaires ad interim arrived in
London on 1 September and although, under British
regulations, no formalities are required for goode
addressed personally to Heade of Mission, the
Customs had refused to release them.
. (111) Also several articles of mail, mostly printed matter,
had been delayed by the G.P.0.
Enquiries made of the Customs authorities elicited the
information that they could not release the goods without
Foreign Office approval.
The Chinese Chargé d'Affaires' Office
CONFIDENTIAL
/had
CUNFIDENTIAL
-
2
had accordingly made representations four times by telephone
to Protocol Department and the Head of Protocol Department
and had been informed that Protocol Department could not
release the goods without authority from Far Eastern Depart-
ment. On 7 September representations were made to Kr. Bolland
by telephone, when it was demanded that Mr. Bolland give an
immediate reply and instruct the Customs authorities to release
the goods. No reply was received. The goods had not been
released.
4.
Following the "bloody atrocities" in which police,
special branch and thugs had beaten up the staff of the
Chinese Chargé's Office, there was a continuing police watch
on that Office and members of the staff were tailed when they
left the premises. Additional illegal measures and unwarranted
restrictions were placed on members of the Chinese Office.
Now the Foreign Office was deliberately detaining goods and
mail in order to disrupt normal diplomatic work. The ugly
features of the British authorities and their hostility to
the Chinese people were clearly revealed in the above measures
and Mr. Ka lodged a most urgent and strong protest. He demanded
that Customs be instructed to release the goods and that a
guarantee that there should be no repetition of such vicious
incidents should be given. Otherwise the British Government
must accept the consequences.
5. Br. Bolland said that we had been extremely reluctant
to impose delays on goods destined for the Chinese Chargé's
Office. Mr. Ea however would know as well as he did that the
/Peking
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
- 3-
Peking authorities made difficulties about goods destined
for our Mission in Peking and about packing and despatch of
the personal effects of our staff. Such delays had been
known in Peking long before there were any delays in London.
6. Before Mr. Ma called it had been decided to inform him
that we would release all the consignments he had mentioned
and give the necessary instructions to Customa. We should
however expect that our Mission in Peking would receive similar
treatment. If similar consignments in Peking were interrupted
in the future or if the Chinese continued to refuse assistance
in the packing and despatch of the personal effects of the
members of our staff, we should take similar action in London.
7. We would much prefer to expedite all consignments,
however, and would see that this was done provided that the
same was arranged in Feking.
8. Mr. Bolland rejected the statements about the "bloody
atrocities" in London. We knew quite well what had happened
here and in Peking. Only today he had read an account of the
happenings in Peking when women as well as men were beaten
and our Mission was burnt by an invading mob. He also rejected
the protest about the delay in clearing the Chinese gooda.
9.. Mr. Bolland asked for a guarantee that our people in
Peking would be treated sensibly and in accordance with
diplomatic practice.
10. Kr. Ma accepted that we would now release the goods but
complained that we should have done so long ago.
We had no
reason to detain them in the first place. This was a new
/restriction
CONFIDENTIAL
I
CONFIDENTIAL
- 4 -
restriction showing further hostility and attempting to
disrupt their normal activities. We would not succeed
in any attempts by quibbling to disguise the vicious deeds
of holding up goods and other actions against the Chinese
people.
11.
Our Kission and its staff in China must observe the
regulations of the Chinese Government. Uur saying that mobs
in Peking invaded the Xission was a slander and Mr. Ma
protested against it.
12. kr. Bolland attempted to interrupt to ask if kr. Ea
approved of the burning of our Mission. Mr. Ma continued
saying that we must be aware of what atrocities were being
perpetrated in Hong Kong where British authorities were
arresting, beating up and torturing Chinese compatriots.
Towering crimes were being committed in Hong Kong by the
British authorities.
13. At this point Mr. Bolland rose and declared the meeting
closed. He led the way to the lift reserved for Under
Secretaries and was accompanied by a shouting and gesticulating
kr. ka and his interpreter, who continued to rave about
atrocities and fascist actions being performed by the British
authorities in Hong Kong. When the lift arrived and Mr. Bolland
tried to show kr. ka into it, the latter did an about turn and
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.