(October 8, 1952)
I. The Communist Party adopts a policy of protection toward religion. Those who believe in a religion and those who do not, those who believe in this religion or those who believe in another religion, are all protected, and their beliefs are respected. Today we adopt a policy of protection toward religion, and in the future we will still adopt a policy of protection.
II. The question of land distribution is somewhat different from the question of religion. In the Han areas, land has already been distributed, and religion is still protected there. Whether or not to distribute land in the minority nationality regions is to be decided by the minority nationalities themselves. In the Tibet region, there is no talk of land distribution now; whether to distribute it in the future is to be decided by you yourselves, and it will be distributed by you yourselves. We will not distribute it for you.
III. The establishment of the Military and Administrative Committee and the reorganization of the Tibetan army were stipulated in the Agreement(2), but because you are afraid, I have notified the comrades working in Tibet that they should be slow in implementing them. The Agreement must be implemented, but since you are afraid, it can only be implemented slowly. If you are afraid this year, then wait until next year to implement it; if you are still afraid next year, then wait until the year after to implement it.
IV. The Tibet region is large and its population is small. The population needs to grow, to develop from the current two to three million to five to six million, and then to increase to several tens of millions would be good. The economy and culture also need to develop. Culture includes schools, newspapers, films, and so on, and religion is also included. The past reactionary rule, the Qing dynasty emperors, Jiang Jieshi, all oppressed and exploited you; imperialism was the same, causing your population not to grow, your economy to be weakened, and your culture not to develop. The Communist Party practices ethnic equality; it does not want to oppress or exploit you, but rather to help you, to help you develop your population, develop your economy and culture. The People's Liberation Army entered Tibet precisely to implement the policy of helping you. When they first enter, there will not be any help, and within three or four years it will not be possible to have much help, but afterward they will be able to help you, that is certain. If the Communist Party cannot help you develop your population, economy, and culture, then the Communist Party is of no use.
I am very happy that you have come. Recently you can go to Nanjing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, the Northeast, and other places to visit. In the future, if more people from all circles, both clerical and secular, in Tibet can come to visit various places in the interior, it can strengthen the relationship of unity and friendship among the various nationalities of our China.

[1]
This talking point by Mao Zedong was quoted in a broadcast address by Lhukhangwa Thubten Tashi, head of the Tibetan Tribute Delegation, on the Central People's Broadcasting Station to the clerical and secular officials of the local government of Tibet and all Tibetan clerical and secular compatriots.
[2]
Refers to the "Agreement of the Central People's Government and the Local Government of Tibet on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" signed on May 23, 1951.