LETTER TO MR. ALLEN W. DULLES FROM GEORGE COCHRAN DOUB

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80B01676R000700170061-2
Release Decision: 
RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
December 20, 2016
Document Release Date: 
May 4, 2007
Sequence Number: 
61
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
June 19, 1956
Content Type: 
LETTER
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP80B01676R000700170061-2.pdf93.52 KB
Body: 
ASSISTANT ArroRN9Y~a ME`s ..d For Release 2007/05/06: CIA-RDP80BO1676R000700170061-2 CIVIL DIVISION ! partm 1t of juztite ashing#un J %10,j. `) 195o Mr. Allen W. Dulles Director, Central Intelligence Agency Washington 25, D. C. Your assistance is requested in obtaining information relative to the disposal of twelve of fifteen ships sold by the Maritime Administration to the Asia Development Corporation, owned by T. Y. Fong, under contract MCc-61131 dated February 2, 19L.8. There is enclosed a photostatic copy of a letter from the 'iaritime Administration dated November 16, 1954 setting forth the basic facts indicating that the Asia Development Corporation probably breached its contract by failing to scrap twelve of fifteen ships prior to January 3, 1951. The government may have a substantial claim for liquidated damages if it can be proven that scrapping was not accomplished or if scrapping occurred after the deadline date. Of the fifteen ships sold to the Asia Development Corporation under the contract, there is no question about three of them, namely Banshee, John L. Fremont, and Marivales (ex Jamestown). Mr. Fong maintains that the scrapping of the remaining twelve was completed on time, i.e. prior to January 3, 1951, but the only evidence which he has produced are 7 surveyor's certificates dated February 8 and February 9, 1951 stating that scrapping was in progress. From the available information it appears that the following four ships clearly were not scrapped in time and were sold to Chinese Communist interests in Canton? 1. Abarenda (ex Acme) 2. Belusan (ex Vistula) 3. Kenwood (ex Johren) 4. Etamin (ex Isaac Babbitt) ieyy orfl ~l to Approved For Release 2007/05/06: CIA-RDP80BO1676R000700170061-2 Approved For Release 2007/05/06: CIA-RDP80BO1676R000700170061-2 It is possible that they never were scrapped but were made operable by the Chinese Communist interests. It is probable that the following four ships were not scrapped prior to the contract deadline since information concerning their disposal is limited: 1. Antelope (ex H. H. Young) 2. Joseph Carrigan 3. Flagler 14. Henry L. Abbott :ye request you to furnish the following information about each of the eight ships aforementioned as well as the Benjamin Peixotto, Edgar Allan Poe, Juan De Fuca (ex Araner) and Orvetta (all of the twelve vessels listed were liberty type except the Flagler and Orvetta which were cargo motor vessels): 1. Was it scrapped completely? 2. If so, when? 3. If scrapped, where? 4. If scrapped, If scrapped, by whom? state dates upon which scrapping reached the following states of completion: 25%, 50%,75% and 100%. 6. If not scrapped, what happened to the ship? Hollers Ltd, of Hong Kong and Captain w. A. Doust, a Hong Kong surveyor who allegedly executed the surveyor',-, certificates submitted by Fong are potential sources of information. We would appreciate receiving this information at your earliest convenience. Sincerely yours, GEORGE COCHRAN DOUB Assistant Attorney General Approved For Release 2007/05/06: CIA-RDP80BO1676R000700170061-2