293.1122/8–451: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
806. Urtel 675 Aug 2 (being rptd New Delhi). Emb requested inform FonOff Dept appreciates efforts of FonOff and Lamb, but hopes FonOff will soon take more substantial action than “Prelim approach” GOI and GOP mentioned reftel. Situation imprisoned persons daily becoming more serious. Dire plight Kanady and critical physical condition Cline examples (urdes 360 Jul 19; Hong Kong tel [Page 1770] 415 Jul 31 rptd London 24; Hong Kong tel 424 Aug 1 rptd London 25).1
Dept concurs démarche shld be confidential and will cont endeavor ensure no publicity given. Also concurs re avoidance any suggestion US initiative.
Re last para urtel Dept had originally considered possible unilateral approach Moscow in event joint representations Peiping failed. Further consideration has led to view that if Sov assistance requested shld preferably be done simultaneously with joint representations. However Dept not at present actually moving toward approach Moscow. Do Brit contemplate asking Roschin participate?
Emb will note Brit representations possibly effective two cases mentioned Hong Kong’s tel 439 Aug 2 rptd London 26.2
- The messages under reference, none printed, reported information concerning Dilmus T. Kanady and Philip Cline, two American businessmen in prison in China.↩
- The reference telegram reported that two U.S. missionaries who had been imprisoned in Suining had been freed and deported, apparently because of intervention in their cases from Peking (293.1122/8–251).↩