1. COMMUNICATIONS IN TIBET 2. TIBETAN RADIO STATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R008600260009-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 5, 2001
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: September 12, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2001/03/06 :,4I69-00457R008600260009-
,4TFI LOFAX 1
CLASSIFICATION -_ 25X1 A
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY Tibet
SUBJECT 1. Communications in Tibet
2. Tibetan tiadio Stations
PLACE 25X1 A
ACQUIRED _
DATE OF
INFO.
RAF
DO NG
DATE DISTR. 12 Nap . 1953.
NO. OF PAGES 1
NO. OF ENCL.S,
(LtSTEO BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
25X1X
1. -ail is carried by ruaziers between. Lhasa and Gyan tse (d9-4o, 2u-29),
Gyanj:tse anu. Lhikatse (oo-53, 29-15), and iyangtee area Phari i)zoag (c,9-10,
27-45). There are post houses every b21 iailes_. the distance covered by each
runrier, along the route.
2. essa esl are carried by couriers who ciAL1E9 horses at 6 stage, and are
Allowed to stop for eating only while their mounts are ) sing ohanped. The
stages are 16 or 20 miles apart, and the horses are prided by the local
peopl69 as a form of taxation. The couriers are timed by the dzca 'pcns of
each district they traversed
3. A single telephone line runs along the main aa:*avan route from Lhasa to
Gyangtse. From Gyangtse to Gangtok the telephone is operated by Indians, but
Tibetans are permitted to use the line.
4. The Tibetaa Government controls radio stations in Lhasa, Yatung (U8-53,
27-26) and 3hikatse, with a fourth at Gyamda Dzong (T?aichao, 93-07, 30-01)
The stations in Ch' angtu (97-07, 31--10) and Gartok (K' aerhtu, 80--22, 31-45)
were believed, in August 1951, to be in Communist hands..
b. The station at Yatung was run by Einald kox, and that in Lhasa was
operut;eu by Jigme Surkhang, who uid not enjoy the work ana wished to be
released from this service. The station at 3hikatse is run by a Chinese
i..oslera or 1.'.urki who speaks Ea,,lish, libetan and Urdu.
6, AlthouE:n the Chinese Communists have stated. teat they were willing to employ
anyone except Americans or .iatioaalist Chinese, ze~.,iaald Fox said that unless
he had vvritt.ea permission to worx L' or the Tibetan Government, from MAO Tse-tung,
he woula leave Tibet when the Chinese Conwunists arrived.2
25X1A
25X1A
1. Gorrkvent~ The context inaioates tnat official messages are
one a nt , -- ---
Comment. In paid-August it was reported that a team of Chinese
telecorruuunications experts had left Calcutta fur Lhasa. According to an
an rouacument made 25 Aut?ust, the first stations to be set up in the
Chinese Communist radio network in Tibet were to be at Yatung and Gyartgtse.
CLASSIFICATION
STAT Lv x NAVY ?X NSt2R DISTRIBUTION - - -
rRMY AIR "?~ kx. L_ +... _ ^.
t~CONFIDENTIAL
F IC, C,!nnge In Class.
I e,,Ia ssia,ed tk::, 1