STATUS OF VISITORS AND DIPLOMATS IN CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A007600630008-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 8, 2007
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: August 11, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/11/08: CIA-RDP80-00810A007600630008-4
CENTRAL -INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Rbpionap Laws. Title
18, U.B.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorised person Is prohibited by law.
S V,V_R...,.T
COUNTRY China
SUBJECT Status of Visitors and Diplomats
in China
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
DATE ACQUIRED
REFERENCES
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
// August 1955
This is UNEVALUATED
Information
SOURCE EVALUATIONS ARE DEFINITIVE. APPRAISAL OF T is TEN ATIVE.
25X1
25X1
Hotel Accomodations
government guest houses available in all sizable cities. Foreigners,
exclusive of those officially sponsored by a m.11istry, paid their own bills.
The guest houses had Chinese and European dining rooms. Members of the
Chinese minority groups were permitted to patronize them. Soviet citizens,
however, stayed at specific hotels or rented apartments. Although they were
permitted freer movement than most foreigners, there was no noticeable dis-
tinction between the treatment of representatives of Satellite countries and
those from Western European countries.
visitors to China were accomodated in special 25X1
Intgrp reters
2. Foreigners on official missions to China were met at the border by inter-
preters who accompanied them throughout their stay. Although the interpreters
claimed to belong to the ministry that invited the foreign delegate, it seemed
likely that they were a part of the security service. They appeared not to
utilize normal channels for matters of security.
3.
Interpreters usually took the visitor's passport upon arrival at a .given
city, for foreigners might not leave the city without permission. Each
passport was stamped with a visa listing the places to be visited. Upon the
visitor's arrival in each locality the passport was stamped. A visitor might
not revisit a city without special permission.
4. Interpreters and secretaries recorded all conversations by taking extensive
notes.
5. In most cities foreigners were permitted to walk about without the interpreters.
In Canton, however, it was noted that when visitors left their hotel, they
were followed immediately by a group of young men who had been waiting in the
lobby
f STATE X ARMY X NAVY X
FRI AK
(Now,W dsgton distribution iadksled by "V; Fidel diehibetion by 4".)
Approved For Release 2007/11/08: CIA-RDP80-00810A007600630008-4
 Approved For Release 2007/11/08: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600630008-4
6. If the linguistic barrier could be breached, the Chinese did not seem hesitant
to speak with foreigners. It was difficult, however, to contact foreign
residents of China who were not members of the diplomatic colony. For
example, an Italian Communist, who was a member of a commercial firm, waited
two weeks before he succeeded in receiving permission to contact foreigners.
Telephone Procedure
8. Since telephone operators at the guest houses spoke only Chinese, interpreters
assisted in placing calls. In Shanghai, where English might be used in placing
calls, the interpreters listened to the conversation.
9. Peiping telephone directories were distributed on a limited basis and were kept
under lock and key. In contrast, telephone books were readily available in
Shanghai.
Diplomats
10. There were approximately 35 Western European representatives in China. With
the exception of the Soviet staff no special 25X1
privileges appeared to be accorded to the diplomatic staffs. Foreign diplomatic
personnel were subject to the same restrictions as other foreigners, with the
possible exception of the Russians. All representatives had to obtain written
permission before leaving Peiping.
11. There was no social contact between Western European diplomats and Chinese
government officials or other Chinese residents, with the possible exception
of one elderly couple who frequented all Western functions. Except at large
receptions, there was no contact between Eastern and Western representatives.
Miscellaneous Information
12. The former property of the United States and French Embassies had been converted
into office buildings. The former Belgian Embassy had been leased to the
Burmese.
13. Chinese officials were not known to have discussed with any of the Western
diplomats the possibility of diplomatic relations with the United States.
14. It was almost essential for a diplomat assigned to Peiping to speak Russian
in order to study the situation freely, although French and English were
frequently spoken.
Foreigners in Shanghai said that until late 1954 they had been afraid to
gather socially. They claimed that the situation had eased somewhat since
the Geneva conference, although they were convinced that some foreigners
were government informers.
15. Opinion prevailed in Peiping that Deputy Foreign Minister LEI Jen-mint exerted
considerable influence in foreign affairs, in the government, and in the party.
16.
the Chinese people learned more rapidly
than the Russian people. Frequently, training programs had been completed
considerably in advance of schedule.
Approved For Release 2007/11/08: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600630008-4
 Approved For Release 2007/11/08: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600630008-4
S -E -C -R -E-T
25X1
25X1
17. The Chinese had sought in vain to purchase aluminum, artificial fertilizers,
isotopes, and heavy water 25X1
Comment. Presumably LEI Jen-min (7191/0117/301+6), Vice-
Minister of Foreign Trade, is meant.
Approved For Release 2007/11/08: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600630008-4