POLITICAL INFORMATION: HISTORY AND PRESENT ACTIVITY OF YUGOSLAV COMMUNITY, SHANGHAI

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R001400930001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 20, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 5, 1948
• Content Type: REPORT

COUNTRY
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DAT: OF INK
Approved F'sbe'Retede 2003/08/07' CIA-RDP82-00457R001400930001-7
TRA(ONftDE4TIAL ?-
25X1
CONFIDENTIAL
Informatianz Pastor7 and ??,,C7it,
11vity of Yugo3lav Ccmaunity azy0md
25X1
25X1
'111 document is hereby regraded to
FIDENTIAL in accordance with the
letter of 16 October 1978 from the
, Director of Central Intelligence to the
Archivist of the United ?States.
5 Mxy
O. OF PAGES 3
NO. OF
-
25X1
MMERFEEMENISSIZAVENIEVEM.,MPardelffig-173-rtirPg7;
VISE DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFO/10,4'1KM AFFECTING TNT NATIONAL DEFENSE
? or THE UNITED STATES INITNIN THE NEANINC OF T53
4 U. S. C.. SI ANS 32. AS ANTI/DEB. !TS MA5sNIF,SION CE ES WeVrt.,i;013 OP ITS CONTENTS IN ANT WANNER TO AN UNAOTHDO/EEN PERSON IS PNG.
IIIEITE0 NY tlW REPRODUCTION DF TN ,S ropti IS PRO;NAITED. IVIVS?
Ena TurorlAnot: coltIAINCO neo- CNT TNT EOSIN MAT OLT OntiZED y,
4:is AS DESSES NECESSARY av st:a CJI Azu-cv.
THIS IS UNEVALUP;TED INFORMATION FOR THE Rt,-.7)EAIROH
USE OF TRAINED INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS
25X1
1, Y6gos1;27/ iitereetshi mill after Pegrl -4.sre morevented
Prior to the iii.nEwolztioil ?in 1911 37 theFr'7,1aL,y gcmalatea
Imperial Rnesian g!,-Ternaan':-
Later and untA March 393 C cho1ovak1 w anne'ed by c;.ftrmany): by
Czechocloleck diplomatic repro3ertaties"
From 1S Aut;st 1939 to Arra 19'41 (when France 17an occupied t'ae
47 the r'rerich govvi,uner:-,4
Pr P.nil v to Decem'e4r the
Py. Gcf.e Cornnlato (i
at n
After 8 December 1941z B7 the Aserciation or
instructions feel,' the ,kpanese authorities.
2. The Association of nva1a,7 Residents in Chtna wan foraied In 1937 al a cultw-al
center of the Yugo1a3 cnity., The Executive 4.:Iszaittee of ths
the folloriihkr:
E. P, Rect.:Joh 65eoic)s chairma
L.I BerLvvich (3erkolei.c),,?vico chairman; addressapartment 1.0 Astor ..lcupe,
Wanapoo flead;, SkvaR;%iai Nwkovit, 80 1.74,!Ininf4 /Proadrlz StanJAP4;
VU, Barkovitch,7 head of the shipping dpa:2'r.Innt of (.7:enl Brothers nia2 Compauy4
22 Nanking 71:Td?
V. Boritek(Dorlo.i, tirA !retary; 2:,7-0/ acute 'Zallc,n
Captain. 7, Raktte iieoond secretary: :Adirnes, Werchol Ro:Id
Fxam,t4ovich (1 'a treasurer; ad4nsue, 221 Tulin Ecne,
D.,: ?match (Vtljio:',, firvit contrellor. 1562/C-2 ;,',,,alus Jofn7'e .to
Mr.t; N, Vculzh, Ro.s Lt4aete, wazagor iF'721 )ffice#1 ,-."k the Calcc,
Chocolate and Can,17 Factory) at 145 Pare Pob,? Sha.ght,1).
I. Zurakp seconq controller4 aderese 394 anle,:iP, ;Zrio.d.
According to E. P, Deohichl, the total neubershAp of the Association ms 130 Ftrson2
inauding those rogietered at tho italianIConsulate General. (After the occupation
of Yugoalavia by the German Arpy and the creation of the Independent Croatian State
Croatians in China were represented br the Italian &mbnsey and Cmseatea).
3. Yugoslav subjects of Croat:lan oricin. totaled thirty-fourpoR whom twenty-th'nen-veT,a
local residents and eleven Taro crew imebers oZ ihhL53, Tatislav? Yu7oola
Niue, had been :osize by autheritf? in 3hanghal- Those thifnu
peraens Tizere rer,5:,isteled qnCer the protection of the Italian l'onsplate CenerRi rhen
the new abate of Croatia 7.9t. :formed. UnzaTaorycA Crcatiang received. financial
assiatance from the Italian?Ccasulste General until .cptember 1943, when the Ttalln
Consulate was closed; after that, the Croatians arproehed the German Consulate
CLASSIFICATION COU
114_;;" 1-4-rNs" LIARNIi--4 ofid: THIS oninatifkiN z
L ;-
DacIlmort EXCISED BEFORE PUBLIC RELEAS1i CP THIS Eccumiiit
:.!
