The 1954 Yangtze River Flood Disaster

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000300010011-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 25, 2003
• Sequence Number: 11
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2003/06/04: CIA-RDP80R01443R000300010011-7
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT The 1954 Yangtze River Flood Disaster
1. Unprecedented rainfall in the Yangtze valley this
spring and summer--19 inches in June alone--has caused one
of the worst floods of the century in the Yangtze River valley.
2. While a major disaster to food crops and homes has
occurred, the Peiping regime has publicly committed itself
to a position that it is successfully combatting flood con-
ditions and limiting their effects. In this connection the
Burmese ambassador in Peiping informed his government on
30 July of Chinese sensitivity to oers of flood relief, and
of the pretense maintained in Peiping official circles at
no serious problem exists and no outside e p is required.
4. At last report (31 July) the Yangtze was well above
any previously recorded height. The previous recorded high in
the river's water level came in 1931 when the most damaging
flood in modern Chinese history occurred. That year an area.
of 100,000 square miles was affected by floods, and the damage
was estimated at US $1,290,000,000. In addition to those living
in flooded cities, the farm population affected numbered
25,200,000.
5. Although the regime's diligent flood control activities
of the past four years are now paying off surprisingly well--
the city of Hankow which in 1931 was under water for a month
appears to have been saved this time--it is believed that the
Yangtze has overflowed its banks in enough places to make crop
damage from floods nearly as severe as in 1931. Millions must
have been rendered homeless.
NSA review completed I --I
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6. Most of China's rice is grown in areas which have
been threatened by flood this summer. The loss in food crops
is expected to reach millions of tons. The June harvest of
winter-sown crops in northern areas of China. was exceptionally
productive. In spite of this increase, the losses from the
floods will make impossible an increase in total food output
over 1953. This loss will significantly increase the regime's
financial and food problems and reduce the supply available
for export.
HUNTINGTON D. SHELDON
Assistant Director
Current Intelligence
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Approved For Release 2003/06/04: CIA R@P80R01443R000300010011-7