COMMUNIST CADRE METHODS DISREGARD PEASANT WELFARE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600350693-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 22, 2011
• Sequence Number: 693
• Publication Date: October 27, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14 :CIA-RDP80-00809A000600350693-4
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
SUBJECT
HOW
PUBLISHED
WHERE
PUBLISHED
DATE
PUBLISHED
LANGUAGE
Sociological; Political - Cadre incompetence
Daily newspaper '
Hong Kong
1 - 11 Sep 1950
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DATE OF
INFORMATION 1950
DATE DIST. z, oct 1950
NO. OF PAGES 2
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT N0.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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COMMUNIST CADRE METHODS DISREGARD PEASANT WELFARE
DISCUSSES "GRAND RESULTS" IN EAST CHINA -- Hong Kong Shih-pao, 1, 2 Sep 50
Communists claim ''grand results" in the new areas of Chekiang and Kiangsu,
including Shanghai. Just what are these grand results?
1. Flood Control -- Nine hsien in north Kiangsu, and 14 in Chekiang are
flooded. Nearly 10,000 people besieged the hsien government of Chuchi, report-
ing dikes leaking in the Fu-yang area. The cadres insisted that the simple
peasants "cast their own bodies into the breaches, as an offering for the
people's welfare." The result was that the breaches were not stopped, but 3,000
people lost their lives. Such "results" are not received with satisfaction by
Communist leaders. ~'?
2. Elimination of Insect Pes+,s -- There was quite a visitation of insects
the past spring in this area. .Cadres assigned to insect control did not go out
ahead of time to inform and persuade the superstitious rustics but when the
growing grain was already being damaged by insects, a belated anti-insect movement
was started. One catty of rice was offered for every 20 bags of insect eggs brought
in. The peasants were forced to bring in several hundred bags each day. Where
there were plenty of insects, this was simple; but where there were few, the
peasants could not comply with the order except by raising moths to make eggs. Since
they could draw rice, and at the same time fulfill an assigned task, why not be
`happy about it? Later on, at Tan-yang in Kiangsu, and Shao-hsing in Chekiang, some
persons even speculated in the insect egg trade, and there developed a black mar-
ket in insect eggs.
3. Increased Production -- After the floods and pests, the Communist author-
ities in Shao-hsing decided that fish production must be increased by 3 million
catties. In less than 2 days, false reports were submitted guaranteeing surplus
production. Some even gave the number of young fish already being stocked; one
cadre reported "goal nearly reached." Closer scrutiny showed that work had not
even started in Shao-hsing itself; while other places, far from showing increases,
.actually showed serious losses.
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4. Land Reform -- Cadres in charge of land reform in Kiangsu and Chekiang
paid no attention to varying local conditions. 'Phey were opinionated and arbi-
trary. They placed fines on individuals at random and shipped out stored grain
without permission. Outwardly, the land reform seemed a brilliant success. In
reality, nine out of ten whom they classed as landlords and rich peasants were
"reformed" into bankruptcy, vagrancy, and family dispersion. The simple peas-
antry of the areas have risen up to resist land reform. Around Wu-hsi and
Chang-chou there is a song of resistance:
Communists, good or not?
Upper levels, smart enough;
Middle levels, brainless all;
Lower levels, a goofy lot.
Simple peasants, how fare we?
5. Bandit Activities -- In Kiangsu, Chekiang, and Shanghai, millions of
people are unemployed and on the verge of starvation. Many join the guerrillas.
Their hide-outs are around T'ai Ru and Tien-mu Shan. They make raids into the
big cities, scattering leaflets, posting placards, killing Communist soldiers,
seizing food, and generally doing what they wish. The authorities are confused;
the more the bandits are suppressed, the more they spring up.
6. Departmental Routine -- This is a mess. For instance, in Lin-an, Che-
kiang, each agency must fill out 117 forms each month. Of these, 84 have to be
passed on to the provincial authorities. Within 3 days one office received 95
blank forms.
POOR PEASANTS LOSE IN SUMMER LEVY -- Hong Kong Shih-pao, 11 Sep 50
Communist summer levies in Kwangtung were much hindered this year by the uni-
versal habit among peasants of reporting less land and production than they actu-
ally had. Communist levy squads had to concentrate on seeking out unreported land
and production. First data from Communist sources show more than 200,000 mou in
thCs. Chu Chiang area discovered in this way. In what the Communists call an old
liberated area, T'an-shui, more than half the territory is unreported or unregis-
tered land, referred to as "black land." About 2 months before the summer levy,
teachers and students were sent out to propagandize the summer levy. Next they
sought out all the black land and assessed its value.
Some cadres hurry through their job without regard to actual conditions among
the peasants. As soon as they arrive at a village, they urge the radicals and
idlers to call a meeting. The peasants are told to bring in rice first, then as-
sessments for the amount to be delivered are made. These cadres make little effort
to discover unreported land or to assessing the crops properly; as a result, the
poor peasants suffer losses and the landlords gain. Thus, the cadres quickly at-
tain their goals, but many households that would not have to pay are cheated, while
rich landowners get off with this first payment, at least for a time. At present,
the CCP officials are fearful lest these "deviations" on the part of cadres will
arouse popular wrath, so that strict orders have been issued in an attempt to
rectify these erroneous ways.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14 :CIA-RDP80-00809A000600350693-4