RICE SHIPMENTS TO CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R005000690006-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 25, 1999
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: June 19, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

WRUMATIOPF R1
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COON R ' Thai 1 arid
A;d ins
SUBJE Rice Shipments to China WO, OF PACES 2
PLACE 25X1 A
ACQUIRED
DATE OF SUPPLEMENT TO
C NO CONFIDENTIAL
NO. OFENCLS.
(LISTED SELO` I)
25X1A
25X1X
In, 1949, the export; of rice was strictly controlled by the Thai Govern-
ment and the iTh Rice Orgaaniz tion,, Even at this time, however, merchants
were able to acrid rice to C'-tiaaeso Communist territories by contacting
representatives of foreign powers in Thailand.* In these cases, the for-
eigners were rceponsiblo for clearing the expos: permit;, and guaranteed
to the Ministry of Comnoree the safe arrival of the shipmen'f: at the pre-
acribed destination.
2. In almost all of the rice deals, the buyer charters the Whole ship This
enables the ship to reach its destination more speedily and with fewer com-
plicaati.ons. Bills of lading tare arranged at Bangkok or Srichang Harbor,
and need not be changed during the trip"
2-, In 1950 the goverimuent lifted the export control of rice. Now, according
to Ministry of Commerce regulations;, any individual possessing US dollars
or iirritish pounds may buy rice for export to Chineso Communist territories.,
The Thai Government pays no attention to merchants buying rice With US and
British currency, and (toes not cosLcern itself with the destination of the
rice-
There are Coll nuntst agoracies at Hong Kong to transship imported Thal rice
to the Chinese mainland, However,, arrangements for the export of rice from
#'hailand to Communist China are usually handled by the Portuguese Legation,
as the Portugue;ya are best able to facilitate the entry of rice into China.
Most of the shipments go through the Portuguese port of Macao.,
5. The Chinese Conununist Government has put considerable pressure on the
Portuguese authorities at "ac-no to grant permission for large arcalo -.'M
po.rtation of rice into China. The Portuguese are collaborating with the
chinnese Communists in order to make a profit and to retain control of their
colony, The British, primarily concerned with maintaining their established
interests in the, area, have been instrumental in running the Nationalist
blockade into Macao using the excuse that they are "helping the famine
ridden Chinese population of l cacao..."
_"
i STATE.
7 K;
CONFIDENTIAL
(1_ASS1F1CATEON CONFI NTTAL/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
~nvY `~ rvcRr3 E-!__l ,1Rll3tJ'1!t)N
This document is hereby regraded to
CONFIDENTIAL in accordance with the
letter of 16 Oc'',o'lser 1978 from the
Director of Central Intelligence to the
Archivist ci the United States.
Next Review Date: 2008
Approv
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N. harry in tks
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 Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R045@10
GON}'I.D,T'IAL/CO:'.m'.UL ,- 13.S. OFYICT ...5 ONLY
CT NT .AL INTELLIC[NC ; LCENCY
2 -
25X1A
6. The Southeast Asia Tr.r-ding Company, Ltd., ships the largest amount of rice
to Macao. The bl,rg:.st shareholder of this company is Lhoe ben. (LI Ben)-
who at present owns four large rice mills and has rented ten other small
mills. He is also director of the Siam Rice Trading Co., Ltd.
7. The Chinese Corraunists have sent representatives to Bangkok to urge local
rice merchants to send their repres::nt?:tives to Hong Kong to draw up
agreements. It is believed that Lhee Ben was one of the merchants contacted.
8. The second largest company shipping rice to Macao is the Chamru Co., -td.,
directed by Taengsienr? Kanasutr. This company is mainly instrumental in
selling export permits as Tiont . ien