Comments and Revisions on the Report from the Operations Department of the General Staff Concerning the Situation of Suppressing Rebellions
This document is very good. It is suggested that it be distributed confidentially to the Tibet Work Committee and the Military Region down to the regimental level, so that they may understand the overall situation and grasp the principles and policies.
It should also be distributed to the rebellion-suppression areas in Chuanl, Yunnan, Gansu, and Qinghai. What do you think?
Mao Zedong
February 19, 1959
This kind of rebellion has tremendous benefits; it provides three major advantages: training the troops, training the people, and furnishing ample justification for thoroughly carrying out reforms after the complete suppression of rebellions in the future.
On the military side, we not only do not fear rebellions, but we welcome such rebellions; however, we must be prepared at all times and suppress them in a timely manner.
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Comments on the Report Regarding Reactions from British Circles to Our Cancellation of Export Contracts[I]
(February 19, 1959)
Comrades Enlai and Chen Yi[2]:
Why has this policy been adopted, and is it beneficial? Please look into the matter and inform me. I await your reply.
Mao Zedong
February 19
[I]
This report, sent on February 14, 1959, by the Commercial Counsellor of China's Office of the Chargé d'Affaires in the United Kingdom to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Shanghai Native Produce Company had concluded a contract with a British firm for approximately 2,000 tons of frost yellow cotton. Recently that company cancelled the contract on the grounds that the government would not issue an export license, and this matter has drawn widespread attention and commentary from various circles in Britain. In our external contacts, our office generally does not explicitly explain the reasons for such issues, nor does it emphasize transport problems. Sometimes, we appropriately point out that trade development must be premised on political friendship, and with some clients, we try our utmost to persuade them to accept partial contract cancellations. We believe that if the extent of contract cancellations becomes too broad in the future, it will have an adverse political impact on us. Therefore, we suggest that domestic companies should minimize the variety of goods and scope of clients for which contracts cannot be honored. When delivery is truly impossible, we should also consult with the other party to resolve the matter. An attitude of indifference will only foster antagonism in the other party and lead them to take actions disadvantageous to us.
[2]
Chen Yi, then Vice Premier of the State Council and concurrently Minister of Foreign Affairs.
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