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Approved For ReleasPRISNAT: -$11, is2r571q00160011GRCT NO.
INFORMATI t. PORT 25X1A
DENTIA
COUNTRY in CONFI DATE DISTR. 16 T. June 1948
SUBJECT Political Informations The Estonian Community, NO. OF PAGES 10
Shanghai (T
2EK1ik
C NO. OF ENCLS.
s4 Libterp.
SUPPLEMENT TO
MISTED BELOW)
REPORT NO. 25X1X
fr7
25X1A
GENERAL SITUATION
1. From 1931 to 1946 the number of members of the Shanghai Estonian ear/amity
varied from 120 to 150, Of those members, about 30% were burn en 12,stenea an6
spoke the language fluently; 60% were naturalized Estonian citizens trough
marriage or other means (see below); the remaining 10% were persons Olaf.ming
Estonian citizenship or holding questionable passports.
Now (April 1948) the Shanghai Estonian community consists of IlD persons; fewer
than 70 of these are of Estonian origin, 32 of these 70 being burn in Estonize.
(See paragraph 16). The remainder of the present Estonian commenity became
Estonian citizens through marriage, passport purchases, etc.
2, There is little political organization or activity on tho part of tile Shanehci
Estonian community. The only meetiugs of a political nature which as held
with any regularity-are yearly celebrations such as Estonian Indepenieece Dae,
The majority of the local Estonian oomeunity are poor workers, employed elost:e
with foreign firms, There have been several attempts on the part of the locel
Estonian community-to organize a social group, but for various pela reesce.s
and the lack of necessary funds, this :lee not been accomplished, At present,
the local community is organized under the Estonjan Society (Ccementeee)
Selte, those Executive Committee is as follows:
President: A. Lohmus Member: P. Jakabaun
Secretary: V, Miller Uember and Advisors A. Paraprinte
Treasurer: A. Shillert
3p A. Lohmus is the unofficial Estonian Consul General in Shanghai and the Eetoeien
Consulate is in his residence at 125/102 Avenue Rol Albert (So. h Shensi Road.),
Other meMbers of the Consulate staff are the following Secreteriee:
Lohmus (wife of A. Lohmus)? L. Premmik and V, Miller. The functions pf the
Estonian Consulate are negligible; members of the Estonian commueity visit
the Consulate once a year to have their visas extendedeethis coots us7,47 Per
passport per rear, CONFIDENTIAL
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4, Prior to the outbreak of World War II, the majority of the members of the ehangnai
Estonian community were planning to return to Estonia. However, this was not possible
because of the Japanese invasion of China. In 19390 an organization called Eesti aelteu
was formed with its office on the premises of "Domino'. =Avenue Roi Albert. The
organisation had the use of one rpaa on the third floor of this building; the room vas
furnished through P. Jakobson, =Estonian who gave the members of the organization
permission to use the ream once a week. The main purposes of 'Testi Seltsu were to es-
tablish better contact with Estonia, to obtain Estonian literature for the use of
members of the local caenuntty and to aid local Estonians who were in need, In 1n39?
the members of the Executive Committee of 'Testi Salts? were:
Jannes (? Ge Janus), President A. Shillert? Treasurer
E. Kook, Vice President P. Jakobson, Member
V. Miler, Secretary. HO Dergman, Member
Sesti Salton eas forced to close in 1940 because of action by Soviet officials in
Shanghai (See paragraphs 5-6).
5. In the early fan of 1940 there were various indications that the Shanghai 3stonian
Consulate mad be closed by the Soviet authorities. However, Paul Rurberg, then
Estonian Consul in Shanghai, dismissed these rumors as unfounded. At that time the
Estonian Consulete was at 232 Yu Yuen Road, the private residence of Runberg, About
September 1940, pert of the documents of the Estonian Consulate were removed to the
home of A. Shillert. At that time it was announced that the Estonian Consulate was MOIrf.,
to 203 Seymour Road, Apartment 2. This move was apparently accaeplished because of ir.
creasing indications that the Soviet authorities would take control of the Estonian Con,
sulate and its official records, In October 1940 it was announced that the Estonian
Consulate wau. ue4er the control of the local Soviet authorities and that Estonia vac
part of the USSR. At the time of this announcement, Rumberg became seriously ill
and died a short time later.
