Comments on Briefing Reports
(September 1962)

These two items[I], to be read by Jiang Qing. Return to Mao.
Worth reading, very good.

[I] One of these items is the speech delivered by Chen Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier of the State Council, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the afternoon of September 14 at the East China Group, as published in the 8th Plenum of the 10th Central Committee Briefing Report, East China Group No. 20, issued by the Confidential Office of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee on September 16, 1962. Chen Yi said: There is currently a trend of thought called "three reconciliations and one reduction." It means that we have struggled too excessively against the United States, too excessively against revisionism, too excessively against Nehru, and that we should ease up a little. The "one reduction" refers to the idea that we have given too much support to Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and should reduce it a little. This thinking of "three reconciliations and one reduction" is erroneous. A large number of facts demonstrate that our struggle on the united front with Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Nehru is unavoidable and absolutely necessary, but our struggles are always measured and restrained; it cannot be said that we have already struggled excessively. As for the national liberation movements, as our strength steadily grows and our skills improve, we should give them even more support. On this issue, we must not be short-sighted, must not make petty calculations, but must make grand calculations; we must not calculate only the economic ledger, but must calculate the political ledger. So, the blowing of such an evil wind as "three reconciliations and one reduction" is mainly because the three years of temporary difficulties have frightened and dazed some people whose Marxist-Leninist standpoint is not firm. Such views must be refuted. Our current foreign policy is correct; it helps us buy time and overcome temporary difficulties. If an opportunist policy is adopted, it will not only affect the external struggle but also affect the domestic situation. The other item is not detailed.

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1962, Mao Zedong in Beijing.