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POLITICAL INFORMATION: THE ESTONIAN COMMUNITY, SHANGHAI

Document Type: 
CREST [1]
Collection: 
General CIA Records [2]
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP82-00457R001600110010-5
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
8
Document Creation Date: 
December 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
March 16, 2001
Sequence Number: 
10
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
June 16, 1948
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP82-00457R001600110010-5.pdf [3]897.79 KB
Body: 
4,01-Ab IV.,t;i1v,j;iMkkaziert-f A Fele", 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 CIASSIFICATION ? ? " ?. ? ? ? .1.0 ' STATE IMAVy aNSRe xr I DISTR ? . LV :with thef ARMY # I AIR :I i (Jul r-Mr.: . ..? rIiru-------------"...'? om the Document NO CHA e_prEci, Class. C. DD Auth: DDA Date: -) a p Welease 2001/04/18 : C?C08?61)457R001600110010-5 Dec Aroho.., Next r.c; - Extracted by IR. Approved For Release 2001/ HISTORY Ri 01600110010-5 CZMIFII"NEIrtriAlk, 25X1A 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, COMA' Cern innn ne-SneaPPEelitta-efili? Approved For Release 2001/04/18 : CI - D - 0457R001600110010-5 Approved For Release 2001/04/1 '41.7R001600110010-5 waa.44CY 25X1A '441FIDENTiAL 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. ')NIFIDENTML feeeRrea-SiniaTeleb Approved For Release 2001/04/18 : CiW0457R001600110010-5 Approved For Release 2001/ zrerefifif?twaiReir? - After 1941 in Shanghai, it was necessary for ail isiggt 0110010-5 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). WANT OC. ZO* Approved For Release 2001/04/18 :Ct -RDP82-00457R061600:14Cgri0:-5? Approved For Release 2001/04/18 : CIA-RDP82-00457 CRerieete-SiegeSiterleS8112SerOateelf ? -5- 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 .9iSteff?deStflte Approved For Release 2001/04/18 : CIA-ea -I 1457R001600110010-5 Approved For Release 2001/04/18 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 --stcnr-cONTITIV" Irrertolitaitekte-eiviii6 -s, --rfkrSaFfIr Approved For Release 2001/04/18 : CI - D - 0457R001600110010-5 Approved For Release 20 (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) (F) DEtKO. H 01) f;NNOCK. A * (F) 12INOCK. 11* (L1) 1ZEIBERK. 01) GORDIKOFF. P (11) Gai.DIKOFF, K (F) GOHDIKOFF. Li (i1) ILVES. LI * (F) ILVES. G (F) TAMP., L (I1) JAKOBSON. P * 01) AMIS. G* (F) JANUS, T * (11) JOHANSON..K* (F) JOHANSON, S (F) KARB., 3 (F) KAFKA. T (LI) KASK E * (F) KAP/ER. A (11) KEISS. A * (F) ot? JR. A (F) IMSITIA? E * (LI) KOOL. L (r) xnucit, R (F) KNOIME. E F) KALINOVSKY, V Kautowns, E (L1) LAKS. G (L1) IESTCHINSKY. (1) IZSTCHINSKY. j (son) (F) LESTCHINSKY. N (F) TAWS, A (11) LILLATHAL. (F) LILDEIITHAL, L Lms. ri LIIZENTHAL. L. A. (dau&itor) (F) LEES. (i1) (F) LILID. L (F) LAMS. B (F) MIKKO3. L * (1) LTILMR. V * (F) /TILLER., A (1) MUUSIKAS, V * (F) 111USIKAS. E (F) MUUSIKAS. II (1) NIKITIN, A (F) NIKITIN S (F) NEPa.INIASCHT. N (n) (-OLE. F * (F) PAULBERG. S * (11) PARAPHINTS. A (F) PARAPIZINTS. E (F) Pxxxa. P. (Li) E * (F) PURL (wife) (F) cnii L (iI) P:A)ST. E * Approved For Release 2001/ 12111:11 I d ? ? Pr. ? NTADIATiALX1A wool loco 0=5---- (F) PRWT. A - (F) RAUDSOO. *, (L1) RAupsoo. 3 (son) (11) REINTHAL. F (F) ROSMTIIAL., E (t1) SAKS. A (F) (F) SCHILKE. (F) SCHILKE, (1) SEPIAAM1. H* (F) SCHCVBERG? A (F) SCHONBERG.. V. (r) SCHONBMG, K (F) SCHOUBEIG, (F) SCHONBERG, T (r) SARAPOir, (x1) 3HILI,E2T. A * (F) MIMIC. A (F) SANDAU. J (1) SPREram ? (F) SPHENGETi? H (F) SPRIZGER. (F) SOZK. L (LT) Tall. A (F) TAL11. (wLb) (m) max.it (n) TUNNER. 0? A. (F) TUI. J c) TRAUTLAG I; ( ) THALBERG, (xi) TAN 31G '3:.A. (F) TATITERG. ?1 01L .ijth 01) TEINVELD. K * (F) TSINVELD J. F?) TEINTA:ID, D. F). KOVAL. A (F) PODSTAVSKI'. 111? (F) VEINAL. ra (F) 4FDJG.LASS, E (F) 11:INGLASS,, E COUFEDENTIAL. 7R001600110010-5 25X1C Approved For Release 2001/04/18 : CIA-RDP82-00457R001600110010-5 Next 2 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2001/04/18 : CIA-RDP82-00457R001600110010-5

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