SOVIET INTEREST IN AMETHYST INCIDENT AND IN NORTH CHINA TRADE ACTIVITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R002700490005-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 22, 1999
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 29, 1949
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 199 '-RDP82-00457R002700490005-8
25X1pA9a 25X1 A2g
CLASSIFICATION '/CuNTROL - U . S OFT' I CIALS ONLY
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
INFORMATION. REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY China/USSR
SUBJECT Soviet Interest in AN'THYST Incident and
China Trade Activities
25X1A6a
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF IN
25X1X6
DATE DISTR. 6 may 1949
North NO. OF PAGES 2 25X1 A2g
NO. OF ENCLS.
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SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
1. During discussions between Tientsin Consul-General Titov and Second Secretary
Yershov concerning the Chinese Communist shelling of the British gunboat
AMETHYST, Yershov stated that the British and US admirals had decided to
withdraw their gunboats from the Yangtze Diver, Titov said that this was
proof that the United States and Britain are not ready for war with the
USSR, because another incident such as the shelling could easily develop
into conflicts in which the USSR would inevitably be involved.
2. Titov is following closely details of the AMSTHYST incident. On 24 April
1949 Peiping Consul-General Tikhvinsky sent a cable to Titov which quoted
MAO Tze-sung as saying "I am sure the British had no right to interfere
with Chinese domestic affairs. During such critical moments any gunboat
in the Yangtze River shall be shelled by our forces, as the Chinese Com-
munist forces have the right to protect Chinese sovereignty."
3. On 17 April Titov, First Secretary Uss and-Suvorchenkov (head of the Tientsin
Torgpredstvo) arranged a clandestine dinner with Major General Lodionov,
who distinguished himself in World War II in strategy and in plans for
crossing European rivers. Lodionov is now an adviser to Chinese Communist
25X1 X6 General CHU Teh (commander-in-chief of the Chinese Communist Army) and
helped CHU plan the Yangtze crossing:;
4. On 24 April Suvorchenkov received a message from Moscow, informing him that
USSR economic plans for North and Central China should be carefully reconsi-
dered*** because the situation is rapidly changing. Suvorchenkov has
already reported to Moscow results of his investigation of cotton, petroleum,
wool, etc., in Chinese Communist North China provinces.
5. When Suvorchenkov learned that the Tientsin office of Jardine Matheson Co',.,
a British firm, had contracted to arrange a barter agreement with the Chi-
nese Communist Foreign Trade Bureau (concerning the Chinese Communists
exporting wool and bristles and importing necessities totalling US jpl,OOO,OOO),
he cabled the information to the Moscow ;:inistry of Foreign Trade, requesting
that steps be taken to prevent such British economic activities in North
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China. Suvorchenkov was ordered to return to Moscow after two weeks, and a
new USSR trade representative with new plans will take his place.
25X1A2g
25X1A6a Comment. for comment on the questionable
reliability of this source.
25X1A6a Comment. Chinese informants state that the Chinese Communist
crossing was well planned and executed. A Chinese sutdent, a usually
reliable source who recently left Peiping, saw a Soviet general and
Chinese Communist leaders leaving LI Tsung-fen's former home.
25X1A2g Washington Comment.. Lodionov cannot be identified in this office.
Co- ment. Foreigners and Chinese arriving in Shanghai in late
25X1A6a April from Tientsin state that the North China economic situation is
becoming worse because of the complete stoppage by ECA of shipments of
raw materials -- cotton, wool, etc. -- and the practically stagnant
export-import trade formerly heavy in Tientsin, on which the city's
economy is dependent.
CO NTIAI,
JTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R002700490005-8