Remarks at the Reception of Visiting Delegations from Japan, Cuba, Brazil, and Argentina (May 14, 1960)  WUHAN, XINHUA — Chairman Mao Zedong received here this afternoon delegations from the Japan-China Friendship Association, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation’s Central Council for Consultation, a Japanese medical delegation, Mr. Takano Minoru, a prominent figure in Japan’s labor movement, and Japanese journalists, as well as student delegations from Cuba, broadcasting and television workers from Brazil, and a cultural delegation from Argentina, all currently visiting China.

Chairman Mao first extended a warm welcome to the friends from Japan, Cuba, Brazil, and Argentina on their visit to China. He expressed concern over the Japanese people’s struggle against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. [1] He stated that the new Japan-U.S. “Security Treaty” is designed to oppress the broad masses of the Japanese people; it is an aggressive military alliance directed against China and the Soviet Union, and against the peoples of Asia, posing a grave threat to peace in Asia and throughout the world, and inevitably bringing severe calamities upon the Japanese people. The peoples of China and Japan, the peoples of Asia, and all peace-loving people worldwide should oppose this Japan-U.S. military alliance.

Chairman Mao pointed out that U.S. imperialism is the common enemy of the Chinese and Japanese peoples, the common enemy of the peoples of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and the common enemy of all peace-loving people around the globe. Imperialism cultivates its lackeys in many countries, and these lackeys are detested by their own national peoples. The Kishi Nobusuke [2] government of Japan is precisely such a government. Even some enlightened and patriotic members of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party have voiced dissatisfaction with Kishi’s reactionary policies. At present, the Japanese people are engaged in a large-scale struggle against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. In this struggle, the Japanese people’s consciousness is steadily rising, and more and more individuals are becoming aware. Chairman Mao remarked that the Japanese people hold great promise. The Chinese people have, do, and will continue to firmly support the Japanese people’s patriotic and just struggle. The Cuban and Latin American peoples support the Japanese people’s struggle, and the Japanese people, in turn, support the struggles of the Cuban and Latin American peoples.

Chairman Mao said that recently, a U.S. U-2 aircraft intruded into Soviet airspace for espionage purposes and was shot down by the Soviet air force, an action which the Soviets rightly took. This incident once again exposed the true nature of U.S. imperialism—its preparations for war concealed behind a facade of false peace—and further demonstrated to the entire world the truth: one should harbor no unrealistic illusions about imperialism. Some people once portrayed Eisenhower [3] as a man deeply committed to peace; he hoped that such individuals would come to their senses in light of facts like these.

Chairman Mao added: We support the holding of summit conferences [4], regardless of whether they yield results or how significant those results may be. However, the attainment of world peace ultimately depends primarily on the resolute struggle of the peoples of all nations. He also spoke of the mounting tide of national-democratic movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, noting that imperialism fears above all else the awakening of the peoples of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as the awakening of peoples everywhere. We must unite to drive U.S. imperialism back to its homeland from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The Japanese, Cuban, Brazilian, and Argentine guests expressed their gratitude to Chairman Mao for the reception and his cordial remarks, pledging to stand united in opposing imperialism and striving for victory in the national-democratic struggle.

Finally, Chairman Mao raised a toast to the solidarity of the peoples of the world, to the victory of the Japanese people, to the victory of the Latin American peoples, and to the victory of the peoples of all nations.

Also present at the reception were Yang Shangkun, alternate member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and Liao Chengzhi, chairman of the Chinese Committee for Solidarity with Asia and Africa, among others.

Printed according to the news report in the May 15, 1960 issue of People’s Daily. Abbreviated and included in Selected Diplomatic Works of Mao Zedong. (With Mao Zedong’s revisions.)

Notes:

[1] Refers to the “Japan-U.S. Mutual Cooperation and Security Treaty” signed in Washington on January 19, 1960, by the governments of Japan and the United States. See note 3 on page [ ] of this volume.

[2] Kishi Nobusuke, then Prime Minister of Japan.

[3] Eisenhower, then President of the United States.

[4] On May 16, 1960, the heads of government of the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France convened in Paris to discuss further détente between the Soviet Union and the United States in Europe and ways to resolve major international issues. During the meeting, Khrushchev demanded that Eisenhower publicly apologize for the U.S. U-2 high-altitude spy plane’s intrusion into Soviet airspace on May 1, 1960. When this request was refused, Khrushchev withdrew from the conference, effectively aborting the summit.