RED ORDERS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3642, 24 May 1927, Page 4

RED ORDERS

WHAT PEKIN TRANSLATIONS' TELL. SPY’S AGREEMENT.

“DON’T SHRINK FROM LOOTING OR MASSACRE.”

SHANGHAI, May ID. The North China Daily News publishes 18 columns of most sensational translations of documents discovered in the Soviet Embassy at Pekin, and two pages of.photographs. The original documents were written in Russian. The translations reveal a most intricate spy system on behalf of the Embassy, which, the documents conclusively prove, was the chief source through which passed instructions to Russian agents in South China. Telegrams to M. Borodin, Russian adviser to the Nationalist Government —who claims that he has no official connection with Moscow —show that the Soviet Government actually wrote to him, through the Embassy, ordering him to go slow on the Communist phase of the Chinese revolution, because it might at present quicken the split in the Kuomintang, and also tend to stir up Japan, which country, the Legation ordered, should be pacified because of the ease with which she was able to send troops. AMMUNITION STORES.

A typical telegram is from the Soviet military attache to the Pekin Embassy to M. Borodin, dated August 27, 1926. It says: “There are 1,800,000 Russian cartridges, 200,000 Japanese cartridges, 20,000 Japanese cartridges, and 8200 shells for 3-inch guns concentrated at Vladivostok, while within a week we will have a further 7,000,000 German cartridges and. 8000 shells for 3-inch mountain guns, which must be paid for on delivery. Communicate immediately about the situation on the KiangsiFukein border, and also about succession to the Nationalists of certain Northern units.”

Other telegrams reveal that the Soviet kept a tally of every gun and round of ammunition sent to the Cantonese. Frequently M. Borodin was ordered to supply details of how they were dispersed. There are frequent demands for immediate payment, or at least the payment of part of the account, while occasionally M. Borodin writes complaining that the cargoes of arms were so many short, according to the Soviet invoices. SPY ORGANISATION.

One most amazing document, showing the organisation for the employment of spies at other legations, is that giving official instructions to Soviet agents engaged in hiring spies: “When enlisting employees at the Japanese, American and British Legations, you must pay particular attention to the following subjects: Firstly, the man you enlist as a spy must not only be of some service to us, but must be in touch with the people dealing with the most secret and most important work of the Legations, such as the head of the Legation, the military attaches, secretaries, etc., etc.; or he must be the translator, typist, or office boy, in touch with secret documents. Secondly, you must be certain that lie is not a traitor to us, and that his reports are reliable. Thirdly, he must not know that he works for the Russian Legation. Make him believe 1 e works for some political party in China. Fourthly, he must discover where secret and confidential documents are kept, and find means and ways to steal or copy some of these, remembering tlmt for such work we will pay a special premium, besides the regularsalary.” TERMS OF AGREEMENT.

An agreement signed by Yuan Tao, one of the Chinese spies arrested in the raid, since garrotted, states that the Soviet’s terms for his work of engaging spies were: — “(1) You stay at Pekin. (2) Hereafter you must get into touch with Chinese employed at the Japanese, English and American Legations, and enlist for our work those who will be useful spies. • (3) Your salary is 40 dollars (£4) a month. (4) For each man you enlist after he has proved useful you will get a premium of fifty dollars (£5).. (5) If you agree to these conditions, sign your name.” Some of the documents were partially burned, and the North China Daily News leaves blanks, showing the Chinese authorities’ meticulous accuracy. The originals of the documents and photographs are being displayed on the Bund. “VERY CONFIDENTIAL.” The following is the translation of a resolution passed by the extended plenary session of the Communist International at Moscow, and cabled to the military atache at the Pekin' Embassy, headed “Very Confidential” : “At present you must keep the Chinese revolutionary movement exclusively national in character, and use the Hankow events and England’s position as proof of the Kuomintang’s success and the European Powers’ indubitable weakness. “Organise anti-foreign disturbances throughout Chang Tso-lin’s provinces. “If necessary, dicredit Chang Tsolin, stigmantising him as a mercenary tool of international Imperialistic capitalists. “Take all measures to stir up the masses to provoke foreign troops into intervention. Do not shrink before any measures, even such as looting and mass massacres. “While conducting the present antiforeign movement, you must maintain antagonism between the Powers It is especially important to isolate Japan, as that is the country which within the shortest time is able to dispatch a large force of troops to China. Therefore you must see that Japanese residents do not suffer during the riots. Nevertheless, as regards anti-foreign agitation, Japan’s exclusion would produce an unfavourable impression; therefore, you should conduct anti-foreign agitation in the form of an anti-British, movement.” SUPPLIES BLOCKED. SOVIET AND FENG. HONGKONG, May 11. A naval wireless message from Hankow says that the Russians have made further efforts to get ammunition and money through to General Feng Yuhsiang via the Han River, but the Northerners have ntercepted every, attempt. The Southerners have repaired the railway bridge blown up by anti-Red Fengtien troops on the Hupeh border. A battle is imminent in the region of Wuhu, where the Northerners are holding a strong line. It is reported from Nanking that H.M.S. Woodcock, whilst cruising in the vicinity, was subjected to severe rifle fire. She replied with her machine-guns. A message from Canton says that the Provincial Kuomingtang Committee has decided to strike Communist names from the membership registry.