TRIP REPORT OF(Classified)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP63-00314R000200260020-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 8, 1998
• Sequence Number: 20
• Content Type: MF

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1-U' :M.CF-AND'UM FOR;.' Deputy D~ ?-ector, lntelli.gence
T ti;`G1 3 6 is St Sit irec or, Research and Reports c Q~
SUBJECT: Trip Rc=+port of 25X1 A9a
A, To study by dirreat field observation and evaluate the
characteristics of ethnic groups.. settlement pattern, transportation
facilities and terrain in access fble regions of the areas assigned to
the Far East-Pacific Brtmeh. Geography .Division, ORR, The principal
areas visited were Japan, Korea, Nationalist China (Taiwan), Hong Kong,
Philippines, Indonesia,, Singapccrc, Mal? ra, Thailand, Burma and West
Pakistan, Details are given in attached Appendices,
Bo To discuss the aotential_ for future intelligence collection
and research on the Far East with U. S. Military units in Tokyo.
11f, Activities
A0 Reconnaissance trips by train, carp, bus and airplane along
they routes shown on the reap (Appendix A).
By Received briefing on activities of the 500th MISG., Tokyo and
discussed their town plan program,.
C. Visited p.rsonna.l of 29th Engineer Topographic Battalion in
Tokyo and discussed their topographic mapping program,
D. Visited 600hth AISS personnel in Tokyo and was briefed on China
research and escape and evasion pfio jests,
E. Photographs arern taken during all phases of the trip. Copies will
be filed with Graphics :# ae eter. 25X1 A6a
Fa Excellent cooperation was received fro
Taiman who made pr usibl a escorted tours through wan even sough a d vane
a arra ements for assistance had not been requested. 25X1 A6a
assisted in establishing contact with military organizations in
III0 Diffidulties
Despite the advance request for assistance in arran . n travel in
Korea and subsequent arr&,;ngements by the 25X1 A6a
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for contact with no contact was affected 25X1 A6a
during the tour roug oZ?ead ai ane ec o Yale difficulties upon my
return to Tokyo left insufficient time to determine the reason for
the lack of contact a
No further difficulties were encountered.
'V0 Commitments
None
VO Recommendations
A~ The opportunity to use direct field observation for the development
of area:. competence =yin regions of major, mportande in the Far East was extren* 3,v
valuable to me. A familiarization trip should be a requirement for
geographers whose responsibilities involve the evaluation of the physical
and cultural geographic characteristics of foreign areas for the prYepare.-
tion of operational intelligence,
B, The initial. orientation acquired by a familiarization trip through
the area as a whole should be reinforced and brought up-to-date by subse-
quent trips which would allow the analyst to conduct field investigations
and gather source materials in areas critical to the Branch research
pr' grans,
C. The difficulties of rail and bus travel, the almost total
absence of car rental facilities and the complex language problem in For
1 astern countries makes maximum travel assistant
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essential, Contacts should be arranged an requests roads 25X1 A6a
in advance for transportations 3ariefinge and
ooatacts with other US installations and with native geoWapbers or 25X1A6a
re=Liable native guides. (See Appendix D.)
D. Advance arrangements should be made by 25X1 A6a
native contacts in each country The contacts should be persons of the
middle or upper-lower income bracket xho would normally follow native
modes of living, transportation, step, rather than the more luxurious
and atypical "i astern-ctyle" Q (See Append x 1))
E?. Under these conditions, and aesurrsing a coincidence of interest,
two analysts travelling together would probably get more benefit from
the trip,
'o It is believed that much mutual benefit could be derived from
the assignment of geographers in the major countries 25X1 A6a
of the Far East and, Southeast aia, graphers could aeeist in the
preparation of (as they already do at Headquarters)
anti help to make field intelligence available to the Geographic Areas
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agencies ose personnel are intimately acquainted with Washington
offices. In such cases, the possibility of being uncovered is strong
enough. to suggest the use of Agency "cover",
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Appendices to Trip Dort
Appmxadix A& Attached map of route travelled,
Appel B, Non-Agency Personnel Contacted.
1. Mr. Richard Allen, SOOth MIISO. Received briefing on current
and planned production of the 500th with reference to special reports
and town plans.
2m 4ajor Colvocorresses,, 29th Engineers. Toured installation and
was briefed on current production programs.
3. Col. Cook, 600ILth AISS. Received briefing from members of his
organisation on current E&E and special projects work,
Comment: Because the familiarization tour was made without official
contacts, as a security precaution I did not take detailed notes on
organizations visited. It is suggested that arrangements be made for the
return of classified notes through normal channels.
