Commentary on the Indian Embassy’s Proposal for Handling the Incident in Bombay Involving Insult to Our Head of State [1] (May 9, 1959) To the Premier and Comrade Chen Yi [2]:   Mr. Nehru [3] has already expressed his apology; we should not pursue this matter further. If we do, the Indian side will inevitably give the same response, which would make it difficult for me to issue any further instructions. Please send a telegram to Ambassador Pan [4] instructing him to bring the matter to a close.   Mao Zedong   May 9   Printed from the manuscript.

Notes   [1] This commentary was written on a telegram dated May 6, 1959, sent by the Chinese Embassy in India to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the handling of the incident in Bombay involving insult to our head of state. The telegram stated that we had studied the Indian side’s reply to our note on the matter and had contacted the Consulate-General in Bombay to reverify the facts. It recommended that another note be submitted to the Indian side, for the following reasons:

   (1) The Indian reply claimed that Chairman Mao’s portrait had been affixed to the wall of the Chinese Consulate “for only one or two minutes,” and that the rioters had thrown at it “only a few” tomatoes and “two” eggs—statements clearly at odds with the facts.

   (2) The Indian reply also asserted that, upon noticing the rioters’ insulting behavior, the police “immediately intervened and did their best to prevent any further mischief.” This too is untrue and appears to be an attempt to evade responsibility.

   In view of these points, it seems appropriate to submit another note to the Indian side, emphasizing their distortion of the facts and expressing our regret that their response is unsatisfactory.

   [2] Chen Yi was at the time Vice Premier of the State Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

   [3] Jawaharlal Nehru was then Prime Minister of the Government of India.

   [4] Refers to Pan Zili, China’s Ambassador to India.