POLITICAL INFORMATION; DISSENSION IN RUSSIAN EMIGRE COMMUNITY, TSINGTAO

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R001500990006-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 14, 2000
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: June 9, 1948
• Content Type: REPORT

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INFORIVIA
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COUNTRY China
04) DATE DISTR.
SUBJECT Political Information: Dissension in 14111
21turi,r Emigre Community, Tsingtao
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF INFO As stated
25X1 X
ICA 1.ibrary
10'6
9 June 1948
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS. I
MISTED BELOW)
25X1 A
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
1. The Tsingtao Russian Emigres' Association (REA) has been subjected to a change of
policy since the recall of N. N. Merkulov and the election of V. P. Kamkin on 25
January 1948 to replace him as President of the REA Since that
time XaWkin has ruled the REA with an iron hand. 25X1A
2. Kamkints first move as to close the Club for a period of three dare without re-
iserting to the so-called Control Committee, through which all such action should
Nhe taken. During this period he investigated the books of the REA and the Club
and found discrepancies for which Merkulov and other former officers of the REA
?emore responsible.
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r 3. Although Kamkinls manner in handling REA affairs has been dictatorial, the organi-
zation has &own renewed vigor since his election. The REA has for the first tins
lavishly entertained the foreign population and Chinese officials of Tsingtao.
Recently the REA acquired and redecorated the former ABC clubhouse on Nan Hai Road,
thus establishing for themselves a meeting place and a place where foreign friends
may be invited. They have also thrown open the club facilities to all U.S. Naval
officer personnel.
4. Recently the Russian emigres have been criticizing Kamkin for his dictatorial
manner and for certain specific actions which he has taken while under influence
of liquor and/Or other outside forces. The situation has finally some to a head'
over the question of the status of farmer Soviet citizens who are now members of
the REA. On the one side is Kamkin, supported by G. A. Koshut, chairman of the
Emigres' Club; V. V. Takovlev, secretary of both the REA and the Club, and Club
manager; I. S. Narkelov, treasurer of the REA; and N. I. Efimov, ember of the
. Board of Directors of the Club. The opposing faction includes: Teaesheve J.
ShishUxe V. N. Tvanev, W. E. Merkulov and S. P. Belem.
5. During the period since World War II, a large number of Tsingtao Russian emigres
yho had accepted Soviet citizenship returned their Soviet *passports" and again
aesumed emigre status. The chief reason most of them gave for this action was
that, whereas they had given in to lavish Soviet propaganda in whiah the Soviet
authorities had asserted that all rights in law and society were to be returned
to the emigres, they had since found that this vex not so. As a result, approxie
mately twenty-five per cent of the menbers of the Tsingtao REA are former Soviet
citizenship-applicants. Two former Soviet citizenehipeapplicants, N. P. Ribalko
and Dr. Chodeachldin are ambers of the present Executive Committee of the REA.
WAIINING NOTICE: THIS DISTRIBUTION USTINO MUSt Sr
CLASSIFICATION CONFID TIAL
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This document Is hereby regraded to
CONFIDENTIAL In acz..o!dince with the
letter of 16 Octo:or 173 from the
Director of Central 1:-Ic'l:33nce to the
Archivist of thn
Apprcbmed Forltele
Approved For Release 2000 (0 ; kii .P82-0045751,5449
CENT* t 0 I ,111 tCY wa
25X1A
Of nine members of the Board of Directors of the Emigres' Club, four are miner
Soviet citizenship-applicants.
6. This situation has raised the point then of whether or not these former Soviet
citizenship-applicants should be given full rights and privileges, as if they
had never agreed to the terns of ',Sovietism". The opposing faction argues that
at the time the REA was formed, no clause was included in the REA Constitution
regarding the status of former Soviet citizenship-applicants within the emigre
ranks because there was then no such category. However, since the creation of
such a group, S. P. Belove Teneshev and N. Konov, all former Club officers,
feel that sone action should be taken. They maintain that when an emigre, who
is an adult and properly educated, voluntarily accepts Soviet citizenship, he
accepts all Communist and Soviet philosophies and ideologies, and thereby
abrogates all for which the Russian emigres have sacrificed twenty-five years
of their lives. For this there is no excuse because the large portion of these
people are not young, impulsive or unreasonable, but mature and capable of
acting on basic principles. Now that they have returned to the emigre ranks,
should they be considered sincere in their desire to regain emigre status or
were they more sincere two years ago when they became Soviet citieenship-
applicants? Those who have remained Russian emigres view this action with
suspicion and they requested by petition the convocation of the General Assem-
bly of the Tsingtao REA for the purpose of forming a specific clause regarding
former Soviet citizenship-applicants.
7. This petition was presented to Nr. Kmdkin, but as of 10 April 1948 no action
had been taken. KaMkin has stated that local police officials feel that this
is strictly a political issue and as they have banned meetings for political
purposes, the President of the REA is unable to convoke a General Assembly for
this purpose. Whether or not the leftist group within the REA will accept this
or will take more positive action remains to be seen. If their purpose is to
create conflict within the Emigres' Cltb, and it does appear to be that, they
are succeeding.
CONM'IAL,
Approved For Release 2000/ : lik-rcuP82-00457R001500990006-5