Approved in regard to the content of Zhou Enlai’s proposed talks with the Indian Ambassador to China [1]
(14 August 1950)

Agreed to handle it this way. It seems more appropriate to keep the ten-chapter convention temporarily as negotiation terms for when their delegation arrives; do not publish it now, and do not hand it to the Indian Ambassador.

Mao Zedong
14 August

[1] This is Mao Zedong’s comment on Zhou Enlai’s report of 14 August 1950, to Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, and Zhu De, regarding proposed talks with the Indian Ambassador to China, K. M. Panikkar. The report stated: “I plan to meet Panikkar this Wednesday. I will only discuss that Tibet is Chinese territory, that we are very willing to resolve the Tibet question by peaceful means, but that the aggressive forces of British and American imperialism must withdraw from Tibet. The commercial and trade relations between India and China in Tibet can absolutely be maintained, just as the commercial and trade relations between China and India in Bombay should be maintained.” “The Tibetan delegation is a local or ethnic representative body; they should come to the capital of the People’s Republic of China to discuss the means of a peaceful resolution. Whether Hong Kong allows them passage or not, the Tibetan delegation will always find a way to reach Beijing.” “As for our ten-chapter convention on Tibet, I plan to inform the Indian Ambassador only after the Tibetan delegation has arrived in Beijing.”