It is also due to your own efforts and the welcome of the Tibetan people.

Things should be done slowly. Haven't some problems between the Lhasa government and you been resolved this time?

Bainqen: After I returned to Tibet, Dalai Lama [1] also cared about me. Although there were some problems between us, they were all resolved this time in the capital.

Mao: Your task is great. You must support them, and they will support you. This way, unity will be achieved.

Bainqen: Yes, we must do it according to Chairman's instructions.

Mao: In the past, you were a little worried, afraid that we only wanted Qianzang and not you.

Your policy is correct. You can actively support them, actively make concessions, and let Dalai Lama be the director and you be the deputy director [2]. Jigme [3] can actively propose that Ngapoi be the secretary-general [4]. This is very good, much better than if we Communists proposed it. This will make things easier in the future. There are many officials and many temples in Lhasa. Among them, many people may not agree with Dalai Lama's opinions on some issues. Therefore, when you handle affairs, you must take into account their difficulties and proceed slowly. It is beneficial to understand everything thoroughly before doing it. You are afraid of Lhasa, and Tibetans are afraid of Han people. It is always the small fearing the big. This is not surprising. Due to the reactionary ruling class of the Han people ruling and oppressing you in the past, it has created a bad influence, so there is fear of Han people and a bad impression. Therefore, in the future, we must

[1] Dalai Lama, namely Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, who was then the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

[2] The "Decision on the Establishment of the Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region" was adopted by the seventh plenary meeting of the State Council on March 9, 1955, determining that Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso would be the chairman, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyi Gyaincain and Zhang Guohua would be the first and second vice chairmen respectively, and Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme would be the secretary-general.

[3] Jigme, namely Jamyang Losar, who was then the Director of the Bainqen Kampus Assembly.

[4] Ngapoi, namely Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, who was then the Deputy Commander of the Tibet Military Region of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, a Kalon of the Tibetan Local Government, and the Deputy Director of the People's Liberation Committee of Qamdo.

[1]

do more good deeds to gradually make the Tibetan people believe that the Han people are helping them, not harming them. In the past, I talked to Zhang Jingwu and Fan Ming [1] and told them to tell our cadres that our entry into Tibet is to help sincerely, not to replace, and that the help should be good, not uncomfortable. At the same time, I also told them to use these two points to test our cadres. Even so, you should also help them and offer opinions at any time. If something is wrong, it should be corrected. If it is not corrected, you can offer opinions and have them transferred back.

It cannot be said that only Han people are helping ethnic minorities. Ethnic minorities are also helping Han people. Tibet has such a large area and many resources. The Tibetan and Han nationalities are very united and help each other well, so you are welcomed by all aspects of the motherland. Our People's Liberation Army has entered Tibet and has not done much for the Tibetan people. We have built two highways [2], established two primary schools [3], and given some vaccinations to Tibetans, but we have also brought you three problems: rising prices, deaths of yaks during transportation, and unequal purchases for a period of time.

Bainqen: Although there were some problems in the past, and prices were affected, the help to us was very great.

[1] to open people's hospitals and issue various loans. Even in terms of transportation, both foot prices are given, and compensation is given for dead yaks. Especially economically, our Tibet mainly produces wool. In the past, transporting it from pastoral areas to agricultural areas, and from agricultural areas to India, not only did not get reasonable prices, but was deceived or could not be sold. But since liberation, the central government has purchased it at high prices. All of these have been of great help to us.

Mao: This help can only be said to be just beginning, but it will gradually expand in the future. Tibet has many resources. Economically speaking, it is not just the Han people helping Tibet, but mutual help.

[1] Zhang Jingwu, who was then the Secretary of the Tibet Working Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Representative of the Central People's Government in Tibet. Fan Ming, born in Linru, Shaanxi in 1914, was then the Deputy Secretary of the Tibet Working Committee of the Communist Party of China.

[2] Refers to the Kangzang Highway and the Qingzang Highway.

[3] Refers to Lhasa Primary School and Xigaze Primary School.

Mao Zedong's Complete Works
Volume 34

Bainqen: In the few years since the liberation of Tibet, the country has indeed given us great help.

Mao: It should be helped. Your development is good for the country. For example, Xinjiang has rare metals, and Inner Mongolia has forests and iron ore, which are all good for the country. Some minerals are not available in our Han areas, but are available in your ethnic minority areas.

Bainqen: We have heard that Tibet also has iron ore and other minerals. Some places are uninhabited and are still large wastelands. Coal mines have now been discovered near Tanggula Mountain, and many minerals will be discovered in the future.

Mao: You have hope and should have confidence.

Bainqen: We have confidence in the construction of Tibet. Today, at the State Council meeting, decisions or approvals were passed on the establishment of the Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region, the resolution of our internal outstanding issues, and assistance for Tibetan construction matters. These problems have been solved. This is of great benefit to our future unity and development in Tibet.

