Telegram from the Central Committee Agreeing with the Tibet Work Committee’s Opinions on Handling Issues Such as the Selection of Tibetan Government Officials (April 22, 1952)

To the Tibet Work Committee, and for the information of the Southwest Bureau:

The telegram [1] of 2:00 on April 22 has been received. We believe that your handling of and responses to the three issues are appropriate.

Printed by the Central Committee at 3:00 p.m. on April 22, based on the manuscript of Mao Zedong.

Note

--- Notes

[1] Refers to the telegram from the CCP Tibet Work Committee to the Central Committee and the Southwest Bureau on April 22, 1952, regarding the situation of the meeting of Tibetan government officials. The telegram stated that the meeting of Tibetan government officials had decided to raise three issues with the Tibet Work Committee on the 23rd. We plan to give the following oral responses: 1. The relationship between the Central and local authorities is a leadership relationship between a superior and a subordinate. To ensure the thorough implementation of the Agreement, the Central side proposes: Tibetan government officials should be patriotic elements, capable, and have prestige, and be loyal to the Dalai and the Tibetan people; the selection of personnel should be appointed by the Dalai after consultation with the Central side to reach a consensus. 2. If Central personnel and the People's Liberation Army who have entered Tibet violate the Agreement, it is guaranteed that Tibetan officials and the people have the full right to lodge complaints with the Central authorities, and have the right to put forward any constructive opinions to the Central authorities. 3. Regarding matters where Tibetan government officials violate policies and discipline or the system of the local government, right and wrong shall be distinguished and handled reasonably based on the spirit of seeking truth from facts. One cannot abstractly say that “the Central authorities must support the opinions of the local authorities,” but rather it depends on whether the issue is handled appropriately.