Appendix C. Activities
Travel in all areas was made primarily by rail and air due to the
general 3a ok of car-rental facilities. Are attempt was made to chose
routes which traversed terrain representative of the major land-use regions
of each country so than variations in settlement types and transportation
modes could be observed and compared, Extensive areas in the major cities
were surveyed by foot, as well as by car. Language difficulties made the
use of buses and streetcars unfeasible except in those cases where a native
guide was available,. The f requency and reliability of marline and ran
service in the Far East necessitated constant revision and adjustment of
the planned itinerary.
1. Hawaii September 22-23.
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An extensive reconnaissance of Oahu was made by rented car.
20. Juan. September 25 to October 32
Travel in Japan was by airline and train, with some trips in major
cities by bus and taxicab,. Although the procedures (drivers licenses,
governm int permits, etc.) for renting a drive-yourself car were too time
cons min to c ' to within my time schedule, it is believed that the
should be able to make arrangements for a car if advance
request is made
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Se tember 25-30. Visits were made to 5ao
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g nt in ps around Tokyo. Insufficient
time was ].eft between briefing and visits to include local trips in the
vicinity of Tokyo as was originally scheduled.
October 1.5. Flight was made to Sa
pporo9 Hokkaido and travel by
train to Noboribetsu. After visiting neighboring villages (including Ainu
fishing village) returned to Tokyo by train via the Aomori-Hakoodate ferry
and the east coast rail Line.
Tc~ o October 6-7.
October 7 to 12. By plane to Fukuoka, thence by local train to Beppu,
Kyushu. Return to Tokyo was via Koji, Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya.
3. Korea October 13-18.
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Although a request had been mada fm- transportation assistance in
Korea 9 travel in Korea was restricted 25X1A6a
to taxis Seoul and to rail and air for the remainder, The Jo
Seoul to . Pusan was by rail, using the Army coach 25X1 A6a
The return to Seoul was via the Korean National Airways.
It is rsoommandad at definite arrangements be made for assistance
in travel in Korea and that travel
in Korea be accomplished by car insofar as local road conditions permit.
1.. Talwan October 19 to November 1.
Huelien9 Taitu g, Kacahsiurag9 Ta3,nan, Cayi, a y~~ a .ar -Orip via snsos
trips were made out of Taipei via bus hi and railn3in s. it~is some lommeeded
that be requested to furnish a car and driver for all
trasve on Ta wan, and that the necessary documentation be supplied to
permit the use or MUG 25X1 A6a
hostels (in most of the major cities It is believed that travel without
an escort would Permit greater freedom of movement, but an English-speaking
driver is. almost essential.
November 1.-7,
Trains and buses were used exclusively for travel in Victoria City,
Kowloon and in the New Territori,es? Trips were made by private car on
Hong Kong Island, by bus and train to agricultural villages in the New
Territories and by ferry boat to Cheng-chau Island, near Hong Kong. Visits
to areas outside of the metropolitan area of Hong Kong would be greatly
facilitated by a Cantonese-sppeeicing guide with a knowledge of the schedules
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and routes of local mouses, trains and ferrys. It also should be possible
to rent a car with driver for trips to Chinese villages on the mainland
and on the islands offshore as these are in many ways analogous to mainland
villages on the Communist side. Although I met one Chinese who offered 25X1 A5a 1
to take me on a tour across the border on his bicycle, I declined and
the trip is not recommended.
was contacted and he discussed the current economic
geographic position of Hong Kong. Chinese 25X1 A5a 1
agricultural and fishing villages in the vicinity of Hong Kong were of
considerable value as briefing material. It is suggested that contacts
with and other geographers in Hong Kong be arranged, It is
possible that a Cantonese geography student might be willing to provide an
escort on a trip to the New Territories or to the offshore islands.
6., Pni.li ine Islands November 8-13,
Insufficient time was available to schedule extensive trips in the
Islands or on Luzon. Two days were spent in touring Manila and the
remaining time in traveling by third class rail coach to San Pablo City
to the south and Tarlac to the north, A trip was also made by rented cr..r
to Tagaytay City. With assistance from the Embaseya it should be possible
to rent a drive-yourself car in Manila and make extensive auto reconnaissance
trips on Luzon. Because of the distances, involved and the probable shortage
of time, inter-island trips should be made by air,
7. Indonesia November 13-23?
Travel in Indonesia was by bus, rail and air, Reconnaissance trips
were made by local native bus to Bogar and return to Djakarta, by air to
Bandung, Semarang, and Surabaja and Benpasar, and return by rail from
Surabaja to Djakarta via Jogjakarta. Trips were made in Semarang, Djakarta
and on Bali by rented car. An Indonesian resident of Djakarta provided
assistance in the bus trip to Boger, and assisted in arranging for the
rail travel. He also offered to obtain a car and English-speaking driver
for the trip to Surabaja and Bali? but insufficient time was available to
make the tripe
Experience in Indonesia (also applicable to other countries) indicates
that much time and money could be saved through the use of competent
English-speaking native des su as could probably be obtained through
25X1A6a the Native guides are usually well
a c q u a i n t e d with the country and know the workings of local transportation
