ANTI-COMMUNIST SENTIMENTS IN COMMUNIST CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004200990008-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 26, 2002
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: June 3, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2005/11/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA004200990008-9
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SUBJECT Anti-Communist Sentiments in
Communist China
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
CONFIJ ENTIAL
25X1 DATE OF INFO.
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y,, ost Chinese Communist regulations and restrictions
2 5X1 seemed oppressive to the Chinese People. The most offensive practice of
the Communists was the necessity four everyone to participate in political
learning. It was impossible to remain silent during classes; and as soon
as one spoke, one was likely to be in trouble with the authorities. To
speak at all was to court criticism.
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.When filling out biographical histories for the Communist authorities,
most people thought that details were not important or, unwittingly,
left out factual information. If the authorities discovered any events
that had not been recorded in the biographical histories, they assumed
that the individual concerned was attempting to conceal the information,
and he could be sure of harsh treatment as a result.
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STATE X ARMY NAVY X AIR X FBI I IAEC 1
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.Difficulties had arisen with the Chinese Communist program because when the
Communists had a plan, they did not allow any alterations in the plan; at
the same time they told the people who were to implement the plan to use
their discretion in carrying it out. In constructing a building at P'uchen
(N 32-08, E l18-+), no particular appropriation had been made by the
authorities for the building although it was included in the general con-
struction plan for the area. The local cadre in command told the engineer
in charge to go ahead with the construction but to economize wherever
possible. The workers worked even during the rain when umbrellas were
held over them to protect them. This situation was broadcast by the
Nanking radio. When the central authorities heard about it, they blamed
the engineer and the Communist cadre concerned for being capitalistic be-
cause in a capitalistic society, according to the Communists, it is necessary
to follow a budget strictly; whereas in a Communist society the budget
could be adjusted, and consideration could be given to the workers.
Jealousies among Communist cadres in China were frequent and well known.
The competition among them was not for money, but for power
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The most severe blow the Chinese Communist's prestige suffered since they
came into power in'China was a result of the-Three Anti's and Five Anti's
oappaigns. Before these campaigns, the people had. faith in the Communists
because the Communists had been able to accomplish most of what they had
.promised to do., These campaigns placed many innocent people in difficulties,
and the people began to realize that the promises the Communists had made
to guarantee personal rights were not to be kept. The Communists claimed
that the country had gained by the anti-campaigns, and the people dared
not disagree with them. When the cadres were asked in a meeting about an
unfairness suffered by an individual, their:answer always was that that
particular incident was just a "trifling deviation."
The most serious effect the Communist regime had on native habits and
customs was its effect on human nature, which was manifest in a growth
in suspicions among 1e and in lack of trust in each other. The most
serious mutual effe arts the deterioration of domestic relations,. since
the Communists had told the people that,, they were not supposed to have feel-
ings of affection,. Another was constant fear, a sort of persistent mental
torture that resulted from not knowing what to expect of the future.
8. The greatest difficulties the Communists faced were a result of their desire
for the industrialization of China. They did not have the financial capac-
ity to prpceed with industrialization at full speed. In order to get the
materials;to do so, they commandeered farm products and shipped them abroad
in exchange for industrial equipment. If the Communists had not been so
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anxious for industrialization, they would not have been so harsh with the
farmers. This practice of the Communists resulted in a serious food short-
age, particularly in rural areas. In the spring, farm households normally
run out of grain and must depend on potato greens and beans to supplement
their diets.' The Chinese Communists had a slogan, "No one is to starve";
but many people died of malnutrition. The Communists paid heavily for imports.
Proof of this was that in China a bicycle cost about HK $800; in Hong Kong
a bicycle cost only HK $200., The high price was not due to inflation nor
were the importers making large profits (they would not be allowed to, and
25X1 import duties could not have been high enough to account for this price;
therefore the Communists must have paid a high price for imports. The
Chinese Communist government imported a large number of bicycles from
zechoslovakia to 'be used by government empl yees
below the level of bureau heads who could not be allotted an automobile.
9, Passive sabotage was the only action possible for any one against the Com-
munist regime without punishment - not to work very hard and to muddle
through wherever possible. A person doing this might be subjected to
criticism, but nothing worse would happen to him., It was impossible to
pass out rumors because a person could never be quite sure that the people
he spoke to would not betray him. It was difficult even for friends to
have a common language because different people were under different
degrees of threat. Any activity against the regime, therefore, had to be
individual; no one could be trusted.
10. No one dared to coin an anti-Communist phrase,. The people frequently used
Communist expressions sarcastically., Two of the expressions often used in
this manner were "Big Brother" (lao to ko, 5071/1129/0766), referring to
the Russians, and "Arbgress1ve" '(chin iu, 6651/2475). Such expressions
had dual'meanings among non-Communists.
llu There was a greater degree of opposition to the regime as one progressed
further south because this area had. been more recently "liberated."
The earlier the liberation, the more submissive the people were. The
Cantonese were the most unruly..
12. The Chinese Communists were aware of a gap 'between themselves and the
common people, and they were 'trying to break through to the people. In
government offices the Communist cadres paid calls on the non-Communist
employees, but they were not very welcome 'because the non-Communists were
afraid to talk in their presence. The non-Communist government employees
never called on the Communist cadres. The non-government workers tried
to stay as far away from the Communists as possible. As the Chinese say-
ing goes, "Stay away as far as possible from gods and devils.," No one was
brave enough to do anything else.,
13. Three events that proved embarrassing to the Chinese Communist were:
a. When the Chinese Communists first came to Shantung in 1949 they attempted
to rush many construction projects; but there were not enough workers
or engineers to do the work., Each 'unit had its own budget and its own
contractors to finish the job in the shortest possible time. When the
prb,ects were completed, the workers received rewards for finishing in
the allotted time. But after the next rainy season many of the build-
ings and the projects fell to pieces.
b, During one year in the countryside in Shantung, locusts were eating the
crops. The people from the towns were mobilized to catch the locusts.
However, the townspeople, not knowing anything about locusts, destroyed
the wheat not touched by the locusts as well as the wheat already
destroyed by the locusts and, in effect, destroyed the whole crop. The
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farmers had to thank the townspeople for their help although their crops
were gone. The Chinese Communist cadres often helped the farmers who had
become afraid of their presence.
c. One year in Ts'angshang (N 36-51, E 115-54) the Chinese Communists
planned to introduce new cotton seeds. When the seeds reached the area,
the farmers had already planted old seeds., and the plants had begun
to grow. The local magistrate, having orders from his superiors that
the new seeds were to be planted, ordered the farmers to cut down their
crops. He was punished for this later, but the farmers had lost their
crops.
The Chinese Communist officials themselves felt the difficulties of rigid
control. They found it difficult to act even within their scope of authority.
When they were required to do something, they had to use their own judge-
ment to some extent; and the results were not always acceptable. So they,
too, felt their loss of freedom. They were not supposed to express their
feelings and were expected "not to bow to difficulties," but they did occa-
sionally show their feelings to their non-Communist colleagues. In meet-
ings the Communists were not supposed to raise complaints, but often in
their "positive suggestions for improvements," their discontent was reflected.
15. The Chinese Communists were aware of the reluctance of the people to co-
operate with them. The political commissars.would often mention the "waver-
ing of the people," who are supposed to have "one will and one heart." There
was an instance of sabotage in the Tsinan Station. of the Tsinan-Tsingtao
Railway. The drinking water for railway employees was poisoned. A
report of the arrest of the people responsible was published after the cam-
paign a tint reactionaries, but no details were contained in it.
25X1 here were frequent instances of people placing stones on
the rails to obstruct the passage of trains.
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