Telegram Regarding the Qinghai Cavalry Detachment and the Panchen Lama’s Entry into Tibet (January 17, 1951) To Zongsun [2] with copy to Zhongxun [3] and He & Deng [4]: Your telegram of January 9 has been received. We concur with your proposal to dispatch the Qinghai Cavalry Detachment, equipped with one and a half months’ worth of rations, to enter Tibet in coordination with the Southwest Military Region forces. Upon reaching Lhasa and Shigatse, the Southwest Military Region will assume responsibility for resolving supply matters. Please proceed immediately with preparations accordingly, and pay particular attention to the following: (1) Recruit a small number of volunteer troops from among the Tibetan population in Qinghai—say two to three hundred men—and provide them with training and arms, integrating them into the cavalry detachment; (2) Make all necessary arrangements for the Panchen Lama’s entourage to accompany the army into Tibet; (3) This detachment is to come under the command of the 18th Army and be incorporated into its organizational structure. Mao Zedong January 17 Based on the manuscript print. Notes [ ] The Panchen Lama refers to Panchen Erdini Qoigyijabu, one of Tibet’s religious leaders, who was then residing in Qinghai. [2] Zongsun refers to Zhang Zongsun, who at the time served as First Deputy Commander of the Northwest Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army. [ ] Zhongxun refers to Xi Zhongxun, who at the time held the post of First Secretary of the Northwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Political Commissar of the Northwest Military Region of the PLA.
[ ] He refers to He Long, who at the time was Third Secretary of the CPC Central Committee’s Southwest Bureau and Commander of the Southwest Military Region of the PLA. Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, who at the time was First Secretary of the CPC Central Committee’s Southwest Bureau and Political Commissar of the Southwest Military Region of the PLA.