Annotation on a Telegram Regarding the Assessment of the Situation[1]
(July 1960)

Distribute for circulation[2]

The fox’s tail always shows itself. Fierce of mien but faint of heart, restless and ill at ease.

[1] This annotation was written on a telegram dated July 16, 1960, from the Chinese Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The telegram stated: Following Khrushchev’s reply telegram to the leaders of Congo (Leopoldville) on July 15 and the mass rally held in Moscow in support of Cuba, today Khrushchev sent another telegram to Congolese Prime Minister Lumumba, announcing the provision of 10,000 tons of food to the Congo. At the same time, TASS also issued a statement expressing that the Soviet Union could not stand idly by in the face of U.S. interference in Cuba. Over the past two days, the Soviet press has also published some statements of the Soviet people supporting the struggles of the Cuban and Congolese peoples, but on a limited scale. Regarding these Soviet actions, we have the following observations: (1) Because the new imperialist provocations have once again proven the Soviet view of modern imperialism to be wrong, the Soviet Union has displayed a certain degree of fluster, impatience, and contradictory sentiment, with its attitude before and after not entirely consistent, as it is anxious to stabilize the situation. (2) Compelled by circumstances, the Soviet Union hopes through these measures to demonstrate that it supports the colonial countries, so as to grasp the banner of anti-colonialism. (3) When the enemy further provokes, the Soviet Union has no choice but to adopt the above-mentioned tough posture, but its bottom card is still to seek some kind of compromise through the United Nations to avoid an expansion of the situation.

[2] This refers to distribution to the comrades then attending the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Working Conference in Beidaihe.

In July 1960, Mao Zedong met with a Chilean youth delegation.

On July 24, 1960, Mao Zedong met in Beijing with the renowned Chilean peace activist, painter José Venturelli, and his wife.