Notes on a Situation Report[2]
(October 1959)

These three items are to be read by Comrades Liu, Zhou, Zhu, Lin, Chen Yi, Peng Zhen, Jiaxiang, Kang Sheng, Dingyi, Chen Boda, and Hu Qiaomu[1]; after reading, return to Mao.

Worth a look and some thought. Finish reading within two days, so that we may hold a discussion at my place.

[1] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Zhu refers to Zhu De. Lin refers to Lin Biao, then Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Vice Premier of the State Council. Chen Yi, then Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier of the State Council, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Peng Zhen, then Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. Jiaxiang, i.e., Wang Jiaxiang, then Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee. Kang Sheng, then Alternate Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Deputy Head of the Central Culture and Education Group. Dingyi, i.e., Lu Dingyi, then Alternate Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Head of the Central Culture and Education Group, Head of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice Premier of the State Council. Chen Boda, then Alternate Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Central Political Research Office. Hu Qiaomu, then Alternate Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary to Mao Zedong.

[2] Items 1 and 2 of this piece were both written on a report sent by the Chinese Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 8, 1959. The report stated that Khrushchev made his first public speech on the 6th of this month in Vladivostok after returning from his visit to China, in which there were many points worthy of note:
First, he stressed that his visit to the United States in September this year had not changed his view of the United States or his faith in socialism. Second, when speaking of his attitude toward war, he quoted U.S. President Eisenhower's words about fearing war, and then said: "Of course, if war is imposed upon the people, forcing them to defend their own freedom and independence from the dangers of aggressors, that is another matter. In such circumstances one cannot fear war. ... But to yearn for war, to be ready to fight like a rooster, is unwise." Third, regarding his trip to China, he said the situation in China was very good, and that Sino-Soviet friendship and the friendship among the countries of the socialist camp were developing and consolidating daily. In his speech, Khrushchev also once again praised Eisenhower.