5. In September 1.940 the Soviet authorities issued the first demand regarding the turneng
over of the Estonian files. This demand was forwarded from the Soviet Embassy in
Tokyo and was made by S. Budkevich? vho came to Shanghai from Tokyo to take possessnon
of the Estonian records for the USSR, This request of the Soviet authorities was mede
through V. Miller who acted on behalf of Rumberg. Miller, at that time Secretary or
the Estonian Coesu1ate0 informed Putkevich that the files would not be turned over e)
the Soviet? authorities and that the files would remain in the possession of the Estenion
Consulate, Miller had no authority to act for the Estonian Consul General after nun--
bores death and A. lehmus? Estonian Consul in Harbin, was notified to came to Shang.,
hai to take charge of Estonian affairs in the area. On 19 October the Soviet authorities
raided the Estonian Consulate and confiscated al/ the official papers on the prernisos.
25X1A
Comment: The following article appeared in the 19 October 1940 issue of thc
North China Dail; Neve: "Soviet? Pollee and Court Officiele Enter Premises.. Consul
beeretary Reports-4n incident of international importance occurred in Shanghai
an the morning. of 18 October 1940 when representatives of the Soviet Embasey and the
Soviet Consulate in Japan, Shanghai Settlement Police and First Special District Court
officials proceeded to the Estonian Consulate at 203 Seymoer Road and asked Estonian
officials there to surrender their documents and archives, which they did. One cab.
net containing documents was given to F. S. Bader of the West Hongkew Police who wrote -
a receipt for it, but the key for opening the cabinet was left in the hands of
Honorary Secretary of the Estonian Consulate. Miller declared last night that althsugn
the Estonian Consular Archives had been taken away, it would help the Soviet autherltie
only a little 'as the Estonian Consulates and Legations are all oven the world and
automatieallyve are represented by the nearest Estonian Consulate,' He also mentienen
that there are about 140 Estonians in Shanghai and that of this number only 2% have so
far applied for Soviet passports. He asserted that the rest of the local Eatonians
did not wish to have anything to do with the Soviets, Miller alleeed that at 1105
a. m, representatives from the First Special District Court, including one Special
r7if.1 177,41 RASI,
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Court armed guard, West Hongkeer Police?in the persons of F, S? Bader and some
Chinese Constables-...ad Soviet Embasey officials from Japan entered his office.
He farther alleged that M. Sharikov represented the Soviet Consulate in Tokyo and M.
Eergei Budkevich (SPutkevich), Chief of the Consular Section of the USSR Embassy in
Tokyo as also in the raiding party, There were five Estonian officia:ts present at
the time, including Miller himself. He alleged that the Settlement Police insisted
that the Estonian officials surrender their keys) threatening to use force. A
court order issued by Judge USIA? was produced by the party. The Estonian officials
asked for help. Mr. Long, Secretary of the Norwegian Consular Body, and Norwegian
Senior Consul Mr. Scheel were said by Miller to have communicated with the Bubbling
Well Police, but no help came, Miller and his colleagues were forced to surrender the
documents, The cabinet containing Consular documents was kept by F. 3. Bader uneil
further notice, Miller said."),
7. After the above raid took place, A. lohmus arrived in Shanghai (late October 1940),
He convened a meeting of local Estonians and we:esti &ate was reorganized and a new
organization, still under the name nEosti Soltsn? was formed at 203 Seymour Road,
The EXecutive Committee of the new sEesti Selts9 included:
A. Lohmuse President H. Bergman.. Umber
V. Miller, Secretary. P. Jakobson? Member
A. Shillerte Treasurer A. Paraprints?Meeber
When Lohmus was elected President, he promised to oppose the Soviet authorities.
