Comments on a Request for Instructions Report [I]
(July 1960)

Print and distribute [2].

Resolutely strike down Lenin. Can he be struck down? It is nothing but a joke. A tiny insect trying to shake a giant tree—laughable in its self-delusion.

[I]
This request for instructions telegram, sent on July 17, 1960, by Zhou Qiuye, Chargé d'Affaires of China in Yugoslavia, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated:
From the Bucharest Conference to this recent plenary session of the CPSU Central Committee, several Communist and Workers' Parties in Europe, led by the CPSU, have openly turned the spearhead of their struggle against our country, disregarding the distinction between friend and foe and showing no consideration for unity. The Soviet newspaper *Pravda* not only fails to report any news about our country but has even erased the very two characters "China." It appears that these people, represented by Khrushchev, also want to strike down Lenin along with us. In order to safeguard Marxism-Leninism and the interests of the international communist movement, an open and acute struggle has become unavoidable. Yugoslavia has already perceived this situation. Since late June, it has basically ceased its open attacks on our country, seemingly attempting to extricate itself from this circle, standing aside and avoiding direct confrontation with us. Recently, Yugoslav newspapers have continuously published reports on the major principled differences between the CPSU and others on the one hand and our country on the other. The cadres of our embassy come into contact with this issue almost daily and are particularly sensitive to it. Therefore, we feel it is necessary to provide appropriate explanations on this issue to the cadres of our embassy. Whether such explanations may be given and how they should be given, we hereby request instructions by telegram.

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