Mao: These problems have been solved. The resolution of these problems, the peaceful agreement [1] played a great role. Dalai was afraid of us in the past. You were also afraid in the past, otherwise you would not have run to Xiangride.

Bainqen: We were deceived by reactionary propaganda in the past. We did not understand the real situation and were somewhat afraid.

Mao: Yes. Yesterday, when I talked to Dalai Lama, Dalai said, what if his brother is abroad and does not come back? I said: You are not afraid, you came back, this is right. He is afraid, he can not come back. If he is not afraid, it is good to come back. Some people do not understand us, they still have to watch us for ten or eight years. This requires us to do a good job and do a good job for a long time. You leave Beijing on the 12th, it will take a long time to return to Tibet, right? When you go back

[1] Refers to the "Agreement between the Central People's Government and the Local Government of Tibet on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" signed in Beijing on May 23, 1951.

Do you accept money for gifts on the road?

Jamyang Losar: In the past, when we came, the gifts given by the people along the way were either returned or given to temples to do some good deeds.

Mao: Is it better to accept a little to show appreciation? Or is it better to adopt the method of receiving two yuan and rewarding three yuan? The country can help you with some expenses in the future. If you do not accept gifts, the people can see the Living Buddha and not spend money, so the people will be better to you.

(Wang Feng [1] reported to Mao Zedong that Dalai and Bainqen had written letters to Lakaren Temple to dissuade them from giving gifts and preparing extravagant welcomes for Dalai and Bainqen.) This problem has been solved, and it is good to do so. Such problems can be solved well by discussing them with them.

You two and many people from the delegation came to attend the National People's Congress and the CPPCC meeting, and also visited various places. In the future, you will probably come once every four years. Now that the road is open, you can make a round trip in three months, so you can attend meetings and not delay work. If it takes you a year to make a round trip like this time, it will be difficult to hold meetings.

Bainqen: This time Dalai Lama and I came to Beijing to attend the meeting, which has never happened before. It is good for our internal unity and the overall work. We will come more often in the future when the road is better.

Mao: In the future, it would be good to have an airport in Xiangride.

Bainqen: Yes.

Mao: This is your second time here, right?

Bainqen: Yes, I came once in 1951.

Mao: How old were you in 1951?

Bainqen: Fourteen years old.

Mao: You are eighteen years old this year. Where is your home?

[1] Wang Feng (1910-1998), a native of Lanxian, Shaanxi, was then the Deputy Minister of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Deputy Director of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission.

Bainqen: It is Xunhua County.

Mao: Is it near Lakaren Temple?

Bainqen: No, it is very close to Lakaren Temple.

Mao: Are you going to Lakaren Temple this time? Are you going back to Xunhua County?

Bainqen: Yes.

Mao: It is good to go home and see. What language is used in Tibetan primary school textbooks?

Zhang Jingwu: It is entirely Tibetan. Chinese and English are elective subjects.

Mao: That's very good. (To Zhang Jingwu) I said in the past that after you enter Tibet, you should learn Tibetan and Tibetan language. How are you learning now?

Zhang: We are all learning, but we are not paying close attention. Only those who have participated in training classes have learned well.

Mao: Not only should you learn Tibetan, but also Tibetan language. Lhamin Yishey Tsultrim [1] did not come this time. If there is a chance in the future, he should come. Please give him my regards when you go back this time.

[1] Lhamin Yishey Tsultrim (1913-1977), a native of Lazhi, Tibet, was then the Director of the Bainqen Kampus Assembly.

Instructions on Wei Lihuang's
"Letter to Fellow Soldiers and Friends in Taiwan"
[1]
(March 13, 1955)

Liu, Zhu, Deng [2] (Please have Xiaoping handle):

It is best to publish this document as is, without changing a single word, when Wei arrives in Guangzhou. When it is published in Guangzhou, send it to Hong Kong for publication in newspapers, and also publish it in Guangzhou newspapers. At the same time, Xinhua News Agency will send it to Beijing for broadcast and publication in newspapers in Beijing and throughout the country, and broadcast it in spoken language and publish it in foreign languages. This document is completely usable and does not need to be revised.

Mao Zedong
March 13

[1] Wei Lihuang, a former Kuomintang general, served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Kuomintang Army's Northeast "Suppression Headquarters" in the later period of the Liberation War. Because he did not actively implement Chiang Kai-shek's combat orders, he was placed under house arrest in Nanjing. After Chiang Kai-shek retired in January 1949, Wei went to Hong Kong. In March 1955, he returned to China and published the "Letter to Fellow Soldiers and Friends in Taiwan," which was published in full in the "People's Daily" and the Hong Kong "Wen Wei Po."

[2] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Zhu refers to Zhu De. Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, who was then the Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Vice Premier of the State Council.