Reply to Comrade Khrushchev [2] Regarding the Dispatch of Representatives to Attend the Routine Meeting of the Political Consultative Committee of the Warsaw Treaty [1] Member States
(January 31 and February 1, 1960)
Issued as drafted.
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Mao Zedong
January 31

[1] Refers to the treaty signed in Warsaw on May 14, 1955, by eight countries: the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic, Poland, Romania, and Albania, with a term of validity of 20 years. The treaty provided for the establishment of organizations such as the Unified Command of the Armed Forces and the Political Consultative Committee. When the treaty entered into force on June 4 of the same year, the Warsaw Treaty Organization was formally established, with its headquarters in Moscow.
[2] Khrushchev, then First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union.
[3] This instruction was written on the draft reply submitted by Zhou Enlai for review on January 31, 1960. The draft submitted for review was dated "January 31, 1960." After Mao Zedong reviewed and approved it, Zhou Enlai changed the date to "February 1, 1960" when it was issued.

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Volume 43 of the Complete Works of Mao Zedong

Dear Comrade N. S. Khrushchev:
Your letter of January 23 has been received. Thank you for informing us of the decision to convene the routine meeting of the Political Consultative Committee of the Warsaw Treaty member states. [1] We have decided to dispatch Comrade Kang Sheng (alternate member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China), Comrade Liu Xiao (member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chinese Ambassador to the Soviet Union), and Comrade Wu Xiuquan (member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China) as representatives to attend this meeting in the capacity of observers. We believe that the convening of this meeting will undoubtedly make new contributions to easing international tensions, exposing the arms expansion and war preparation schemes of the imperialist warmongering clique, and inspiring the fighting will of the people of the world in their struggle for peace. We wish the meeting success in advance.
With communist salutations,
Mao Zedong
February 1, 1960

[1] This meeting was later convened in Moscow on February 4, 1960.
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