REPATRIATION OF RUSSIAN EMIGRANTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005300510005-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 25, 2007
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: November 1, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/07/25: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300510005-5
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY China/USSR
SUBJECT Repatriation of Russian. Emigrants
from China to the USSR
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws. Title 18, U.S.C. Sees. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.
REPORT
DATE DISTR. lq November 195+
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD 25X1
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
Shanghai
1. On Russian Easter Sunday, 25 April 1954, the Soviet Consulate in Shanghai announced,
through the Soviet Citizens Association, that all Russian emigrants in China who
had Soviet passports would be permitted to register for repatriation to the USSR,
which would take place in the near future. The length of the registration period
was three weeks, beginning 26 April. Women past 52 years of age and men past 55
were not permitted to register. During May it was also announced by the Consulate
that all those who had cooperated with the Japanese and Germans during World War II
would not be repatriated.
approxi-
mately 1,000 registered in Shanghai for the repatriation, but only from 250 to 300
passed the strict physical examinations.
ARMY X NAVY X AIR X FBI AEC
(NOTF? wn?t Anton distributinn indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
Approved For Release 2007/07/25: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300510005-5
 Approved For Release 2007/07/25: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300510005-5
3. On 5 June the'first group of repatriates left Shanghai by rail for the USSR.
This group consisted of a total of 45 men, women and children. Each person
was permitted to take JMP 4 million, which, according to the Soviet Consulate,
would be converted to 800 rubles at the Sino-Soviet border. Each person was
permitted to take 44 kilograms of luggage on the train. The rest of his be-
longings, with no restriction on the weight and size, was sent by ship from
Shanghai.
4. Shortly before their departure from Shanghai the Soviet Consulate told the
repatriates of the first group that their first destination in the USSR would
be Chita. There they would be processed and their ultimate destination,,
decided by the Soviet authorities, which would be one of three areas: Kasakhstan,
the northernCaucasus, or the northern Urftl.s. They would have no choice in the
selection of the place.
Tsingtao
5. Of the approximately 260 Russian emigrants in Tsingtao, 240 registered with
the Soviet Consulate to go to the USSR shortly after the announcement of the
new repatriation program. A member of the Soviet Consulate stated they would
be sent to Tsililnu (sic) in the Altay area where they would clear the forests
and build roads. On 10 May 1954 the first group of 120 repatriates left
Tsingtao for the USSR by rail. The second group was scheduled to leave by
rail on 14 June.
6. Of the approximately 900 Russian emigrants in Tientsin with Soviet passports,
about 600 registered for repatriation to the USSR shortly after the announcement
by the Soviet Consulate in Tientsin on 25 April 1954. The first group of
approximately 50 men, women,,nd children was scheduled to leave Tientsin about
5 June for the USSR by rail.
7.
Comment. The nearest equivalent to "Tsilinu" in the Altay area
N 53-24.9' E 84-18).
LComment. Most Russian emigrants in Tientsin were of the opinion that
the new Soviet repatriation program was a reflection of the Chinese jPvern-
ment's desire to oust from China all foreigners except the official repre-
sentatives and Soviet advisers.
In late May, three groups of Russian emigrants from Harbin with Soviet passports
left by rail for the USSR. There were about 15 men and women between the ages
of 16 and 30 in each group. They were told by the Soviet Consulate in Harbin
that their ultimate destination was the Altay mountains area.
Approved For Release 2007/07/25: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300510005-5