Telegram Regarding the Appointment of Zhang Wentian as Chief Representative of the Chinese Delegation to the United Nations (January 18, 1950)  Comrade Shaoqi:   (1) This afternoon at 4:30 p.m. I spoke by telephone with Enlai (who has already arrived in Sverdlovsk and will reach Moscow at 5:00 p.m. on the 20th). We both felt that Zhang Hanfu [1] lacks sufficient prestige and experience; he could serve as a deputy. It would be more appropriate for Luofu [2] to assume the post of chief representative of the Chinese delegation to the United Nations. I have drafted a telegram to the United Nations. If the Central Committee agrees, please have it dispatched and publicly released tomorrow, the 19th. Gao   (2) According to Enlai, both Gao Gang and Fu Chun [3] believe that Luofu is suitable to serve as a diplomatic representative, although his personal consent had not been sought in advance. Kindly send a separate telegram to Luofu at the same time as the public announcement, explaining that due to time constraints it was not possible to obtain his consent, and requesting his understanding. The date of his departure for the United Nations will be notified separately.   (3) The formal appointment procedure by the Government Committee may be completed at its sixth meeting in the future. Should you deem it necessary, you might convene a meeting tomorrow, the 19th, with all vice chairpersons of the Government Council and leading representatives of the various political parties.   (4) Since Enlai is about to arrive in Moscow, the note should be issued in the name of Li Kenong.   (5) This note, like the previous one, will be sent simultaneously to Soviet, Czechoslovak, Polish, British, French, Dutch, and other foreign diplomatic missions in Beijing after the telegram is dispatched.   (6) When Xinhua News Agency releases the news, it must introduce Zhang Wentian as a member of the CPC Central Committee who participated in the Long March and various revolutionary activities.   (7) Please keep me informed of the progress. Mao Zedong  January 18, at 5:30 p.m.

The text of the telegram to the United Nations [4] is as follows:

Mr. Rómulo, President of the United Nations General Assembly, and Mr. Trygve Lie, Secretary-General, with request that it be forwarded to all delegations of the United Nations and the Security Council:

On January 8, 1950, Minister Zhou Enlai of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China addressed a note to the United Nations, requesting that the illegitimate representatives of the reactionary remnants of the Kuomintang be expelled from the United Nations and the Security Council. In response, Mr. Lie telegraphed to acknowledge receipt of this note and to forward it to all members of the Security Council.

I now again inform Your Excellencies, the President and the Secretary-General: The Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China has appointed Zhang Wentian as the chief representative of the delegation of the People’s Republic of China to the sessions of the United Nations and to its work, including meetings and proceedings of the Security Council.

I further request Your Excellencies, the President and the Secretary-General, to answer the following two questions:

(1) When will the illegitimate representatives of the reactionary remnants of the Kuomintang be expelled from the United Nations and the Security Council? I consider it entirely unreasonable that such illegitimate representatives should still remain in these bodies, and they ought to be immediately expelled.

(2) When will the legitimate delegation of the People’s Republic of China, with Zhang Wentian as its chief representative, be permitted to attend the sessions of the United Nations and the Security Council and participate in their work? I believe that such participation should take place without delay.

I earnestly request your prompt reply to these matters.  Li Kenong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China  January 19, 1950  Printed from the manuscript

Notes  [1] Zhang Hanfu was then Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central People’s Government.  [2] Luofu refers to Zhang Wentian, who at the time was a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and an executive committee member of the Northeast Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.  [3] Gao Gang was then Secretary of the Northeast Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Fu Chun refers to Li Fuchun, who at the time served as Deputy Secretary of the Northeast Bureau.  [4] When this telegram was officially transmitted, the signature was changed to that of Zhou Enlai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and certain textual and punctuation changes were also made. The full text appeared in the January 20, 1950 issue of the People’s Daily.