Minutes of the Fifty-first Meeting of the Committee (Deputy Directors) Held in Conference Room "G", at the Ministry of Defence, S.W. on Wednesday, 17th May, 1950, at 11.00 a.m.

SECRET GUARD As regards the question of economic assistance, this subject had been dealt with more fully in the previous report by the Joint Intelligence Committee (Far East) and at the time when the present report was prepared there had not been a great deal to add. He recalled that the Joint Intelligence Committee (Far East) were almost entirely dependent upon information received from London in connection with economic developments, and said that he would be discussing with the Foreign Office and Joint Intelligence Bureau during his current visit the question of increasing the flow of this type of information received in the Far East. GROUP CAPTAIN PAUL said that there was no evidence of Soviet Air Force units operating in China, although there had been a considerable number of unconfirmed reports regarding the presence of Soviet Air Force personnel in that country. He agreed with the view of the Joint Intelligence Committee (Far East) that the Soviet Union were at present walking warily as regards the assistance which they gave to China in order to avoid giving the impression of interfering with Chinese sovereignty. It was probable that Soviet Air Force personnel in China were wearing Chinese uniforms, and that any aircraft which the Soviet Union may have supplied to the Chinese would bear Chinese markings. The Air Ministry considered that the estimate of Soviet air assistance contained in the report was as sound an estimate as could be made on the evidence at present available. There was not much doubt that the Soviet Union was giving plenty of advice to the Chinese, including technical advice regarding the repair and building of airfields. As regards the question of an attack by the Chinese Communists on Formosa, a possible indication of preparations for such an offensive might be the presence of aircraft other than fighter aircraft in the Chinese Communist Air Force. No reports of this nature had been received so far. In discussion, the Committee expressed its appreciation of the interesting and valuable report which had been prepared by the Joint Intelligence Committee (Far East). It was noted, in particular, that one of the conclusions of the report was that as a result of Soviet assistance, the Chinese Communist Air Force would probably be able to present a major challenge to the Chinese Nationalist Air Force by the end of 1950, and its expansion, reinforcement and training under Soviet auspices represented the emergence of an important new military factor in Far East affairs. It was generally agreed that the report should be taken into consideration when preparing the next monthly report to the Chiefs of Staff on the Chinese Communist threat in the Far East and South-East Asia (it was suggested that the report might be attached as an Appendix), and that the attention of the Chiefs of Staff might be drawn to the important conclusion previously mentioned. It was also agreed that the Joint Intelligence Committee (Far East) should be invited to review their report in six months' time. THE COMMITTEE:- (1) Took note, with interest, of the valuable report by the Joint Intelligence Committee (Far East). (2) Instructed the Secretary to invite the Joint Intelligence Committee (Far East) to review the report in six months' time. (3) Instructed the Joint Intelligence Staff to take the report into consideration when preparing the next monthly report to the Chiefs of Staff on the Chinese Communist threat in the Far East and South-East Asia. -2-