,.,.?
flIt 11 25X1
QAFReleaA
I q?I
GAL
tA,1
tied by Fit
25X1
Approved For Release 2003/08/07 : CIA-RDP82-00457R001400930001-7
LAL
CENTRAL INT142..LIGENCE AGCY
-2-
25X1
General for protection and financial assistance. The German Consulate General
requested them to fora the "Croatian Committee in Shanghai", of which the .
following were the officials:
M. Pavitch (Pevic)? chairman; address, 92 Rue Marcel Tillot, telephone 83033.
J. Franchich (Frencic), vice chairman; address, 1130 Bast Broadway, Shanghai
(? Y. M. Franchich, manager-proprietor-chemist of the Yugo-Slavian Pharmacy,
1130 Bast Broadway, Shanghai).
T. Feldwari (Feldvari) treasurer; address, 167 Broadway.
S. Krile pecretary; Adress, 100/3 Route Paul Henry.
The poor financial condition of Croatians in Shanghai was the nein reason for
their coming under Italian protection. Maw destitute Serbians also applied for
admission to the "Croatian Committee in ShanghaL" but were refused. ,After the
capitulation of Japan, the "Croatian Committee in Shanghainautomaticelly ceased
to function.
4. During World War II the ninety-six Yugoslav citizens in Shanghai who remained
loyal to King Peter and the Yugoslav Government-in-exile in London were in
critical economic condition. Six per cent had sufficient means of support;
fourty-f our per cent were watchmen, minor employees, etc., who received very
lee pay; the remaining fifty per cent needed financial assistance, which
B. P. Bechich attempted to obtain from Yugoslavia after the capitulation of
Japan.
5. On 8 October 1944, Bechich, as chairman of the Association of Yugoslav Residents
In China, sent a petition to the Yugoslav Yinister in Vosoow that Yugoslav
nationals in China be repatriated through the USSR. On 11 June 1945 a telegram
was received by Molchanov, Press Attache of tl'e Shanghai Soviet Consulate, from
the Soviet Embassy in Tokyo. The telegram stated that Yugoslav nationals could
obtain from the Soviet Consulate General in Harbin or Dairen transit visas for
traveling to Yugoslavia via the USSR. In May 1946 eighteen Yugoslav citizens,
most of whom were members of the SS. Tomislav, left Shanghai for Yugoslavia via
the USSR on board the SS. Smolny. Their passage was paid by the Yugoslav
Government. The crew of the Tomislav were recalled because Yugoslavia at that
time was organizing its own mercantile fleet and navy needed
6. In June 1945 a meeting of the Association of Yugoslav Residents in Chile. was held.
During this meeting, a group of members mostly persons of doubtful character -
criticized Bechich and requested that he account for the money which he had re-
ceived for the financial support of destitute members. The other group present
at the meeting supported Bechich. The presence of representatives of the Shanghai
Municipal Police prevented aey disturbances. The opposition group proposed
S. Zvetanovich (Zvetanovic) as the future chairman of the Association but the
meeting was closed before anyone was elected. A fen days later Bechich was
assaulted by a group of Yugoslav residents headed by Varga (full name unknown).
Bechich complained to the police, who questioned the group but took no action
against them.
7. After August 1945 Bechich continued to represent the Yugoslav community because
he had close connections with leading Soviet officials including Shanghai Soviet
Consul General-Khalin; V. N, Rogov? director of the Far Bast Department of TABS,
Shanghai; and Vice Consul P. A. Sergeyev. Bechich assisted in the repatriation of
Yugoslav nationals on the SS. Smolny and issued monetary subsidies to them.
8. In August 1947 an announcement appeared in the local Soviet delay papers signed
by S. Zvetanovich (see paragraph 6) that the re-registration of Yugoslav citizens
would 'take place at his house on Hua Kee Avenue, Bubbling Well Road. Only a part
of the Yugoslav community appeared at this registration.
CONFIDENTIAL -
Approved For ReleasCONELDEGA682-00457R001400930001-7
Approved For -7
25X1
COjg.;-
CENTRAL INTau .;LicE; AGILicy
-3-
9. Between 15 and 20 December 1947 Yugoslav citizens in Shanghai registered under
the auspices of the Soviet Consulate. The form filled out included the following:
full name; date and place of birth; education and profession. date of arrival in
China and from what place arrived; aey property owned in China; family status;
desire for repatriation. if so specify whether at personal expense or by the
Yugoslav Government. Of the thirty-four persons who registered, the majority
were Croatians, supporters of Marshal Tito. These persons have "Special Certificates"
issued by the Soviet Consulate on which is mentioned that the bearer is a
Yugoslav citizen under the protection of the Soviet Consulate. All of these
thirty-four are more or lees pro-Soviet. They have the right to visit the Central
Soviet Club as permanent guests. During World War 11 in Shanghai, most of these
persons were members of the Yugoslav Section of the A11-31av Union. Bechich was
head of this section in Shanghai(until 1945).
20# There are about twelve Serbians in Shanghai who renain loyal to King Peter and the
Yugoslav Government-in-exile. These people,vho are closely connected with the White
Russian community in Shanghalsare anti-Communist and consider Tito a Soviet puppet.
Close relations are maintained with Archbishop John through Maksimovich (UDaiseovic),
member of a noble Russian family which left Serbia over a hundred years ago.
Maksimovich was educated in the Yugoelav Ecclesiastical Academy and speaks Serbian
well. He is very popular among those Serbians in Shanghai who remain loyal to
King Peter. Another loader of this group is LI. A. Avdalovich (Avdalovic), former
captain in the Serbian Artily who took part in the Civil War in Siberia in the ranks
of the White Russian Army. After the Civil War he resided in Harbin and was
connected with White Russian newspapers. Later he arrived in Shanghai and at
present he is a coal broker. Avdalovich is a 'devoted follower of the Orthodox
faith and is closely connected with Archbishop John. Members of this Serbian group
have Chinese Government Residents' Certificates which read "stateless of Yugoslav
origin."
Approved For ReleSSARD/ENULDP82-00457R001400930001-7