(Not reviewed by the author)

(November 20, 1957)

Time: November 20, 1957
Location: The Kremlin, Moscow
Participants:
Polish side: Gomułka, Cyrankiewicz, Zambrowski, and all other delegation members;
Our side: Deng Xiaoping, Yang Shangkun
Interpreter and recorder: Li Yueran

……

Gomułka: We do not feel aggrieved; our opinions still concern the assessment of the international situation. We have already made concessions on the issue of the international situation, and Comrade Mao Zedong also said that mutual compromise is necessary. We do not intend to pursue a separate line in foreign policy either; the primary responsibility must still be borne by the Soviet Union, as it is not convenient for one party to independently pursue its own foreign policy.

Chairman: Do you feel that the Soviet comrades have made progress in their consultative style and in their relations with the parties of various countries? Or do you think there has been no progress?

Gomułka: We do feel this improvement. Before coming here today, we met with Polish students studying abroad, and we discussed with them the issue of improved relations among the socialist countries.

Chairman: That’s good, very good.

Gomułka: On the issue of running a journal, Comrade Khrushchev also said that any party willing to participate may send representatives, while those unwilling need not do so.

Chairman: Before leaving, I will also discuss with Comrade Khrushchev the issue of criticizing foreign parties. Generally speaking, we do not approve of open criticism. Every party and every nation is very sensitive. If the criticism is incorrect, it is certainly bad; but even if it is correct, it is still not good. If there are mistakes, why not let the party of that country come forward to criticize them? Your Tenth Plenum pointed out so many shortcomings, yet the Polish people were able to accept them.

Cyrankiewicz: If these had been pointed out by foreigners, they would not have been accepted. …

Chairman: The dissolution of the Third International—we should thank God for that. History is also quite strange; all the socialist countries were established without an international organization. In March last year, when Mikoyan came to Beijing to explain why Stalin had to be criticized, I also raised questions with him. They proposed establishing a liaison bureau of socialist countries to replace the Information Bureau, and also to publish a journal. I suggested not establishing a liaison bureau and not publishing a journal. I said, you can just convene meetings. When the CPSU Central Committee has matters to discuss, call a meeting, and we will attend to discuss the necessary issues. Meet when there is business, disperse when there is none. There should be no permanent institutions like the Third International or the Information Bureau; establishing such bodies would be deadly. …

Now that the format has changed, it is different. The leaders of each country come; like at this conference, you represent Poland, and we represent China. This is generally better. They approve of this format. This conference can be considered a successful one, and such meetings should be convened in the future.

Gomułka: When do you think the next one should be convened? How often should they be held?

Chairman: I told them, either once a year, once every two years, or once every three years.

Gomułka: Should all parties come?

Chairman: Yes. If the international situation becomes tense, several meetings could be held in a year.

Zambrowski: That is a different issue.

Gomułka: What about convening regional [meetings]? For example, in the Near East or the Middle East? Some representatives of capitalist country parties also raised this issue at this conference.

Chairman: That’s fine, just like the United Nations. It has regional meetings. We are a communist United Nations. I am not opposed; let’s see how it can be done.

……

Source: "Newly Discovered Speeches of Mao Zedong in Confidential Archives," edited by Song Yongyi, National History Press, July 2018

Thanks to Vissarion for collection and organization