Since this meeting and election, tohmus has refused to call another general meeting
although the rules of the Society state that a meeting is to be called once each
year. He gives no explanation for this except to state that no meetings are
necessary; however, he knows that if a general meeting were callede he would proba'Ay
lose his position,
After the raiding of the Estonian Consulate (see paragraph 6)0,Iohmus was given five
eases of various Consulate records and files to keep (those which had been moved te
the home of Shillert). To date, these files, containing *portant papers relating
to the Estoniarecommuoitye arc being kept by tohmus, Although he is acting as tee
representative of the Estonian community, it has been impossible for Estorian citie
sans concerned to get their political records and files?copies of passports, mili-
tary records, etc,
8. During World War I/ when the Germans occupied Estonia in 1941, the Estonian Consulate
in Shanghai arranged with the local German authorities for all Estonians inChina
to come under German protection. Lohmusvs collaboration was accepted by the Gernen
officials and he even managed to get financial and medical aid from the Gen Consulate
and to have the passports of Estonian citizens extended, During -orld ar II in Shang-
hai,if any Etonian citizen wished to travel from one city to another, hie passport
had to be in order-eel, e.? the seal of the German authorities had to be affixed lee
cause the Japanese authorities did not recognize the Estonian passports not bearirg the
stamp of the German authorities, Iohmus supplied the German Consulate vieh a compeete
list of Estonians in Shanghai. The German authorities would extend the passport ce7 an
Estonian citizen in Shanghai if the citizen produced a membership card from the Etton-
tan Society "Eesti SeIts,N These membership cards were issued only belohmus. Derine
World nar II in Shanghai, lohmus was recognized by the German authorities as the head
of the Estonian community, At the end of World War /I in 1945, some local Estorien
citizens were concerned because their passports had official German stamps on them
and asked Iehmus about this matter, Instead of calming their worries, he actually in-
creased their anxiety, However, for a certain amount of money tohmus was willing to
issue new passports ,to them. When tohmus took over the Estonian Consulate. in Shanghai
and the remaining documents which were left after the Soviet authorities aad finithed,
there were 128 blank Estonian passports, It is believed that some Germane in Shanehae
escaped repatriation by obtaining one of these Estonian passports. There were two
German women from the German Consulate in Shanghai who obtained Estonian citizenship
by marrying Estonian sailors in 1945. One of these women was Baroness Knabe, a German
Consulate Staff Secretary; she paid US0300 to ilre. Aunapuu for the marriaee, She eas
not interned nor repatriated, but left Shanghai alone for Switzerland in 1946 as cle
Estonian citizen. This entire affair with Knabe was arranged through the Shanghai
Estonian Consulate.
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After 1941 in Shanghai, it was necessary for ail isiggt
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25X1A
leave
Shanghai or desiring aid from the German Consulate (whieh took charge of Estonian
affairs during the occupation of Shanehai) to be numbers of "Eesti Salts," A
membership card "as issued by A. Lohmus and signed by V. Miller. This card had
to be presented to the German Consulate wherethe applicant was given a five page
form to complete, The form consisted mainly of information regarding the life
history of the individual desiring aid and was chopped by the Representative of the
German Government in Shanghai only after being checked and approved. In sem cases
it was necessary to got a doctor's certificate stating that the individual was ill
and had to travel for reasons of health, The passport, which bore the oeal of the
German Consulate when approved, cost six German marks and was good for 4 period of .
six months. The only individuals who were required to pay were those who did not get
aid of some sort from the German Consulate, Funds used by the Estonian Coneulate
in Shanghai were given by the German Consulate and in turn assessed against the
Ettonian Government. During the early days of World War II,8054 of the Estonian
Community received aid from the German Consulate, the decision being left with Loheue
as to who actually needed aid, The majority of the Estonian community receiving
assistance were poor people, nestle- seamen, AlLarrangemants for aid? etc, were
handled through Iohmus of the Estonian Consulate and Bruweler of the German Consulate
(See paragraph 17 for a list of Estonians who received aid)e
9. In 1943 there were indications that Lohmus had not boon representing the Estonian
oommuniey property and a petition was started be, Miller to. have /ohmus replaced as tte
representative of the community, Lohmus was notified of this action and Miller was
subsequently instructed by the Japanese authorities that it was forbidden to call
any meetings without the proper authority,. Permission to do this was not granted,
and, to date lehmus remains the unofficial representative of the Estonian conounity
In Shanghai.
