Annotation on the Telegram from the Panchen Erdeni[1] Supporting the State Council’s Order to Dissolve the Local Government of Tibet and Put Down the Rebellion
(March 30, 1959)
Ask Xiaoping[3] to have Qiaomu[4] publish it immediately.

Mao

[1] The Panchen Erdeni refers to Panchen Erdeni Chokyi Gyaltsen, one of the former religious and political leaders of the Tibet region. At the time, he served as Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Acting Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

[2] In a telegram sent on March 29, 1959, to Zhou Enlai, to be forwarded to Mao Zedong, Panchen Erdeni Chokyi Gyaltsen stated: “On behalf of myself and the broad masses of monastic and lay people in Tibet, I firmly support the State Council’s order to dissolve the local government of Tibet and put down the rebellion, and I support the proclamation issued by the Tibet Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army.” “I fully accept the State Council’s order appointing me as Acting Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region.” “I will devote myself wholeheartedly to uniting the monastic and lay people of Tibet and all patriots, and, with full confidence, actively assist the People’s Liberation Army in putting down the rebellion, thoroughly smashing all the shameless traitorous schemes carried out by the reactionary clique of the Tibetan upper class with the support of imperialism and the Chiang Kai-shek clique.” This telegram was subsequently published in the People’s Daily on March 31, 1959.

[3] Xiaoping refers to Deng Xiaoping, who was then General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and Vice Premier of the State Council.

[4] Qiaomu refers to Hu Qiaomu, who was then an alternate secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and a secretary to Mao Zedong.