systems used by the native population,
6. Pin a,and Malaya November 23 to December 1.
ErNensive areas of Singapore were reconnoitered on foot as well as by
rented tai ',After a da4Yy's train trip from Singapore to Kuala Lamlpur,
one day was, in covering Kuala Lumpur on foot and by taxi, including
a visit to a "new village" and a tin dredge in the neighboring countryside,
Another day train trip to Penang was followed by a one day reconnaissance
of that town by bicycle. The trip from Penang to Bangkok -made by airs
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Experience indicates that the -rail Journey from Singapore to Penang was
well worth the time and that it might be advisable to travel all the way
from Singapore to Bangkok by train, with possible stopovers at the larger
towns. It seems advisable to take time from the Singapore visit for this
purpose,
9. Bangkok and Thailand December 1-10.
Four days were spent in familiarization trips in Bangkok by foot,
samlor, c anal boat and taxi. Attempts to obtain a car and driver were
unsuccessful; taxis were rented according to standard rates which were
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quite high. It seems probable that the Embaeay
Bangkok should be able to either provide transportation or arrange for
suitable car rental,
The remaining six days in Thailand were spent in a trip to Chiansnais
using Thai Airways on the trip north and the Thai Railways on the return
trip. For the purpose of area familiarization' it is suggested that the
day train be used enroute to Chiangmai and the plane for the return since
the northern terrain is best seen by air and the southern plains area by
ground travel. Chiangmai and vicinity was covered on foot and bicycle o
The American Consulate at Chiangmai made an attempt to obtain a rental
vehicle but was unsuceeessful. It is suggested that arrangements be made
before arrival at Chiangmai for suitable transportation, Future trips to
Thailand should include air and rail reconnaissance to northeast Thailand.
106 Rangoon and Burma December 10-15.
Extensive areas of Rangoon were covered on foot and by rented taxi.
It is believed that auto trips to villages in the vicinity of Rangoon
should be included in familiarization trips if sufficient time and trans-
portation with an,Bnglish-speaking driver is available. Ground trans-
portation in Burma is seriously impeded by the activities of the Communist
"insurgent" forces. Plans for utilizing rail transportation were cancelled
because of the insurgent's propensity for blowing up rail bridges. All
auto trips must be completed in daylight as many roads are closed at night
by Burmese roadblocks. Union of Burma airplanes operate out of Rangoon
and return there every night because of the danger of plane highjacking.
It is therefore suggested that familiarization trips in Burma be accaap-
lished by air, with local trips by rented car. It is doubtful that a
car could be rented for long trips in Burma.
After arriving in Mandalay by Union of Burma Air, I spent one day
making an auto reconnaissance of the city and nearby villages and the
second day on a trip to Mayo and return.. Iy stay in Mandalay included
a tour of Fort Dufferin and the ruins of the old palace.
11,. Karachi December 15-17,
The two days in Karachi were spent in a reconnaissance of the city by
foot and taxi. A check at the railway office indicated that rail trips
into other parts of West Pakistan could easily be scheduled provided suffi-
cient time is available,,
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3r~ ~n Reco .tions
l.. Future familiarization trips should be coordinated with
Agency field offices in the Far East and Southeast Asian areas and
specific requests for transportation and native contacts levied on them.
The most ideal travel arrangement would be the provision of a car and
English-speaking driver for extensive road trips in each regions. Second
preference is assistance in obtaining a rental car which can be used for
long distance trips together with a competent English-speaking native
driver or a reliable native guide. It is also recommended 25X1 A6a
J nbasays arrange for appointments with native geographers
or professionals in cognate fields in each area. Other than professional.
PeoPles native contacts should be persons of the middle or upper-lower
income bracket who would normally utilize native. modes of living and
transport' since upper-class contacts tend toward atypical "Western?aty1e"
living conditions. For the purposes of area familiarization, it is desirable
to make use of local forms-of transportation (native buses, trains, etc.)
and local hottela'and restaurants rather than the almost completely isolated
"Western" :hotels. Sanitary precautions, of course, could necessarily be
the responsibility of the traveler,
2. In tial. familis rization trips should include orientation visits
to most of the important regions in the analyst's area of responsibility,
but it is suggested that subsequent familiarization trips are needed to
reinforce and expand the analyst's area competence. Such trips should be
confined to one or two areas which are critical to the Branch's research
program and in which the analyst, Possibly in conjunction with a field
Office, might conduct field investigations and gather source materials for
one or more specific current projects.
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