10. With the end of World ear II, the Shanghai Estonian community received aid through
UNRRA, the Estonians coming under the category of displaced persons. These matters
were handled through Lohmus and all relief given was cleared through him first,
There were indications that Lohmus received clothing for members of the Estonian
ccremunety and sold it on the black market. With the proceeds from this salel, Loh?
ma bought clothing of an inferior quality to that originally issued, and distributed
it to those Estonians who were in need. In thie may, the demanda of melee were satis--
fied and at the same time Lohmus was able to make a profit for himself. Lembers of
the local Estonian community-did not oppose Lohmus because they were mostly poor people
who feared the loss of the UNRRA aid in any form and because most of theu felt that
they would be repatriated to Estonia through the good offices of UNRRA. Some local
Estonians tried to call a meeting to. ask Lohmus about his activities with UNRRA and
the trip of his wife and his wife's sister to the United States (see paragraph 11);
however, this meeting failed,
U. In September 1946 Nrs., Nini Lohmus? wife of A. Iohmus and Miss Val Didenkoo sister
of Mrs. Lehmus? left Shanghai.fOr the United States, 'The principal reasons for
their trip Were to present the case of the Estonian community in Shanghai to
Estonians in the United States and to request help for the Shanghai Estonian
community, In press articles in Shanghai regarding their departure for the United -
States, both women were listed as Estonian citizens; Mrs. Lohmus went as a diplomatic
representative and Miss Didenko went as -a correspondent of the Estonian paper Melo
Tee which is published in the United States? Both of these weman are of pure Maan
Zagin and neither of them speaks the Estonian language, ass Didenko has no claim
to Estonian nationality whatsoever and the local Estonian community was disturbed
that she suddenly acquired Estonian citizenship and went to the United States as a
representatiee of the local Estonian community, The expenses of the trip for the teo
women was paid by the Estonian gold reserve in Washington and dissatisfection.was
expressed by the local Estonian community over the fact that the individuals chosen
were not selected by the Eetonian community itself and that neither of these womee
had previously expressed any interest in Estonian politics, None of the local
Estonians lee= the outcome of the two ladies' trip and Lahmus refuses to divulge any
details.
12. Members of the local. Estonian community have approached Lohmue regarding entry into
the United States. He has answered all inquiries with the statement that there is
no quota for Estonian subjects (this is not true) and that Estonian subjects in
Shanghai cannot apply for American immigration visas. It is known that at least
trio individuals have, been able to purchase Estonian-citizenshep with the complete
knowledge and approval of lohmus (See paragraph 13).
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13. The following are persons in Shanghai who are not of Estonian origin but who
hold Estonian passports:
(1). O. Front, alias Oscar A. Tunner. He came to Shanghai in 1945 fromManchuria
where he worked for the Japanese. From the Shanghai Estonian Consulate he obtained
a temporary certificate which stated that he was born in Estonia. He also obtained
Russian Emigre papers. However, Tunner is not Estonian, Finnish or Russian.
nar Russian (?emigre?Soviet) wife has admitted that her husband uses two names.
(2) P. Gordikov (Goi4ikoff) and K. Gordikov, brothers, and Iles. M. Gordikov. The
Gordikov brothers are of pure Russian origin; however, they Obtained Estonian pass-
ports from Lohmuse Lohmus attenpts to justify his action by stating that in 1940
when part of the Estonian Consulate documents were moved to the premises of Shillert
(se; paragraph 5), a relative of the Gordikoves, the brothers helped Lohmue protect
the official documents from the Soviet'autheritiee; however, the brothers had nothing
to do with any such actioh.
(3). E. Puhl, an Estonian, had to pay the Estonian Consulate US$125 for_his
wife4s passport, K. Teinmeld had to pay the Estonian Consulate U5$225 for his wifele
passport, The exact number of passports issued by Lohmus upon payment of such fees
is unknown.
