COMMENT ON PEIPING'S ADMISSION OF SERIOUS FLOOD DAMAGE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91T01172R000300020006-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 5, 2012
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: August 9, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/05: CIA-RDP91T01172R000300020006-2
OPY NO
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
9 August 1954
COMMENT ON PEIPING'S ADMISSION OF SERIOUS FLOOD DAMAGE
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In a reversal of its previous announcements, Peiping on 8
August admitted that flood damage this summer has amounted to a
major disaster. Six percent of China's cultivated land--about
15,000,000 acres--is now said to have been inundated. This
land, mostly in the rich rice area of Central China, hardest
hit by the floods, would normally grow over ten percent of
China's annual food crops.
The Chinese Communists appear to have been genuinely sur-
prised by the worsening situation. They may have been lulled
in late July by a temporary drop in the Yangtze water level at
Hankow. The river started rising again, however, in early
August while rainfall continued heavy. By 9 August the water
level at Hankow had risen to a level 40 inches above the 25X1
previous high mark reached in 1931.
The Chinese Communist leadership would naturally prefer
that any such aid come from the Orbit--which is not known to
have offered any aid--or from Asian "neutrals" which recognize
Peiping. As Peiping bases its internal program more heavily
on anti-American propaganda than does any other Communist
state, it is doubtful that an American offer of relief would
be accepted. If compelled in desperation to accept an American
offer, Peiping would certainly insist on complete control of
distribution, in order to minimize identification of the donor.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/05: CIA-RDP91T01172R000300020006-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/05: CIA-RDP91TO1172R000300020006-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/05: CIA-RDP91TO1172R000300020006-2