Be Both Resolute and Cautious
(April 16, 1952)
To the Xizang Working Committee, and to be forwarded to the Southwest Bureau:
(1) The telegram[1] of 17:00 hours on April 15 has been received. We consider your policy, steps, and methods for handling the so-called “People’s Conference” to be appropriate.
(2) In the process of handling the “People’s Conference,” many new situations will certainly arise. Please report to us at any time as you take each concrete step. Among these, important ones must be approved by the Central Committee before being implemented. You already have a determined general policy; when taking concrete steps, you must be both resolute and cautious, so as to accurately strike the enemy’s vital points and win over the broad
[1] Refers to the report sent by the CCP Xizang Working Committee to the Central Committee and the Southwest Bureau at 17:00 hours on April 15, 1952. The report stated that, based on the situation in Xizang, it was decided to adopt the following policy for handling the so-called “People’s Conference”: “support the progressive forces of patriots, win over and unite with the middle forces (including stabilizing the wavering elements), and completely isolate the reactionary elements. In this political struggle, we will only resolutely strike the two reactionary Sicao, knocking them off the political stage. Toward other splittist ringleaders, such as Sorkhang, we will temporarily adopt a lulling attitude.” Regarding the so-called “people’s representatives,” “a lenient method will be adopted, thoroughly settling accounts for their pro-imperialist splittism, for staging armed rebellion, for opposing the peace agreement, and for their reactionary words and actions against Han-Tibetan unity. We must also take the opportunity to have them complete registration procedures with the local government of Xizang and the People’s Liberation Army, write letters of repentance, repent and turn over a new leaf, and be exempt from punishment. The publicly-fronting representatives and individual important ringleaders, such as the removed Jikyab Khenpo, will be placed under government surveillance, or handled separately, to be summoned at any time, in order to trace the leads of imperialist special agents and the inside stories of reactionary organizations, to be handled as an important reactionary case. As for those who were forced or deceived into participating, it will be announced that they will not be investigated without exception.”

masses. Therefore, it is more advantageous to spend some time exchanging opinions with the Central Committee before taking action.
The Central Committee
6:00 a.m., April 16