Addendum to the Draft of the Central Committee's Reply Concerning Financial and Trade Policies in Minority Nationality Regions[1]
(March 7, 1953)

In other minority nationality regions where silver dollars and Renminbi are used in combination, a reasonable adjustment should also be made according to the exchange rate[2] proposed by Nan and Hu.

Published according to Mao Zedong's manuscript.

Notes
[1] Mao Zedong added this sentence to the draft of the Central Committee's reply to the Central Financial and Economic Commission and the People's Bank of China, following this paragraph: "Regarding financial and trade policies in minority nationality regions, a policy of steady advance that is beneficial to the minority nationalities (including local merchants and upper-stratum elements) should be adopted. Rash advances must be strictly avoided, and especially, methods from the interior must not be transplanted and implemented in minority nationality regions. To resolve the currency issue in the minority nationality regions of the Southwest, the Central Committee agrees to the second plan proposed by Nan and Hu, please implement it accordingly." The second plan of Nan and Hu refers to the second method for resolving the currency issue in the minority nationality regions of the Southwest proposed in the report of February 25, 1953, from Nan Hanchen, President of the People's Bank of China, and Hu Jingyun, Vice President, to Mao Zedong and the Central Committee. This method was: on the current basis, to stabilize the currency market by stabilizing the exchange rate between Renminbi and silver dollars/miscellaneous foreign coins, so as to develop the exchange of goods, thereby gradually transforming the minority nationalities' psychological fondness for hard currency and establishing the prestige of the Renminbi. In the future, when conditions are fully mature and the minority nationalities are in complete agreement, the unification of currency circulation will be achieved as a natural result.
[2] Refers to the exchange rate between Renminbi and silver dollars proposed in the report by Nan Hanchen and Hu Jingyun, calculated at ten thousand yuan (referring to the old currency) to one silver dollar.

Letter to the Dalai Lama[1]
(March 8, 1953)

Dear Mr. Dalai Lama:

The letter you wrote to me on August 19, 1952, and your photograph, brought by Ragashag Phuntsog Tashi[2], have both been received. The affection you have expressed for the motherland and the Central People's Government, and your determination to seek a happy life for the monastic and lay people of Tibet and to do all aspects of work well, cause me to feel great gratification.

On the road of struggle for the interests of the motherland and the Tibetan nationality, you, Mr. Dalai Lama, and Mr. Panchen Erdini[3], and the monastic and lay people of Tibet will forever receive the help of the Communist Party of China and the Central People's Government. Naturally, on the road of building the motherland and seeking welfare for the Tibetan nationality, we will encounter some difficulties; imperialism and reactionary saboteurs will also try by every conceivable means to obstruct us, becoming obstacles to our advance. Therefore, it is necessary to heighten vigilance, strengthen national defense, consolidate the unity between the Han and Tibetan nationalities and the unity within Tibet, strictly guard against the conspiratorial activities of imperialist spies, special agents, and other reactionary saboteurs, and overcome the obstacles on our road of building the motherland and seeking welfare for the Tibetan nationality. Only in this way can the happy future of the monastic and lay people of Tibet be guaranteed. If you and the Tibetan people encounter difficulties in this regard, the Central People's Government will help you to obtain a proper resolution.

Religion in Tibet, like religion in other parts of the country, has already been respected and protected, and will continue to be respected and protected. As long as the people still believe in religion, religion should not and cannot be artificially abolished or destroyed. Comrade Zhang Jingwu[4] is not only the representative of the Central People's Government, but also the representative of the Communist Party of China; his determination to seek welfare for the monastic and lay people of Tibet is identical to yours. You may consult with him on any problem you encounter, and he will do his utmost to help you. I hope you will find more opportunities to talk with him face to face. If there are matters you need to tell me directly, they can also be relayed through him.

Enclosed is a recent photograph of myself, as a memento.

I wish you good health.

Mao Zedong
March 8

Published according to the revised copy.

Notes
[1] The Dalai Lama, i.e., Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, one of the religious leaders of Tibet.
[2] Ragashag Phuntsog Tashi, the Dalai Lama's brother-in-law, was then serving in the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the local government of Tibet.
[3] Panchen Erdini, i.e., Panchen Erdini Chökyi Gyaltsen, one of the religious leaders of Tibet.
[4] Zhang Jingwu was then Secretary of the Tibet Work Committee of the CPC and Representative of the Central People's Government in Tibet.