Archive

1979 May 30 - 1989 Jul 21
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/2597
China (Internal situation in China) (Part 1)

Document type: File list item
Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2016 Dec 30
Classification:
Page count: 0
Any docs withheld? No

PREM19/2597 - download whole file (PDF, 47.99 MB)

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Date Value Title
88 Sep 15 Thu China: Cradock minute for MT ("China: position of Zhao Ziyang") [rumours his position under threat, but UKE in Beijing thinks it remains strong; Cradock thinks reform likely to slow down] [declassified 2016]
89 May 20 Sat China: UKE Beijing to FCO ("Chinese Internal Situation") [US believes "Chinese Government has decided that there is no way to avoid bloodshed"] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 4 Sun China: MT statement ("Statement on recent events in Peking") ["deeply shocked by the news from Peking and appalled by the indiscriminate shooting of unarmed people"]
89 Jun 4 Sun China: FCO statement (emergency unit set up) ["our paramount concern at the present time is for the safety and well-being of British nationals"]
89 Jun 5 Mon China: No.10 record of conversation (MT-President Bush) [Tiananmen Square] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 5 Mon China: UKE Beijing to FCO ("China Internal: Possible Evacuation") [MT: "In view of our special position with H.K. I think we should get out the students and others as fast as we can"] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 5 Mon China: No.10 minute for MT ('China') [situation developing "very fast", possible UK measures; "you can probably afford to step up further your condemnation of what is happening"] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 6 Tue China: UKE Moscow to FCO ("China Internal: Statement by Congress of People's Deputies") ["the events happening in China are an internal affair of the country"] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 7 Wed China: UKE Beijing to FCO ("China Internal: Evacuation") [informal evacuation of all dependants and some non-essential staff on a voluntary basis] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 7 Wed China: UKE Washington telegram 1566 to FCO (0015Z) ("US/China") [intelligence community has no collateral of PLA in-fighting "although there is plenty of evidence that some units … have stayed aloof from the crackdown"; "CIA see no evidence that an alternative mililtary leadership is emerging", therefore wary of press speculation China on verge of civil war] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 7 Wed China: UKE Washington telegram 1654 to FCO (2315Z) ("US/China") [Bush response "widely supported on the Hill and in the media … has successfully pre-empted (for now) pressure to go further"] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 8 Thu China: No.10 letter to FCO (possible meeting between PM & Chinese students) [seeks advice, draft; MT feels she should see them for 20 minutes] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 9 Fri China: FCO emergency unit minute ("Sitrep No.6: 1800 on 9 June") [Deng shown on tv for first time since operation started; student leaders being rounded up; evactuation arrangements] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 9 Fri China: Cradock minute for Powell ("China: Developments on 9 June") [Deng's tv appearance; authorities in Shangai showing "considerable restraint"] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 9 Fri China: UKE Beijing to FCO ("Beijing Military Situation - am 09 Jun") ["the population are now more fearful than defiant"; arrests; "no evidence of PLA fighting PLA"] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 10 Sat China: UKE Beijing to FCO ("China Internal: Deng Xiaoping's Address on 9 June") ["highly likely to mean a more minimalist definition of reform"] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 11 Sun China: UKE Beijing to FCO ("Sino-British relations after 4 June repression") [argues against drastic steps] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 11 Sun China: UKE Beijing to FCO ("China Internal: Political background to recent events") [Deng "rooted in his own generation … the limits of his vision have been exposed"] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 19 Mon China: No.10 letter to FCO (message from Sakharov) [seeks draft reply by 3 July] [declassified 2016]
89 Jun 21 Wed China: UKE Washington telegram 1717 to FCO (2351Z) ("US/China") [additional modest US measures announced "to preempt further Congressional criticism" following Shanghai executions] [declassified 2016]