TEACHER'S EXPERIENCE LEAVING RED CHINA/INTERROGATIONS AND PROCEDURES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R001700780001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 28, 1999
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 18, 1955
• Content Type: FORM

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Approved For Release4P99
R001 7OO7HO,..,
I
This material contains information affecting the
National Defense of the United States within the
meaning of the Espionage Laws. Title 18, U. S. C.
PREPARED AND DISSEMINATED BY
Secs. 739 and 794, the transmission or revelation
of which in any manner to an unauthorized per-
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
son is prohibited by law.
COUNTRY
REPORT NO.
China
SUBJECT
DATE DISTRI
1 a-
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Teacher
s Experience Leaving Red China/
NO
OF PAGES NO
OF ENCLS
Interrogations and Procedures
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3
SUPPLEMENT TO REPORT
PLACE E4 44 u
RESPONSIVE TO
00/C-
DATE ACQUIRE DATE OF INFORMATION (Date or dates, on or between which,
events or conditions described in report existed)
Late 195 Believed late 1954
SOURCE
CPYRGHT
'Departure rrom a ne, is a difficult process. First, a visa t
a foreign country must be obtained. The next step is to apply fo
an exit permit, and it is here that real trouble begins. The appli-
cation form contains hundreds of items, some of them of a purely
personal character. For instance, one has to state the class-
origin and occupation of the applicant's grandparents, parents an
relatives, residing in China as well as abroad. One is subjected
to interrogation by a high-class specialist whose methods are sim-
ilar to those used by his USSR instructors. After 'sounding one
out' for a couple of hours, during which period questions from all,
departments of life must be answered, one leaves the General Police
Department in a hopeful state, expecting that everything is cleare
up to the satisfaction of all concerned. What a childish notion!
One has hardly reached one's home when a police agent calls. He
wants to know your real reason for leaving and wonders whether you
are dissatisfied with somebody's treatment and have some complaint
to make. Having assured him that you have no complaint whatsoever,
you expect the interview to end. But suddenly he confronts you wi ..
the direct question of whether you are leaving because of your dis
approval of the Red regime. Watching your face intently he demand;
a plain answer.... Inexplicably, a sense of some unknown guilt as-
sails one, and one begins to dread the constantly recurring Inquests.
2 "After a couple of weeks of prolonged questioning by the different
agents of the Security Service and Economic Police, who appear at
any hour of the day and stay for any period of time, one becomes
worried as to the issuing of the Exit Permit.
3 "The fixed limit of funds that one can take out of China is GD 30.
Since the writer and her husband had resided in China for several
decades and had some savings, they applied for a permit to wthdra
this money, explaining that it was earned by teaching in local
schools and not by commercial transactions, which are nowadays con
aidered harmful. No amount of explanation was of any avail, and
tpr many fruitless efforts, they had to leave their savings behind.
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1955
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CPYRGHT
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At this stage they had much trouble in giving definite proof as to
where and in whose keeping the money had been left. Only after
proving this fact conclusively and incontrovertibly could they hope
to be granted Exit Permits. A small but artistically carved collec-
tion of Chinese ivory had to be sold urgently at a trifling price.,
as new regulations were promulgated, prohibiting export of ivory
from the country. Explanation was given that this collection had
been in the family for years and was not bought for export, but this
proved of no help.
"Having surmounted these obstacles, one starts packing,, but here a new
problem arises: As the would-be travelers are prohibited from being
present at the examination of their heavy luggage, one has to engage
a special agent, whose duty it is to re-pack all the belongings after
the Custom's search. This agent informs one of the 'export quota'
for diamonds, gold, silver, carpets and furs. This quota is changed
almost every month.
5. "The writer happened to have a beautifully wrought Chinese gold brace-
let, the weight of which exceeded the small export quota. She was
summoned to the Economic Police Department, where a meeting took
place of the chief with the Communist-activists. As a result it was
declared that the bracelet was 'overweight' and, therefore, could not
be taken out of China. Instead, a compensation was proposed at the
official rate for gold. As the writer admired this work, of art, she
suggested that apart of the bracelet weighing exactly as much as
the existing quota permitted should be cut off. But she was reminded
that she and her husband would desire to take with them their watches
and wedding rings. This being the case the quota would be filled up
already, and consequently there would remain no extra weight for the
unlucky bracelet. Thus,.a cherished work of art was left behind.
Payment was effected according to the official rate. The writer's
engagement ring followed'in the bracelet's wake, for the reason of
its exceeding the quota. Next came a new surprise! It was made
known that all documents, letters, photos, etc., had to be submitted
to the Security Service several days prior, to departure. The writer
had a couple of old-fashioned family albums containing photos of her
large family left in Russia, also her parents' photos. After a meet-
ing with the young activists, the Senior Agent of the Department
declared to the writer that only loose, unattached photos could be
taken. The explanation was that the hard cardboard sheets could be
split and secret information slipped in between.
"Some of the belongings were acked in a beautifully carved Chinese
trunk made of camphor wood. e trunk was broken to pieces by the
Customs in their attempt to find hidden secrets in the thick lid and
bottom.
"Finally, after one has been deprived of a vast number of treasured
possessions and is depressed by the endless interrogations of Agents
of the General Police, Economic Police, Customs Authorities and Secur-
ity Service, one is summoned to the Passport Section, and after an
additional lengthy inquest, the longed-for Exit Permit is granted.
Surely now all the difficulties are over. But not Further disappoint-
ments are waiting. All light luggage as well as the travelers them-
selves have to be examined, prior to embarkation. In port you take
quick leave of the few Chinese friends who 'dared' to see you off--
their contact with 'undesirables' entails grave risk for them. Pas-
sengers are taken to a huge go-down, where they are placed in two long
queues. Women are ordered to take off coats and blouses in the presence
of all the company. Communist young activists perform a personal search.
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CPYRGHT
8.
The writer's long hair caused her mach trouble--it was twisted into
a thick roll at the nape of her neck. This aroused suspicion on the
part of the activists, who commanded her to unloose her hair. Men
were simultaneously searched in the same manner. Objections only ag-
gravate the situation. This was proved beyond doubt when several who
had protested against a bodily search were taken to separate cubicles,
where they were subjected to a much more rigorous bodily examination.
Ones suitcases and bags were emptied onto the floor of the go-down and
they were 'sounded' with the aid of some special,`previously non-
existent gadget.
"When after all this the travelers are led along a narrow passage to
the boat that is to take them out of Red China, there is a tremendous
feeling of relief, despite the sadness of leaving devoted friends be-
hind. One leaves the country with a feeling of deep sympathy and grave
concern for these kindly, industrious, and friendly people, who are
passing through terrifying tribulations. May God help them!"
TYPE ACT-DATE IN LI-TER-LATE AREA
1 Fes 1965
Approved For Release &SIM423 R001700780001-7