Comments on Matters Requiring Attention During Comrades Zhu De and Nie Rongzhen’s Visits to the German Democratic Republic and the Soviet Union〔1〕 (November 28, 1955) To Liu, Zhou, Zhu, Chen, Deng〔3〕, and Nie Rongzhen: Please read and return to Mao.

Comrades Zhu De and Nie Rongzhen are going to Germany and the Soviet Union. In their talks, they should be careful not to make any commitments on specific matters. If the other side raises such issues, they should refer them to the foreign ministries and the ministries of foreign trade of the two countries for negotiation.

The situation described in this document is worthy of attention. Mao Zedong, November 28 Based on the manuscript copy.

Notes [ ] Nie Rongzhen was at that time a member of the Central Military Commission of the CPC, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and a vice-chairman of the National Defense Commission.

[2] These comments were written on a report submitted to Mao Zedong by Peng Dehuai, Vice Premier of the State Council and Minister of National Defense, on November 26, 1955. The report stated that Stoff, Deputy Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic, had recently sent a letter raising the question of supplying China with optical and medical instruments, apparently with the intention of finding a market for these products in China.

[3] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Zhu refers to Zhu De. Chen refers to Chen Yun, who at the time was a secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and a Vice Premier of the State Council. Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, who at the time was Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee and a Vice Premier of the State Council.