Participants: Mao Zedong, Pavel Yudin
Archive: Archive of the President of the Russian Federation
URL: https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/journal-ambassador-pavel-yudin-record-conversation-mao-zedong-8-march-1955

[Source: Archive of the President of the Russian Federation, Collection 45, Inventory 1, File 309, Pages 1-10. Translated by Gary Goldberg.]

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SECRET

Journal of Ambassador P.F. Yudin

Record of Conversation with Chairman Mao Zedong

8 March 1955

On 8 March, I was received by Chairman Mao Zedong at his request.

Comrade Mao Zedong greeted me cordially and invited me to sit down.

Mao Zedong said that he had wanted to meet with me for a long time, but had been unable to do so because he had been busy.

I thanked Comrade Mao Zedong for receiving me.

Mao Zedong asked whether I had been to Wuhan. I replied that I had been there.

Mao Zedong: How did you like it?

I: It is a large and beautiful city.

Mao Zedong: Yes, Wuhan is a large city. In the future, we will build a bridge across the Yangtze River there.

I: That will be a great accomplishment.

Mao Zedong: Yes, it will be a great accomplishment. We are now preparing to build this bridge.

After this, Mao Zedong said that he wanted to talk with me about several questions.

First question. Mao Zedong said that he wanted to talk about the question of the cult of personality. We know, said Mao Zedong, that in the Soviet Union, there is criticism of the cult of personality. We also have people who praise us too much. For example, they say that everything was foreseen by Mao Zedong, that everything was decided by Mao Zedong. This is not true. It is said, for example, that the victory in the revolution was achieved thanks to Mao Zedong. But this is not true. The victory in the revolution was achieved thanks to the Chinese people, thanks to the Chinese Communist Party, thanks to the help of the Soviet Union and the Communist Parties of all countries.

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I replied to Comrade Mao Zedong that the criticism of the cult of personality in the Soviet Union is of great significance. The cult of personality diminishes the role of the Party and the role of the masses. The cult of personality elevates one person, ascribing to him the accomplishment of everything, and diminishes the role of the Party and the role of the masses. The cult of personality is harmful to the cause of communism.

Mao Zedong: Yes, the cult of personality is harmful. We must be vigilant against the cult of personality.

Second question. Mao Zedong said that he wanted to talk about the question of war and peace. We want peace, said Mao Zedong. We do not want war. War is a terrible thing. War brings great destruction and suffering. We want to build our country, to improve the life of our people. We need peace for this. But the imperialists do not want peace. They are preparing for war. They are building military bases, they are creating military blocs, they are arming themselves. We must be vigilant. We must be prepared for war. But we do not fear war. We are not afraid of the imperialists. We believe in our strength. We believe in the strength of the Soviet Union. We believe in the strength of the Communist Parties of all countries. We will win.

I replied to Comrade Mao Zedong that the Soviet Union also wants peace. The Soviet Union is doing everything possible to prevent war. But the imperialists are preparing for war. They are building military bases, they are creating military blocs, they are arming themselves. We must be vigilant. We must be prepared for war. But we do not fear war. We are not afraid of the imperialists. We believe in our strength. We believe in the strength of the Chinese people. We believe in the strength of the Communist Parties of all countries. We will win.

Mao Zedong: Yes, we will win. We must unite. We must strengthen our friendship. We must help each other.

Third question. Mao Zedong said that he wanted to talk about the question of the international situation. The international situation is complex, said Mao Zedong. There are forces of peace and forces of war. The forces of peace are growing stronger. The forces of war are growing weaker. But the forces of war are still strong. They are still dangerous. We must be vigilant. We must strengthen the forces of peace. We must weaken the forces of war.

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I replied to Comrade Mao Zedong that the Soviet Union agrees with his assessment of the international situation. The Soviet Union is doing everything possible to strengthen the forces of peace and to weaken the forces of war.

Mao Zedong: Yes, we must unite. We must strengthen our friendship. We must help each other.

Fourth question. Mao Zedong said that he wanted to talk about the question of the relations between China and the Soviet Union. The relations between China and the Soviet Union are very good, said Mao Zedong. We are friends. We are brothers. We help each other. We support each other. We will continue to strengthen our friendship. We will continue to help each other.

I replied to Comrade Mao Zedong that the Soviet Union also values the friendship between China and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union will do everything possible to strengthen this friendship.

Mao Zedong: Yes, we must unite. We must strengthen our friendship. We must help each other.

Fifth question. Mao Zedong said that he wanted to talk about the question of the relations between China and the other socialist countries. The relations between China and the other socialist countries are also very good, said Mao Zedong. We are friends. We are brothers. We help each other. We support each other. We will continue to strengthen our friendship. We will continue to help each other.

I replied to Comrade Mao Zedong that the Soviet Union also values the friendship between China and the other socialist countries. The Soviet Union will do everything possible to strengthen this friendship.

Mao Zedong: Yes, we must unite. We must strengthen our friendship. We must help each other.

Sixth question. Mao Zedong said that he wanted to talk about the question of the relations between China and the capitalist countries. The relations between China and the capitalist countries are complex, said Mao Zedong. There are some capitalist countries that want to be friends with us. There are some capitalist countries that do not want to be friends with us. We must be careful. We must be vigilant. We must not trust the capitalist countries too much.

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I replied to Comrade Mao Zedong that the Soviet Union agrees with his assessment of the relations between China and the capitalist countries. The Soviet Union is also careful and vigilant in its relations with the capitalist countries.

Mao Zedong: Yes, we must be careful. We must be vigilant. We must not trust the capitalist countries too much.

Seventh question. Mao Zedong said that he wanted to talk about the question of the relations between China and the colonial countries. The relations between China and the colonial countries are very good, said Mao Zedong. We are friends. We are brothers. We help each other. We support each other. We will continue to strengthen our friendship. We will continue to help each other.

I replied to Comrade Mao Zedong that the Soviet Union also values the friendship between China and the colonial countries. The Soviet Union will do everything possible to strengthen this friendship.

Mao Zedong: Yes, we must unite. We must strengthen our friendship. We must help each other.

Eighth question. Mao Zedong said that he wanted to talk about the question of the internal situation in China. The internal situation in China is very good, said Mao Zedong. We are building socialism. We are improving the life of our people. We are strengthening our country. We are confident in our future.

I replied to Comrade Mao Zedong that the Soviet Union is very happy to hear that the internal situation in China is very good. The Soviet Union wishes the Chinese people every success in building socialism.

Mao Zedong: Yes, we will build socialism. We will improve the life of our people. We will strengthen our country. We are confident in our future.

After this, Mao Zedong asked me about my work. I told him about my work.

Mao Zedong said that he was very happy to hear about my work. He wished me every success in my work.

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After this, Mao Zedong asked me about my health. I told him about my health.

Mao Zedong said that he was very happy to hear that I was in good health. He wished me good health.

After this, Mao Zedong asked me about my family. I told him about my family.

Mao Zedong said that he was very happy to hear about my family. He wished my family all the best.

After this, Mao Zedong said that he had to go. He thanked me for coming. He said that he was very happy to have met with me.

I thanked Mao Zedong for receiving me. I said that I was very happy to have met with him.

The conversation lasted for two hours.

During the conversation, Mao Zedong was very friendly and cordial. He spoke in a calm and measured tone. He was very interested in my opinion. He listened carefully to what I had to say.

I was very impressed by Mao Zedong. He is a great leader of the Chinese people. He is a great friend of the Soviet Union.

I am confident that the friendship between China and the Soviet Union will continue to grow stronger.

Ambassador of the USSR to the PRC P. Yudin

9 March 1955