A, WHEW
14. A. Lohmus was the Honorary Estonian Consul in Harbin from 1932-1940, adle in
Harbin, he ran an electrical business, one of the main sources of supply for the
Chinese Eastern Railway which then belonged to the Soviet Government, Lohmusis
'business was fairly successful and he became a wealthy man, After 14 July 1940
ehen the USSR annexed Estonia, Inhmus left Harbin for Dairen, fearing Soviet
action against him. In Dairen he helped hr. Rutile, Honorary Estonian Consul in
Dairen, to hand over the Dairen Estonian Consulate documents to the Soviet autholities.
With the death of P. Rumberg, Estonian Consul in Shanghai, V, Miller cabled Lohmus
in Dairen asking Lohmus to come to Shanghai and help with Estonian affairs. Lohmus
came to Shanghai from Dairen in October 1940 after the Soviet authorities had radei
the *Estonian Consulate in Shanghai (paragraphs 5.6) and simply took charge of the
Estonian community. V. Miller, as Secretary of the Shanghai Estonian Consulate,
asked Lohmus to aesist him in resisting the pressure being applied by the Soviet
authorities and Lohms premised to he1s4 however, tohmus quieted the whole affair
and cooperated with Vice Consul Sergeyev of the Shanghai Soviet Consulate, Some
local Estonians believe that Lohmus does not wish to oppose the Soviet authorities
because he fears he will lose his properties in Harbin. Not very long after his
arrival in Shanghai, Lohmus opened a butter and cheese business 'which has provided
him with a substantial income, At that particular period, it ens extremely diffi-
cult to get dairy products and through his connections tams managed to build up
a successful business which he is still running, Except for Lohmus? no members
of the local Eetonian community take an active part in any official or political
affairs. Lohmus? however, is an opportunist?he always cooperates with the people
and Government in power and tries to present himself to the Estonian community as
an Estonian patriot.
V. MILIER
15. V. Miller has been approached by a local Soviet citizen with the
fel-toeing proposition: Miller should take out a Soviet passport and adtertise in
the local papers that as an exeSecretary of the Estonian Consulate and the trEesti
Setts', Miller has left the Estonian community and no longer takes any active part
in "Eesti Setts" and/or the Estonian Consulate and that all medbers of the Sesti
Salts" who are willing to change their passports should apply to V. Miller, If he1
Loe
this, Miller was promised an important position in the Soviet Consul=
Service. His Soviet "friend" has warned taller that he will be a fool if he does
not accept this offer, Miner is very much afraid that probably the Soviet author:I,-
ties have found out about the official order which Miller has destroyed. In 1940,
uhen the USSR annexed Estonia, a registered letter came to Shanghai from the Soviet
authorities in Estonia. Miller received the letter from the post office stating
that all the Estonian Consular papers and documents were tote handed over to the
CONFIDENTIAL
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Norwegian Consulate in Shanghai. Miller, who signed for this register34
letter in the post office, destroyed the letter and did not even show it
to the Consul General, Who at that time was P. Rumberg, and refused to grant
the order of to rave up the Estonian documents, berating the Soviet authorities
in the local newspapers /hen the documents were removed by force, MiLTLer
ants to go to the United States; he has two daughters who are married and living
there now. At present he is an accountant for presler, import-export firma
16. The following is a list of members of the Estonian community who are registered
with the Estonian Consulate (the names of two persons are unknown; there are
possibly ten to 15 more persons in Shanghai who hold Estonian passports but who
are not really Estonians and are not properly registered with the Estenlan Consu-
late. Names starred are those Estonian born in Estonia):
Mist on following page)
4
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(F) BACHMANN. G
(F) BAUVANN. A
01 BAUMAN. (son)
(F) BEMEVSKY.
(F) BENIEVSKY. Li
(F) BOCKLT.. N
01) BOCKLER. (son)
(F) BAJENOFF. J
(F) DIVENKO, Li
(F) DIDEUKO. V. (sister of Mrs. Lohrins)
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(F) JOHANSON, S
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