FOREIGN EXCHANGE, GOLD AND DIAMOND TRANSACTIONS, TIENTSIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R011100240011-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 16, 2002
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: March 21, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2002/08/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R01'110024001 1-4
CLASSIFICATION Siiefffl
SECURITY INFORMATION
INFORMATION REPORT REPORT NO.
CD NO.
COUNTRY China
SUBJECT Foreign. Exchange, Gold and Diamond Transactions, NO. OF PAGES 1
Tientsin.
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE
ACQUIRED
Gold bullion trading is also prominent but only among reliable contacts.
1. The black market still functions in Communist China but all transactions are
done with utmost caution and only among reliable contacts.
2. For check or letter payments in the United States,a premium of 50 percent over
the official rate of exchange is demanded. This is for ordinary transactions
where there is a certain element of gamble.
3.
Diamond trading is brisk. Wealthy Chinese families are selling jewels secretly
in order to live. A one carat diamond pure white stone costs US $600.00 or
the equivalent at the official rate in JMP.
The government is known to be in dire need of foreign exchange with which to
purchase war materials. The Soviet Union, although pouring supplies into China,
apparently cannot supply all the needs of China.
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CLASSIFICATION
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FE8 1952 di- 11 ,xkxo. ~
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
DO NOT CIRCULATE
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY China
SUBJECT
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE
ACQUIRED
1. All China wool supplies are controlled by the Mao Yi Kung Ssul which is the
Government trade bureau. Wool is being bartered with Czechoslovakia and China
seems to come out on the short end of this trade. The wool is processed in
Europe and converted into materials which in turn are exported to the United
States.
2. Bristles are also handled by the Mao Yi Kung Ssu and exported to the USSR.
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STATE
ARMY
North China Wool and Bristle Trade
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3. Limited supplies of bristles are being permitted for export to Hong Kong. Trade
in bristles between Hong Kong and Canada is now in process of development. Some
of these bristles will go to the United States.
Comment. The name of this organization is as supplied by source.
e characters are Government Trade Company.
CONFIDENTIAL
SECURITY INFORMATION
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Aut#.: MR 73.2
31a'!; _1-3 SAP 1_9_78
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NO. OF ENCLS.
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SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
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SECURITY INFORMATION
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY China
SUBJECT 1. Salaries of Chinese Judges. Tientsin
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE
ACQUIRED
2. Prison Condition: Tientsin
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REPORT NO.
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1. The salaries of judges in Tientsin is 160 cattier of millet per month, worth
at the official rate J":' 19200 per catty or about US $0.20.
2. The Hsi Tao Jail is the large prison in the West City, Tientsin. There are
cells for solitary con"inement up to some holding more than one hundred; a
cell for 7 to 10 prisoners was 10 feet by 11 feet. The prison area contains
buildings for men and women which are divided into sections for criminals,
political prisoners,, and those awaiting execution. Conditions are filthy and
verminous; sanitary provisions are almost; non-existent. Bathing is permitted.
once a month in a trough seven feet square., prisoners bathing after officials
have used the same water; toilet facilities consist of a stone crock in the
cell. The entire jail is damp and overrun with rats
3. Some. prisoners are permitted food baskets once a week in limited Quantity; on
delivery certain foods are confiscated. Prison food is a diet of starvation.
At the Hsi Tao Jail about 50 prisoners died each week, but the population
remained the same. Buildings were in bad repair with only paper on the barred
windows and in most cells no heating in the winter. Fuel for stoves provided
prisoners were regarded more seriously than criminals and are confined alone.
Most are execuied., but in some cases where the police think they can get
information to incriminate others they subject political prisoners to mental
torture. All Chinese prisoners are treated severely and put through an
indoctrination and brain washing". The general pattern is to mould them into
informers. Foreign prisoners were subjen . to a subtle form of indoctrination;
the evils of imperialism and the virtues of Communism were constantly emphasized.
by friends of prisoners was also subject to-confiscation.
All prisoners are obliged to work, foreign as well as Chinese. Criminals do
hard labor; political and foreign prisoners do translation work. Political
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CONNTIAL
in October 1951 in Hsi Tao Jail were large groups of Chinese Buddhist monks
charged with opposing Communism in Chinas many were executed because of
their adamant attitude and refusal to accept indoctrination and 1tbrain washing".
Chinese Christian priests who refused to repent were executed. A number of
foreign priests were cornfineda largely French, and in the minority Dutch,
Italian and Spanish.
CU ` HLJEIV I IA' L
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