Distributed
<"Nasser [1] and the Socialist Party Completely Break Off">
Comments on the Material
(14 January 1960)
Distribute to all comrades for study. See how acute the class struggle is! It is the same throughout the capitalist world, no exceptions are possible. Class struggle in the socialist world also still exists.
Mao Zedong
14 January

[1] Nasser, then President of the United Arab Republic formed by the merger of Egypt and Syria.
[2] Refers to the telegram sent on 4 January 1960 by the Chinese Consulate General in Damascus to the Chinese Embassy in the UAR and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the complete break between Nasser and the Syrian Socialist Party. The telegram stated that Nasser had recently dismissed five leaders of the Syrian Socialist Party, including Hawrani, from their posts as Vice-President and ministers in one move, indicating that relations between Nasser and the Syrian Socialist Party had developed to a stage of complete and open rupture. This intensification of internal contradictions within the ruling class of the UAR was precipitated by the deepening contradictions between the Syrian people and the Egyptian ruling clique. Following the break in relations between Nasser and the Syrian Socialist Party, the Egyptian-Syrian contradiction has transformed into a national contradiction of the entire Syrian people opposing the Egyptian ruling clique. This event could become an important turning point in Egyptian-Syrian relations. The telegram also provided a concrete analysis of the contradictions between Nasser and the Syrian Socialist Party, and the contradictions between the Egyptian ruling clique and the Syrian landlord-bourgeoisie and people. The original title of this telegram was "Several Observations on the Complete Break in Nasser-Socialist Party Relations." When Mao Zedong approved its distribution, he changed the title to "Nasser and the Socialist Party Completely Break Off."
[3] Refers to the comrades then attending the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in Shanghai.