Two Suggestions Concerning the Conference of Representatives: A Letter to the Central Committee of the CPSU
Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Dear Comrades:
(June 10, 1960)
We have received your two letters dated June 2 and June 7. We fully agree with the opinion expressed in your letter of June 7 regarding the postponement of the conference of representatives of the Communist and Workers’ Parties of the socialist camp countries and the meeting of the Political Consultative Committee of the Warsaw Treaty缔约国[1]. [2]

We believe that when the Third Congress of the Romanian Workers’ Party convenes on June 20, it would be appropriate for representatives of the fraternal parties to conduct a preliminary exchange of views on the date and venue of these two conferences, and then to make final decisions based on the results of consultations among the central committees of the fraternal parties; at the same time, a preliminary exchange of views may also be held on the content of the conference of fraternal party representatives, but without making any decisions. Such an arrangement is suitable.

In view of the fact that the issues to be discussed at the conference of representatives of the fraternal parties of the socialist camp countries are not only closely related to the practice of the Communist and Workers’ Parties of the twelve countries of the socialist camp[1], but are also closely related to the practice of the Communist Parties of all countries throughout the world, and are of great concern to them, we therefore suggest that the membership participating in this conference, in addition to the representatives of the fraternal parties of the twelve countries of the socialist camp, should preferably also include representatives of all the Communist and Workers’ Parties of the capitalist world[2]; at the very least, it should include representatives of the Communist Parties of some important countries in Europe, America, Asia, Africa, and Australia, for example, representatives of the parties of fourteen countries, including France, Italy, Britain, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Indonesia, India, Japan, Iraq, Syria, and Australia. We believe that it is more appropriate and more beneficial for major issues concerning the international communist movement to be discussed jointly by the parties of the socialist countries and the parties of the countries of the capitalist world, so as to reach a common view. Of course, it may be considered that the common declaration of this conference[3] will, as was the case with the previous Moscow conference[4], be signed and issued by the Communist and Workers’ Parties of the socialist camp countries. As for what attitude the Communist Parties of the various countries of the capitalist world adopt toward this declaration, that can be decided by themselves.

In order to prepare well for the conference of representatives of the fraternal parties, we suggest that, prior to the convening of this conference, and with the consent of the central committees of the fraternal parties, a drafting committee be formed to prepare a draft declaration for the conference, so that the fraternal parties can discuss and exchange views in advance.

Please consider the above two suggestions, and we hope you will inform us of your views.

With communist salutations!

Mao Zedong
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
June 10, 1960

--- Notes

[1] Refers to the eight countries: the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic, Poland, Romania, and Albania. They signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance in Warsaw on May 14, 1955. The treaty states that the contracting parties shall strive for "international peace and security" and settle "international disputes by peaceful means," and provides for the establishment of organizations such as a Unified Command of the Armed Forces and a Political Consultative Committee.
[2] The conference of representatives of the Communist and Workers’ Parties was later held in Moscow in November 1960. The meeting of the Political Consultative Committee of the Warsaw Treaty缔约国 was later held in Moscow in March 1961.


[1] Refers to the twelve socialist countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Vietnam, the German Democratic Republic, China, Korea, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia.
[2] The Central Committee of the CPSU accepted this suggestion of the Central Committee of the CPC. Later, delegations of the Communist and Workers’ Parties of 81 countries participated in this conference.
[3] The common declaration of this conference of representatives, namely the "Statement of the Conference of Representatives of the Communist and Workers’ Parties," was unanimously adopted by the delegations of the Communist and Workers’ Parties of 81 countries and formally issued on December 5, 1960.
[4] Refers to the conference of representatives of the Communist and Workers’ Parties of 12 socialist countries held in Moscow from November 14 to 16, 1957.