Speech on the Agreement on Measures
for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet

(May 24, 1951)

Source: RMRB (May 28, 1951), 1. Other Chinese Text: XHYB, {V2 (June
25, 1951}, 278. Available English Translation: NCNA, Daily Bulletin, 290
(May 29, 1951), 1.

According to the accompanying news account, before giving this speech at a banquet
celebrating the event, Mao toasted the signing of the Agreement on the Measures for
the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet by the Central People's Government and the Tibetan
Regional Government, the great unity of the nationalities of China, and the internal
unity of the people of Tibet. For an English translation of the Agreement on the Meas-ures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet, which was signed on May 23, 1951, see, PC.
40-12, Supplement,

For hundreds of years there was no unity among the various nationalities of
China. in particular there was no unity between the Han people and the
Tibetan people. Internally as well, the Tibetan nationality was not united.
This Was the result of the reactionary rule by the Manchu’ government and
the Chiang Kai-shek government, and also the result of the discord sown
among us by the imperialists. Now. unity has been achieved among the forces

by the Dalai Lama,” those led by Panchen Gnoertehni,’ and the Central
le’s Government; this was accomplished only after the Chinese people
—o oe imperialism and the domestic reactionary government, This
tthe. 's @ fraternal unity and is not based on the oppression of one side by the
t. This type of unity is the product of concerted efforts on all sides. From
Rio On, on the basis of this unity, there will be development and progress
Hong our various nationalities in all spheres, including such spheres as poli-
*€conomics, and culture,

KA B TE


|. Here Mao tised the less common description, manying sheng/iv, rather (han referring iy
last imperial dynasty of China simply as the ging zhengfi, as it is officially known “The \
manging has chic connotations, thus our tnmstation here as “Manchu”

2. Dalai is a tithe given to one of the “living Buddhas” of the Lama sect of the Budithisy ret),
of Tibet: Panchen is the title of the other, As such these two title holders are the supreme nefipn
and cultural (and, defacts, alwys the supreme political and military) leaders of the Tibetan pang
tion, Mao is here referring « Dalai Danzengjiazuo (Tanzeng Gyatizo), the fourteemh Dalal |.
(b.1933), After the establishment of the PRC in 1949, the problem of Trbet (whicty bund di d
itself independent since 1911 but has always been considered part of China by the Chinese»
ernment) remained unresolved for over a full year. In October 1950 the Chinese PLA begga
move into Tibet. The Tibetan military government resisted, and the perpulation was divided |
loyalties between those following the Dalai and these following the Panchen. who was. N
Tibet af the time. In April 1951 a five-man negotiating team was sent from Tibet under the Dy n
auspices to negotiate a peace settlement with the Chinese government Atthough the Dalai ef
tually became an important figure in China's own politics and governmens, be led the Titel
rebellion against the Chinese government in 1959, after which he fled 16 India secking: pal
asylum, See text Mur, 22, 1960, note 7. See also text Apr. 6. 1952.

3. See teat Nov. 23, 1949, source note.